About sustainability

When we talk about 'climate change', 'net zero', 'carbon', 'global warming' and 'sustainability' we are saying that a sustainable climate matters.

Sustainable development means not taking so much from our environment that future generations are negatively affected by our choices.

Society is growing in an unsustainable way. In the UK we live as if there were 2.4 planets of resources available. There is only one Earth, and we have to change our ways.

We all need to play our part, as the government is committed to reaching net zero to combat climate change. We must change our lifestyles to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions to stop the changes getting worse. These days many of us as residents and employees are doing more, and we have a part to play too.

Sustainability and the environment is one of the most important subjects of the globe today. Here you can find all the information you need regarding climate change, what we are doing about it and what you can do. We encourage you to learn more about climate change by visiting the climate change section first. Please do go through the rest of the sustainability sections to learn more about what we are doing about it.

What is sustainibility?

Sustainability and sustainable development is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (UN, 2023).”

This means we must ensure that the actions we make today are environmentally, socially and economically sound for the current generation and for future generations and that they a comfortable life.

You can learn more about what sustainability is on the United Nations website.

One way of looking at sustainability is through the 3 pillars of sustainability which are:

  • the environment
  • society
  • the economy

These categories are what we should be focused on when we try and develop something sustainably.

Underneath the 3 pillars sit 17 goals that were developed by the United Nations called the sustainability development goals. They encompass everything from biodiversity, social justice and development. The goals can be seen below and set out the things we need to achieve as a planet to truly achieve sustainability. These were adopted by all United Nations members in 2015 and have a global goal to achieve all 17 initiatives by 2030.

Sustainable development goals

Sustainable development goals diagram

These goals are:

  1. No poverty
     
  2. Zero hunger
     
  3. Good health and well-being
     
  4. Quality education
      
  5. Gender equality
      
  6. Clean water and sanitation
      
  7. Affordable and clean energy
      
  8. Decent work and economic growth
      
  9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
      
  10. Reduced inequalities
     
  11. Sustainable cities and communities
      
  12. Responsible consumption and production
      
  13. Climate action
      
  14. Life below water
      
  15. Life on land
      
  16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
      
  17. Partnerships for the goals

More information about the 17 goals is on the United Nations website.