Jätkusuutlikku

Jätkusuutlikku is an Estonian adjective form derived from the word jätkusuutlik, meaning sustainable or viable over the long term. The form jätkusuutlikku is used when the adjective modifies a noun in certain grammatical cases, such as the partitive or accusative singular. In everyday Estonian, the base form jätkusuutlik is more common in nominative position, while jätkusuutlikku appears in sentences where the noun requires one of the oblique cases.

Etymology and meaning: The term combines jätku, meaning continuation or ongoing, with the suffix -lik, which forms adjectives meaning “having the quality of.” The resulting meaning is roughly “having the quality of continuing” or “capable of continuing sustainably.” The concept is central to discussions of long-term environmental, economic, and social viability.

Usage and contexts: Jätkusuutlikku appears in formal and informal contexts to describe practices, policies, products, and plans that aim to endure without exhausting resources or causing disproportionate harm. It is frequently encountered in environmental policy, corporate sustainability reporting, urban planning, and education. The related noun jätkusuutlikkus denotes sustainability, while phrases such as jätkusuutlik areng (sustainable development) are common in policy discourse.

Related terms: jätkusuutlikkus (sustainability), jätkusuutlik areng (sustainable development), and the adjective jätkusuutlik used in various noun phrases. In Estonian-language discussions of global sustainability, the term weitly aligns with international concepts of responsible, long-term viability.

See also: sustainability in Estonia; Estonian language; environmental policy.