"Sustainability," in the briefest sense, means the ability of something to maintain or renew its current state. Derived from this concept, sustainability is used to signify leaving behind a world where ecological, economic, and social conditions can be sustained for future generations.
The concept of sustainability first appeared in the report "Our Common Future" published by the World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987.
In this report, sustainability was defined as "meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" – an approach that aims to fulfill daily needs and achieve development without endangering the ability of nature and future generations to respond to their own requirements.
In the current state we find ourselves in today, there is a common belief that the thoughtless use of the Earth's natural resources has brought them to the edge of exhaustion. The disasters we experience, the climate crisis, pollution of the seas, and the disappearance of forest areas are the most realistic examples of not living in a sustainable way.
At the core of sustainability is not only the protection of nature and the environment but also leaving a livable world for future generations in every aspect. This is only possible through the following three fundamental components.
• Natural Environment: The rational consumption of resources in the environment and nature.
• Economy: Increasing the level of prosperity through environmentally friendly production and subsequent consumption.
• Society: Achieving satisfactory levels of Health, Life, and Education for all communities.
Sustainability is a concept that explains these fundamental components in interrelated clusters. Each topic is interconnected, and one cannot be healthy while the other is consumed uncontrollably.
The importance of sustainability has increased with the rise in the use of non-renewable resources such as oil and coal after the industrial revolution, rapid industrialization and urbanization leading to air and water pollution, reducing biodiversity, and the increasingly evident effects of the climate crisis.
The concept of sustainability should be a part of all our lives, and we should view everything through the sustainability filter, from our shopping habits to the products we consume and the transportation methods we choose.
Always remember, there is only one Earth, and the Earth can continue without us, but we cannot continue without it.
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