Sostenibilità

Sostenibilità, or sustainability, refers to a mode of development that seeks to meet present needs while preserving the ability of future generations to meet theirs. The concept gained prominence with the Brundtland Commission report Our Common Future (1987), which framed sustainable development as a balance among environmental protection, social equity, and economic growth. In practice, sostenibilità involves integrating environmental health, social inclusion, and economic viability into policies, projects, and everyday decisions.

Most frameworks organize sostenibilità around three interrelated dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. The environmental dimension emphasizes stewardship of natural resources, ecosystems, and climate resilience. The social dimension focuses on human well-being, rights, and equitable access to services. The economic dimension seeks productive, inclusive growth that is stable and resilient. Concepts such as life-cycle thinking, the precautionary principle, and capacity limits guide planning, while the idea of intergenerational equity underlines the responsibility to future users of the planet.

Global governance instruments include the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, national and local policies, and corporate sustainability reporting. Practices such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable procurement, and responsible finance are common avenues for advancing sostenibilità. Indicators like ecological footprint, planetary boundaries, and SDG progress assessments help monitor outcomes and inform policy adjustments.

Critiques note measurement challenges, data gaps, and the risk of greenwashing. Realizing sostenibilità requires participatory decision-making, equity considerations, and strategies that address both immediate needs and long-term resilience, avoiding trade-offs that disproportionately burden vulnerable populations.