Sustainability

Abstract

As the environment has moved centre stage, there has been an upsurge in the study of sustainability and the relationship between humans and the natural environment. Indeed, because of its focus on systems and human behaviour, sustainability is evolving into a pivotal position in the new trinity of governance that we argue for in this book. As with the other concepts, we note a more human-centred approach developing, particularly with the Sustainable Development Goals. As with the other parts of the trinity, we note that this is overly focused on the individual and generally favours adaptation and amelioration over more structural or systemic change. With such deep changes taken for granted as part of the anthropocene, the focus on lifestyles, life choices, awareness, reflection and responsible individual behaviour tends to duck the big economic and political system questions. In its current formulation, the notion of 'the anthropocene' is particularly culpable in this in that it fails to address what is driving the ongoing environmental crisis.