What is Just Sustainability?
Just Sustainability combines the terms "justice" and "sustainability." There are many reasons why more sustainable use of the world's resources requires attention to economic and social justice, too. Consider that burning wood and charcoal for cooking and heating in poorer nations contributes to deforestation and emissions that worsen climate change. Here in the U.S. lower-income people living in leaky houses face higher utility bills, but cannot afford the repairs and insulation needed to save them money and reduce energy use overall. So when we talk about sustainability, more is at stake than the environment.
In the 1980s, the United Nations' Bruntland Report defined sustainable development as "development that meets the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Practically this means that less developed countries need to be allowed to develop their economies to build a more efficient energy infrastructure. And lower-income people in the U.S. need help weatherizing their houses. These are examples of how attending to unmet needs can help us all by eliminating some of our most polluting practices. What obligations does this kind of development place on wealthier nations and individuals?
If you're wondering what someone who is interested in Just Sustainability might do:
- you can watch this video of Majora Carter talking about how she got involved in her Green the Ghetto cause in the South Bronx.
- A more local example comes from Indianapolis consulting firm, HundredYear Consulting, which offers guidelines for green affordable housing [PDF].
In November, Winona LaDuke, founder of the White Earth Land Recovery Project, is speaking at IUPUI as part of the 4th annual American Indian Education Conference, Nov. 12-13, 2009. Read about WELRP's sustainable communities program.
For more resources on Just Sustainability, follow the Common Theme Project's pages to Be Informed and Get Engaged.
