Sustainability is a concept that refers to the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time. It is a social goal for people to co-exist on Earth over a long time. Sustainability is often broken down into three core concepts: economic, environmental, and social. Sustainable practices support ecological, human, and economic health and vitality. Sustainability presumes that resources are finite and should be used conservatively and wisely with a view to long-term priorities and consequences of the ways in which resources are used.
In general, sustainability is understood as a form of intergenerational ethics in which the environmental and economic actions taken by present persons do not diminish the opportunities of future persons to enjoy similar levels of wealth, utility, or welfare. Sustainability is about creating and maintaining the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony to support present and future generations.
Sustainability is a complex concept that provides a normative structure and is often disputed and has varied with literature, context, and time. It is a balance between the environment, equity, and economy. Sustainability recognizes how these issues are interconnected and requires a systems approach and an acknowledgment of complexity.
