LEC Sustainability Group

‘Sustainability’: What does it mean?

It is an everyday word in the 21st century, but is everyone referring to the same thing when they talk about ‘sustainability’? Geography student Ellen Heaselgrave investigates.

Sustainability is a powerful and important word with conflated meanings and associations. The United Nations have historically viewed sustainability as “meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the needs of future generations” ⁽¹⁾. However, does the term sustainability always encompass these ideals?

Before undertaking a research project with the LEC Sustainability Group exploring the definitions of sustainability used by various political and research organisations, I, admittedly, thought this would be a simpler task. My main finding is there is not a universal understanding of sustainability, even between similar organisations.

Most people know the previously mentioned Brundtland definition, however, this is only one definition, and it arguably doesn’t act as a strong guiding force for organisations. For example, of the organisations who use and claim to follow this definition, many differed widely in their choice to encapsulate some or all the environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainability. Some see sustainability as synonymous with environmental aims, when sustainability can and often inherently does, relate to human and societal challenges, which should be considered when using the term.

Another example of sustainability becoming differently understood is the conflicts around the inclusion of development, growth and expansion ideas. Most modern political organisations or companies discuss sustainable development; however, many researchers and activists argue that visions of distributive justice, intergenerational equity and maintaining ecological limits require transformative economic change ⁽²⁾. Thus, meaningful sustainability cannot coincide with a business-as-usual focus on growth.

The confused ideas around sustainability are aided by corporations capitalising on the term in greenwashing campaigns to increase profits without adhering to the ethos of sustainability⁽³⁾. However, generalised definitions like Brundtland’s can still have impact when used in considered, transparent manners. The meaning of sustainability has been conflated by marketing and political agendas, so organisations should define what sustainability means for them, and which aspects of sustainability they aim to represent, providing actionable goals.

United Nations. (2022) Sustainability. https://www.un.org/en/academic-impact/sustainability
White, M.A. (2013) Sustainability: I know it when I see it. Ecological Economics 86, 213-217.
Carrigan, M. (2017) Revisiting ‘The Myth of the Ethical Consumer’: why are we still not ethical shoppers. Journal of Consumer Ethics 1(1), 11-21.

Inspiring student climate action through COP26

In the run up to Lancaster University’s ‘COP26 at Lancaster Festival’, Jaya Patel investigates how we can use the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) to encourage students to be part of sustainable change at their universities.

The 26th Convention of Parties (COP26) is approaching, and it is crucial that young people are involved in climate action. So, how can COP26 be used to encourage student engagement with climate change and sustainability?

This was the focus of a recent EAUC Scotland webinar I attended, featuring some brilliant speakers from different institutions. Participants were asked what prevents student engagement in these issues. Some interesting points were raised; perhaps students don’t know how they can be involved in change, lack knowledge of the situation, or feel hopeless due to insufficient global action.

Lacking faith in COP26 is understandable, however there are ways to participate as a student and help push for change. Nick Cullen, from campaign group Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, spoke about the importance of activism in amplifying marginalised voices and pressuring decisions even from outside of the COP26 space. Volunteers can help support them in doing this.

The youth constituency of the UNFCCC, YOUNGO, provides more direct ways for students to participate in COP26. Two members spoke about the youth conference (COY) that gives youth voices the chance to be heard in COP26, and the opportunities for people to apply as delegates.

It is also vital to have accessible spaces within universities for students to engage with climate action. Firstly, sustainability must be included in curriculums to develop a greater understanding of why we need to address these issues, and how. Secondly, it means providing ways for students to help promote sustainability.

For example, the University of Leeds has a COP26 task force and student ambassador team, as Kate Lock described it. This allows students across departments to collaborate on sustainability projects within the university and alongside youth climate organisations.

Beyond COP26, there must still be opportunities for student engagement. Darren Axe of Green Lancaster talked about the long-term sustainability projects here at Lancaster University, like ECOhub, which students can have active roles in.

After watching this webinar has shown me how COP26 can be a useful starting point for encouraging student engagement, especially alongside opportunities for students to be part of sustainable change in their universities.

Lancaster University’s week-long COP26@ Lancaster University Festival (20-27 October) will have events for the public, schools, staff and students including seminars, workshops, guided walks and discussions. It will demonstrate the University’s commitment to accelerating action on climate change from local impact to global impact and highlight the depth and breadth of our research, knowledge and other activities from across the University and those we work with.

Welcome to the blog!

Do you want to know our latest progress towards our department’s sustainability commitments? Or to find out how the team feel about the global challenges we need to address? Then you’re in the right place.

Welcome to our blog.

We want to challenge, inspire and inform, but most of all we want to be honest. We believe in learning and acting together as we strive to make our department more environmentally sustainable. And we know that we have a lot of work to do.

We invite you to come on the journey with us.

In short posts of ~300 words, our team will share their personal experiences and reflections of the process, the challenges, and the opportunities ahead. Unless otherwise stated, the opinions shared are those of the posts’ individual authors, not departmental statements from Lancaster Environment Centre.