In recent decades, globalization has transformed the world into an interconnected global society with interdependent economies and a constant flow of information, goods and people. However, with the increase in global connections, significant sustainability challenges have also arisen. In this era of globalization, guaranteeing a sustainable future for our planet and human society has become imperative.
Sustainability is a central concept in addressing the socio-environmental problems we face today. It involves meeting our current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This concept is based on three interdependent pillars: environment, economy and social.
First, the environmental dimension means protecting and conserving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, preserving biodiversity and preventing environmental degradation. With global consumption and demand for resources increasing, it is essential to adopt sustainable practices in industries such as energy, agriculture and transportation to minimize the impact on Earth's fragile ecosystems.
Second, economic sustainability involves developing a business model that integrates social and environmental concerns into strategic decisions. Thus, the creation of responsible businesses, oriented towards sustainability, which are consistent with ethical values and have a positive impact on society and the environment, is promoted. At the same time, it invests in clean and energy-efficient technologies, which lead to a more rational use of resources and the reduction of pollution.
Finally, the social dimension of sustainability involves ensuring an equitable and inclusive level of development for all people. This involves combating social and economic inequalities, promoting human rights, access to basic services, education and improving the quality of life for all citizens of the world. It is essential that development is carried out in a balanced manner so that no individual or community is left behind.
In an era where global interdependence and interconnectedness are increasingly evident, addressing sustainability is essential to building a sustainable future. Without a responsible and integrated approach to socio-environmental challenges, we can endanger both our precious natural resources and the well-being of human society. It is therefore imperative that we pay more attention to sustainability in all aspects of our lives, from individual decision-making to government policies and actions at the global level.
Sustainability, as a matter of global concern, began to gain attention in the second part of the 20th century, as a result of increasing awareness of the negative impact of economic development on the environment and human health. This concept refers to the ability of a human system, organ or product to endure in the long term. It originated from "sustainable development", a term coined in 1987 by the seminal report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, coordinated by Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, under the auspices of the United Nations. The report defines sustainable development as that which achieves a balance between meeting the needs of the present without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Similar concepts emphasize the need to protect fundamental common values and goods, as exemplified in the "sustainable society", i.e. a society in which economic growth is compatible with planetary limits and equitably distributed among citizens.
Sustainable development is a main target of the European Union and an issue of international credibility. It is guaranteed in Article 3.3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), which states that "The Union [...] shall strive for the sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth and price stability, on a highly competitive social market economy, which aims at employment and social progress, as well as a high level of protection and improvement of the quality of the environment".
Recently, a growing interest among the academic community and society in general has been detected in fundamental economic and social issues, with a particular emphasis on the ecological sustainability of human life and activities. Current studies argue that the economy is not an independent and self-regulating system, but rather a subsystem of social systems, which are in turn subsystems of the natural systems that enable their existence (Van Griethuysen, 2002).