The modern roots of the term and the three pillars
The roots of sustainability, in the modern sense of the term, come from actions in the 1980s by the World Commission on Environment and Development, which was sponsored by the United Nations.
In 1987, the WCED, also known as the Brundtland Commission, released a major report (the Brundtland Report or Our Common Future), where the concept of “sustainable development” was born:
“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Brundtland Commission, 1987
But how is sustainability defined?
Many definitions surround the term sustainability, and it means different things to different people. In the past, it was equated to only environmental issues. But in the current era, aspects of the economy and society (communities) are also included in many definitions set out by organizations. This is especially important for entities and organizations that decide to move forward with ESG reporting, as you’ll see throughout the series.
3 pillars of sustainability
The three pillars of sustainability is a good place to begin the first, and short lesson, on the topic of sustainable development. Briefly, the 3Ps are people, planet, and profit, where society, the environment, and the bottom line are all considered. Essentially, locating a balance between these three areas is the key to creating a sustainable world for current and future generations. Leaning too much in one area will essentially lead to an imbalance of the two remaining parts.
This covers the very beginning and basic concepts of the start of the modern era of sustainability, though, as this series will show, thoughts on sustainability in the United States have roots that go back at least two centuries.
Citations
UN. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, Chapter 2: Towards Sustainable Development. Geneva, Switzerland, 3/20/1987.