Is there a way that we can have prosperity, freedom and equality for all people while protecting our natural environment so all life can flourish? That’s the question that sustainability asks.

Sustainability is a way of looking at the world.  Generally, sustainability is “the capacity to maintain a certain process or state indefinitely” (Wikipedia). When that concept is applied to modern life on earth, a common definition is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission, 1987).

Sustainability is about examining the world holistically and with a long-term perspective, rather than trying to solve problems independently from each other with “quick fixes.”

A sustainable world protects all people, our prosperity, and the planet. None of those three things are put above the others, and likewise none are considered less important.

Thinking sustainably often leads to the realization that today’s problems seem diverse but are often closely related, and solving one depends on solving others.

Achieving sustainable thought and practice will not be an easy task. It will require re-thinking our science and technology, our cultures, our behaviors, and our interactions with the natural world. But what is our alternative?

Wind turbines and geothermal heating, workers that are treated and paid fairly, products that compost or recycle, and balancing profits with equity all have their place in a sustainable campus and world. But ultimately, sustainability involves transforming how we all think about “how things work." As an institution of higher education, we take responsibility in preparing our graduates to create a just, fair future for everyone.