Sustainability

Have you noticed that IPWEA's previous "Climate Change" Community of Practice has changed its name to "Sustainability"?

Although there is no single, widely-accepted definition, sustainability is commonly related to the frequently-cited definition of sustainable development adopted in the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report:  ... development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Climate change is the most fundamental of all sustainability issues because the Earth's atmosphere protects and sustains all life forms.  Changes to the atmosphere's composition and behaviour, caused by current unsustainable practices, that reduce its capacity to support human populations will therefore compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Human-induced climate change is one consequence of our current lack of sustainability.  Other consequences include deteriorating air and water quality, loss of biodiversity, and wastage and depletion of limited resources.  However, because they share a common underlying cause - unsustainable practices - actions to tackle climate change are likely to produce co-benefits in regard to other sustainability problems.

For this reason, as well as the criticality and urgency of climate change, it makes sense for the IPWEA to focus its initial sustainability efforts on climate change, particularly those aspects that its members can influence.

1. That some practices are unsustainable, and
2. That we should take steps towards more sustainable practices (by improving water and air, wastage, ...depletion of natural resources, etc.), and 
3. Thereby increase Earth's capacity to support human populations..., etc., and
4. That after all of  the above, there may be co-benefits on climate change (if it exists).

Have you noticed that IPWEA's previous "Climate Change" Community of Practice has changed its name to "Sustainability"?

Although there is no single, widely-accepted definition, sustainability is commonly related to the frequently-cited definition of sustainable development adopted in the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report:  ... development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Climate change is the most fundamental of all sustainability issues because the Earth's atmosphere protects and sustains all life forms.  Changes to the atmosphere's composition and behaviour, caused by current unsustainable practices, that reduce its capacity to support human populations will therefore compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Human-induced climate change is one consequence of our current lack of sustainability.  Other consequences include deteriorating air and water quality, loss of biodiversity, and wastage and depletion of limited resources.  However, because they share a common underlying cause - unsustainable practices - actions to tackle climate change are likely to produce co-benefits in regard to other sustainability problems.

For this reason, as well as the criticality and urgency of climate change, it makes sense for the IPWEA to focus its initial sustainability efforts on climate change, particularly those aspects that its members can influence.

Have you noticed that IPWEA's previous "Climate Change" Community of Practice has changed its name to "Sustainability"?

Although there is no single, widely-accepted definition, sustainability is commonly related to the frequently-cited definition of sustainable development adopted in the 1987 Brundtland Commission Report:  ... development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Climate change is the most fundamental of all sustainability issues because the Earth's atmosphere protects and sustains all life forms.  Changes to the atmosphere's composition and behaviour, caused by current unsustainable practices, that reduce its capacity to support human populations will therefore compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Human-induced climate change is one consequence of our current lack of sustainability.  Other consequences include deteriorating air and water quality, loss of biodiversity, and wastage and depletion of limited resources.  However, because they share a common underlying cause - unsustainable practices - actions to tackle climate change are likely to produce co-benefits in regard to other sustainability problems.

For this reason, as well as the criticality and urgency of climate change, it makes sense for the IPWEA to focus its initial sustainability efforts on climate change, particularly those aspects that its members can influence.