Sustainability and the future of environmental sociology

Lockie, Stewart (2016) Sustainability and the future of environmental sociology. Environmental Sociology, 2 (1). pp. 1-4.

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Abstract

[Extract] No single concept is mentioned by more articles published in Environmental Sociology than the concept of sustainability. This is not surprising. No other concept has done more to shape contemporary understanding of the social, economic and ecological interdependencies implicated in environmental change. Sustainability has become part of our collective common sense to a point that few contributing authors reflect critically on its meaning or importance.

To be fair, meeting our needs in ways that do not undermine the ability of either ourselves or other people to do the same, now or in the future, does make pragmatic and moral sense. Since the WCED (1987) defined sustainable development in these terms nearly 30 years ago, most governments and major industries have adopted policies, plans and targets to pursue it. Judicious management of natural resources and meaningful action to address poverty and other forms of inequality are widely accepted as being in the long-term self-interest of communities, businesses and institutions just as they are (or ought to be!) objects of shared responsibility.

Item ID: 42858
Item Type: Article (Editorial)
ISSN: 2325-1042
Keywords: sustainability; environmental sociology; sustainable development
Date Deposited: 17 Mar 2016 22:38
FoR Codes: 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4410 Sociology > 441002 Environmental sociology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970116 Expanding Knowledge through Studies of Human Society @ 80%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9606 Environmental and Natural Resource Evaluation > 960601 Economic Incentives for Environmental Protection @ 20%
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