Sustainability is often defined as fulfilling current needs without jeopardizing future generations' ability to do the same. In simpler terms, we should not sacrifice the future for short-term gains. However, I believe this definition is incomplete.
We must also acknowledge another truth which we learned from our parents, many of whom sacrificed their present needs so that their children could thrive in the future.
Interestingly, rather than viewing this as a loss, they counted it as gain.
True sustainability is not only about striving for a balance between short-term and long-term objectives. It also involves making an investment:
exchanging something of value for something of greater value.
This perspective challenges us to rethink our approach to sustainability. It's not just about preserving resources for the future, but also about actively investing in it. Our parents' generation understood this intuitively, making sacrifices that they saw as investments in their children's futures.
This expanded view of sustainability invites us to reconsider our approach to global challenges. It suggests that true sustainability isn't just about maintaining a delicate balance or preserving what we have. Instead, it's about making deliberate choices to improve our collective future, even if it means short-term sacrifices.
Finding balance is a necessary part of sustainability. However, addressing the most pressing environmental, social, and economic issues will require sacrifice in the present. We should not view this as a loss, but rather as an investment in our future well-being.