Oct 13

Written by: Leigh Roberts
10/13/2010 1:50 PM 

 

A reader of this site recently asked the question as to the exact meaning of sustainability ….

 

The King Code of Governance Principles for South Africa 2009 offers this definition: “Sustainability of a company means conducting operations in a manner that meets existing needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It means having regard to the impact that the business operations have on the economic life of the community in which it operates. Sustainability includes environmental, social and governance issues.”

 

….’that meets existing needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs’ is widely understood as looking after and conserving the natural resources we have now so that future humans can have a habitable planet.

 

This begs the question that if there are six billion odd humans on planet earth today who are already feeling the pinch of dwindling natural resources, how will future humans cope when there are ten billion of them on the planet? Are we on a hiding to nothing?  

 

Perhaps the point to make is that things can be done. The humans on earth today can learn to make more with less. Companies are learning that sustainability is not a soft issue, but a core issue that is integral to their business strategy.

 

And for those people who believe in reincarnation they will surely know that looking after the environment today is absolutely necessary because what you reap is what you sow.

 

 

Tags: