Sustainability Implications

Abstract

Yetperhapswearemovingtoofast.›eword“sustainability” canmeanmanythings.Tothosewithaheartfeltconcernforour planetaryhome,thewordnowunmistakablybearsbothpositiveandnegativeimplications,beingconceptuallyinvitingand yetdistressinglyvagueorevenabused.›eessentialimplication ofsustainabilitythatweadopthereisthatsomethingofvalue shouldcontinueforanunlimitednumberofgenerations,serving awell-conceivedandwell-thought-outpurpose.Yetthenegative aspectofthewordisundeniabletoo,foronceawordbecomes imbuedwithacertain“goodfeeling”orintrinsicworth,itcan beexploited,usedbytheunscrupuloustosanitizeorwhitewash activitiesorproductsthatare,onrežection,o¢enhighlyunsustainable.Inthiscontext,aclassiclinefromthePrincess Brideis worthrecalling:“Lifeispain,Highness.Anyonewhosaysdifferentlyissellingsomething.”E§ectivedecisionmakingneeds morethangoodintentionsorsimplisticwordassociations: itneedspainstakinganalysis,reliableinformation,andwiseand sometimes courageous choices between di®cult alternatives.