User:Chelseasprinkler/Sustainability studies

Spheres of Sustainability

Sustainability comprises three major spheres: the social sphere, the economic sphere, and the environmental sphere. These three spheres can also be referred to as the "triple bottom line" or the three pillars of sustainability (Sustainability Principle's and Practice, p. 4). While these spheres are vastly different from one another, they each play a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency of society and the betterment of the planet.

Social Sphere: The social sphere examines issues that different human populations can face, or the impacts that certain actions have on society. Examples of social issues include food insecurity, housing instability, poverty, healthcare, and access to education. Equity and equal access to opportunities are at the foundation of this pillar. This sphere involves subject fields such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology. Nonprofit and government organizations are often at the core of the social sphere. In regards to sustainability, it is crucial for policies to be in place that represent all populations and ensure that basic human rights are being met. (Greenly, Human Rights Careers)

Economic Sphere: The economic sphere prioritizes a high-functioning economy and making a profit. Consumerism is at the root of this sphere.Those who work in business and finance related fields are included in this sphere. Relating to sustainability, it is crucial for global corporations and companies to establish efficient practices to develop and grow. (Greenly)

Environmental Sphere: The environmental sphere promotes the wellbeing of the physical Earth. This pillar evaluates environmental issues and proposes solutions that could be implemented anywhere from the local to global level. Examples of environmental issues include natural disasters, temperatures rising, pollution, energy resources, and deforestation. Environmental scientists and activists are closely associated with this sphere. (Greenly)

Sustainability is an interdisciplinary subject. Therefore, much like a Venn Diagram, these spheres do overlap. When the social and economic spheres intersect, this is known as social justice. The economic and environmental spheres make the subject of environmental stewardship. Lastly, environmental justice is the established when the environmental and social spheres connect. (cite)

Social Justice: Social justice is important when ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and make a sufficient living, as well as making sure the economy can operate smoothly. A big debate in many nations is how much money should be going to welfare programs- it is crucial to find a balance between helping citizens while having enough money for the governing body to run. Another issue commonly discussed with social justice is workers rights. Workers can be exploited by businesses, so policies regarding safe working conditions and fair wages ensure that workers are treated fairly. For example, Fairtrade is a symbol that can be found on products that verify that the resources used to product the item is ethical.

Environmental Stewardship: Environmental stewardship involves the collaboration of businesses and environment-centered initiatives. These actions are angled to not only help the planet, but also save money for the business. Organizations may consider efforts to reduce their waste. This could look like switching from plastic to paper packaging, or recycling any unused products. Also, businesses could look for ways to manage their energy more efficiently. Using a renewable energy source rather than nonrenewable source and limiting production times are both examples of how a business can adopt energy-saving techniques. (cite the EPA powerpoint)

Environmental Justice: Environmental justice is the intersection between social and environmental issues. This intersection involves providing equitable access to environmental protections and funding for all populations. Climate change events like natural disasters, increased temperatures, and unpredictable weather patterns disproportionately impact lower-income and impoverished communities. Oftentimes, these communities do not have the means to move away from their neighborhoods. An example of an environmental justice issue in the United States is the lack of properly working septic tanks in Lowndes County, Alabama. A predominantly African-American area, many residents have lived with raw sewage in their backyards because they cannot afford to buy or install a septic system. Furthermore, these residents can be criminally charged for not having working septic tanks, even for those who cannot afford the cost. Not only are residents forced to live in unhygienic conditions, but they are also punished by the government. Catherine Coleman Flowers and other environmental justice advocates have dedicated years in their fight to achieve justice for the residents of Lowndes County. (https://www.epa.gov/environmentaljustice/learn-about-environmental-justice, waste, climate justice)

A global example of environmental justice is the impact that climate change events are having on third-world countries. Former Irish President Mary Robinson published "Climate Justice," a book that amplifies the voices of those in different countries around the world who are fighting climate change everyday. Robinson tells the story of Constance ___, a resident of Uganda, who is facing seasons of floods and droughts regularly, making food and water supply scarce. An activist from Vietnam, ___, shares the impacts that war and deforestation has had on her country's land and people. The former president of Kiribati, Anote Tong, has considered moving the entire nation off of their island to another because of sea levels rising. Robinson shares these stories to spread awareness of the impacts that climate change is having around the world, especially to smaller, poorer nations.

When each of these spheres overlap equally, like at the center of the Venn Diagram, sustainability has been established.

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History

Spheres of Sustainability (describe what the are/mean)


 * Social


 * Economic
 * Environmental

Intersections of the Spheres (describe what they are/mean, give examples)


 * Social Justice
 * Economic Stewardship
 * Environmental Justice

When all of these intersect equally, sustainability is maintained.

Career Paths


 * Describe more detail about each career and maybe add more