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Some Challenges to Sustainability

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  • Bruce R. Conard

    (BRConard Consulting, Inc., 153 Balsam Drive, Oakville, Ontario L6J 3X4, Canada)

Abstract

The word “sustainability” is often used in business in the belief that the current ways of doing things will be able to be continued with only minor changes to balance economic development with related environmental and social issues. There are, however, immense challenges that threaten the very sustainability of our global society, let alone individual businesses or developments. A few of the most important of these challenges—population growth, clean energy supply, fresh water availability, and global climate change—are discussed. As humanity forms its collective response to these threats, it is concluded that all intelligent people, but especially scientists, have important roles to play, not only in technical innovation, but also in catalyzing political action.

Suggested Citation

  • Bruce R. Conard, 2013. "Some Challenges to Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(8), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:5:y:2013:i:8:p:3368-3381:d:27856
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Jyh-Rong Chou, 2021. "A Scoping Review of Ontologies Relevant to Design Strategies in Response to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-27, September.
    2. Chumbula Jimson Joseph & Massawe Fatihiya Ally, 2018. "The role of local institutions in the creation of an enabling environment for water project sustainability in Iringa District, Tanzania," Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, Sciendo, vol. 6(4), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Lamek Nahayo & Christophe Mupenzi & Alphonse Kayiranga & Fidele Karamage & Felix Ndayisaba & Enan Muhire Nyesheja & Lanhai Li, 2017. "Early alert and community involvement: approach for disaster risk reduction in Rwanda," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 86(2), pages 505-517, March.
    4. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar & Andrés Navarro Galera & Laura Alcaide Muñoz & María Deseada López Subires, 2016. "Analyzing Forces to the Financial Contribution of Local Governments to Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-18, September.
    5. María Deseada López Subires & Laura Alcaide Muñoz & Andrés Navarro Galera & Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar, 2019. "The Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on Financial Sustainability of Public Services: A Comparative Analysis in Regional Governments and Local Governments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, October.

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