What is sustainability?
Sustainability is all about ensuring that enough resources are left for the future!
Sounds simple, but in our complex world, it might not be so easy.
A Brief History of Sustainability
Since the Industrial Revolution, which caused a rapid expansion of factory production, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions have increased dramatically. People began to notice the adverse effects of this development and globalisation on the environment (i.e. climate change). So much so that in 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Fun fact, the Brundtland Commission was made up of representatives from 22 different countries, and was headed up by (and named after) then Norwegian Prime Minister, Gro Harlem Bruntland – a woman!
So really, people started to realise that there were consequences to their actions! We figured out that we couldn’t continue to live as if Earth had an endless amount of resources. We also realised that pollution was bad for people and the planet and causing climate change. So what can we do about it?
The Two Levels of Sustainability
There are two levels to sustainability – large scale and small scale. Small scale actions are things that you can do yourself, like eating locally sourced produce, driving less, and buying less or more sustainable clothing. Large scale actions are more like government interventions, actions by intergovernmental organisations – like the UN, the European Union and the World Bank, and restrictions on big corporations. Even though large-scale sustainability seems out of your control, there are definitely things you can do to help!
Small scale sustainability: actions you can take
Just because they are small in size does not mean they aren’t big in impact! If we all do these things, we will live in a much more sustainable world.
Eat less red meat
Farming for red meat takes up critical land mass – meaning that deforestation and the destruction of natural environments are undertaken to make way for farms. Read more here.
Did you know cows are actually the most damaging animal to farm because of their impact on the environment? Cows admit greenhouse gases through their manure (and their farts!). They also eat grass and hay – both take up heaps of water to grow. Learn more in this Vox video.
To learn how to cook more meat-free check out these recipes from Sustainable Table! For more tips check out our article on eating sustainably.
Become a composter!
Composting has massive benefits for the environment – not only does compost mean that organic waste is repurposed to help make soil more healthy and strong, but it also takes it away from landfill. When organic waste hits landfills it ends up buried under layers and layers of other waste. This can be dangerous because when organic waste decomposes it releases heaps of nasty gases like methane and carbon dioxide that can cause landfill fires.
Does your council have a compost bin? You can check here to see!
If it doesn’t, don’t stress. If you have a backyard you can always start your own compost bin – learn about that here. If this isn’t an option for you, consider contacting your local council to express your concerns.
Be energy conscious
How you use energy in your home has a big impact! Here are some things you can do to create a more sustainable home
- Turn off lights and appliances when you aren’t using them
- Only heat/cool the room you are in
- Use your blinds – let the sun in when it’s cold and keep them down when it’s hot! When trying to heat a room with a heater, keep your blinds down to stop cool air from escaping.
- Find out more in our article on how to stay warm in winter!
Large scale sustainability: actions we all can take
Whilst large scale actions to make a sustainable world sound big and out of reach, there are heaps of things you can do to help!
Get involved!
There are heaps of organisations that you can get involved with that will help make a difference.
- Australian Youth Climate Coalition (AYCC): is Australia’s largest youth-run organisation. Their mission is to build a movement of young people leading solutions to the climate crisis. They have so many events that you can get involved in.
- Seed: Australia’s first Indigenous youth led climate network. They are building a movement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people for climate justice. Their vision is for a just and sustainable future with strong cultures and communities, powered by renewable energy.
- School Strike for Climate: They are a diverse organisation holding Australian politicians to account, demanding that climate change is treated like what it is: a crisis.
Talk to your local member of parliament
You can contact your member of parliament and express to them your opinions on climate change. You may want to do some research on your member’s opinions on coal and gas and how they have voted on bills related to the environment and sustainability previously.
You can find your state members here:
For more help on how to contact your MP, you can read this!
Stay educated
If you are passionate about sustainability, it is good to know all about what is going on in the world. Reading this article is a great start, you can also read more about climate change, climate justice, climate action and how to decolonise environmentalism!
You can also follow sustainability accounts on Instagram:
- Environment: posting all the latest news about the environment
- UN Environment Programme: The Official account of the United Nations Program that aims to protect the environment.
- Intersectionalenvironmentalist: an account focused on an intersectional perspective on environmental activism.
- Blackgirlenvironmentalist: a community page dedicated to empowering Black girls, women and gender-expansive people across the climate movement.
