Sustainability is a term that's often synonymous with climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But the story is much broader; it's about understanding the full scope of human impact on our planet, as the UN Sustainable Development Goals suggest.
The planetary boundaries model from the Stockholm Resilience Centre paints a vivid picture of the various risks we face. Showing us an illustration of the tolerances our biosphere has for our impacts, and what our current readings are. Beyond the familiar challenge of climate change, we're also pushing past safe limits in areas like:
Biodiversity loss: The rapid decline in species is a red flag for the health of ecosystems which we depend on.
Nitrogen and phosphorus loading: Excess nutrients from agriculture are causing problems in our waterways.
Novel entities: New chemicals and materials are having lasting, negative effects on our environment in various forms of pollution.
And, it's not all about environmental excesses. We're falling short in critical areas such as:
Peace and justice: Conflict and injustice remain widespread.
Social equity: The gap between the haves and have-nots is growing.
Recognising these overshoots and shortfalls is crucial. As we broaden our view of sustainability, we can unpick their connections and tackle these issues more effectively. What are your thoughts on expanding our sustainability targets beyond climate action?
