Current challenges to the concept of sustainability

• Published in: Global sustainability Vol. 2
• Main Authors: Vogt, Markus, Weber, Christoph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2019
• Subjects: Climate change; Environmental impact; Ethical standards; Ethics; fallacies in the context of global and planetary sustainability; intergenerational and global responsibility; International agreements; Motivation; Natural resources; normative content of sustainability; Politics; Property rights; Religion; Sketches; Sustainability; sustainability as cross-sectional political guideline; sustainability concept; Sustainable development
• ISSN: 2059-4798; 2059-4798
• DOI: 10.1017/sus.2019.1

Non-technical summary In this paper we discuss current challenges to the sustainability concept. This article focuses on seven dimensions of the concept. These dimensions are crucial for understanding sustainability. Even today, the literature contains basic misunderstandings about these seven dimensions. This article sketches such fallacies in the context of global and planetary sustainability. The sustainability concept has been criticized as a content-empty ‘fuzzy notion’ or non-committal ‘all-purpose glue’. This article thus has a critical intention of reflecting the sustainability concept accurately. The aim is to contribute a better understanding of the concept. Technical summary This paper focuses on questions related to the normative content of sustainability. Even today, the literature contains basic misunderstandings about this content. So, this article sketches seven such fallacies in the context of global and planetary sustainability. They are partly to blame for the recent discourse about the environment and development ending up in a cul-de-sac, discrediting the term sustainability. This article thus has a critical intention of reflecting the sustainability concept accurately by discussing current challenges. The aim is to contribute a better understanding of the normative aspects of sustainability. By presenting a differentiated analysis of its content the article will provide a reflected version of the sustainability concept, characterized by the following dimensions: (1) ecological: reflection on the conditions and consequences of human activities; (2) political: sustainability as a cross-sectional political guideline; (3) ethical: intergenerational and global responsibility; (4) socio-economic: operationalizing the principle of sustainability; (5) democratic: pluralism, participation and democratic innovation; (6) cultural: lifestyle and a new model of wealth; (7) theological: belief in creation and sustainability. We do not want to offer limited definitions, but rather to stimulate a debate about rehabilitating the sustainability concept. Therefore, these dimensions are crucial for understanding sustainability.