In a sea of definitions for sustainability, the current prevailing definition is the 1987 “Brundtland Commission” definition of “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Sustainability acknowledges that existing sources are limited and that they should be used efficiently and with consideration of long-term priorities and consequences. In simplest terms, sustainability defends the world that will be inherited by our children and grandchildren.

While sustainability is currently widely associated with environmental aspects including climate change, biodiversity loss, and land and water pollution, it consists, in fact, of three main components: the social, environmental, and economic aspects.