sustainable
Sustainable is an adjective used to describe practices, systems, or states that can be maintained over time without depleting resources or causing unacceptable ecological, social, or economic consequences. In environmental policy and planning, sustainability refers to a balance among ecological integrity, social equity, and economic vitality.
The concept is commonly framed around three interconnected pillars: environmental protection, social inclusion, and economic viability.
Historically, the term arose from concerns about depletion of natural resources and environmental degradation. The Brundtland
Practically, sustainable approaches appear in energy, transportation, agriculture, industry, and urban design. Examples include switching to
Measurement and governance of sustainability rely on indicators such as carbon and water footprints, life cycle