More about Sustainability

Understanding sustainability makes it accessible and desirable. Living sustainably means living smarter. It is often easy to see what is not sustainable – declining forests and fisheries, businesses collapsing. So what is it that makes something sustainable?

Through twenty five years scientific study of ecological systems Robert Ulanowicz has shown that the sustainability of any complex system can be measured with a single metric which is the optimal balance of two key variables – efficiency and resilience - which in turn are a function of two structural variables - diversity and interconnectivity.

Efficiency – the measure of movement of mass through a complex system. Little diversity or interconnection

Resilience - the ability to bounce back after shock, to regenerate. Large diversity and interconnection.

The weight or significance of efficiency and resilience in a balanced sustainable system are shown in the seesaw diagram, by their respective size.

For too long we have put our effort into efficiency. Notice how the seesaw will collapse off balance when the efficiency quotient is increased. Notice also the systems in our world that are collapsing off balance. It is time to put our effort into understanding resilience and building that into our lives, organisations and communities.

Sustainability is not about restriction, denial or lack. The structural variables of diversity and interconnectivity require us to be expansive in mind and action, to diversify, to see that all is connected and to interconnect.

Links - Sustainable Kiwi / Ecological Footprint