There are probably hundreds of definitions for the term 'sustainable development', and these definitions vary, depending on whom you are asking. Environmentalists, corporations, governments, and international organizations have all tried to provide a definition of what sustainable development means, but in the end a vision of sustainability is based on the things the country, the organization or the individual values the most.
I chose to study Environmental Science because when I really thought about the type of career I wanted, I knew I wanted to make positive change in the world. In addition, growing up close to natural wonders like Goldstream Provincial Park has instilled in me the importance of protecting these beautiful places, and living sustainably. Personally, I believe that sustainable development should be defined as:
Development that does not diminish the quality or biodiversity of the natural ecosystems on which we rely to sustain ourselves in a manner that considers implications from a local to a global scale, while maintaining rich cultural diversity and ensuring greater social equity.
I chose to study Environmental Science because when I really thought about the type of career I wanted, I knew I wanted to make positive change in the world. In addition, growing up close to natural wonders like Goldstream Provincial Park has instilled in me the importance of protecting these beautiful places, and living sustainably. Personally, I believe that sustainable development should be defined as:
Development that does not diminish the quality or biodiversity of the natural ecosystems on which we rely to sustain ourselves in a manner that considers implications from a local to a global scale, while maintaining rich cultural diversity and ensuring greater social equity.
As most of you may know, David Suzuki is a world-renowned environmentalist. What you may not know is that he is a professor at UBC, and he resides in Vancouver. He also writes a fantastic blog discussing several issues that relate to sustainable development, which can be found at:
In one of his articles, titled ‘New science looks at big picture for the future’, Suzuki states that “the terms sustainability and sustainable development get tossed around a lot, and it's often difficult to know exactly what they mean”. It is an interesting article that emphasizes how important the ever-emerging field of ‘Sustainability’ Sciences is becoming, where interrelated environmental problems and solutions are considered from a larger perspective.
The David Suzuki Foundation has a mission statement and vision, both of which seem to truly encompass the meaning of sustainable development. Their mission is “to protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future”, while their vision is “that within a generation, Canadians act on the understanding that we are all interconnected and interdependent with nature”.
When trying to tackle issues of sustainable development, starting with a strong vision such as that used by the David Suzuki Foundation is a great basis for developing goals and a plan of action. In the end, whatever your vision, the way that you define sustainable development will ultimately be reflected in the goals you develop and the actions you take.
If you are interested in reading some more about the David Suzuki Foundation, including their top goals, visit:
Finally, I'm going to end this first blog with a picture that I took this summer, while driving down Vancouver Island. It is an image that reminds me and inspires me to continue to aim towards sustainable development - the way I think it should be defined, anyways!
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| Black Bear, spotted near Jordan River on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, summer 2011 |
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