Is sustainability a revolution?

Can the sustainability movement be considered a revolution? Yes. An excerpt from the book The Sustainability Revolution: Portrait of a Paradigm Shift, describes three main points of the sustainability movement as genesis, critical mass and diffusion. Furthermore, it discusses the five characteristics of the sustainable revolution as: similar intentions and objectives, large and diverse, a range of issues, decentralized leadership and oppositional and alternative actions. This essay will discuss and defend the three main points.

In this article the beginning of the sustainability revolution is said to have occurred at a United Nations Conference that was held in 1972. The result of this conference was a report that outlined ways of protecting the earth’s ecosystems “while taking into consideration the economic and social justice concerns” (A. R. Edwards, 2005). Keeping this in mind, people all over the world are still defining ways of becoming more sustainable, which would suggest that the sustainability revolution may still be developing and not yet fully underway. Thus, the sustainability movement is still in the early stages of a revolution.

In 1992 the Earth Summit brought sustainability to the world’s attention. The world wide use of computers and the internet were also significant landmarks of the sustainability revolution. People of all origins were able to access information on sustainability. From this they were able to form groups and organizations where they brought forth their thoughts and ideas. Ideas are the bases of creation. Each day new sustainable ideas are brought forth which are leading us along the path of a very sustainable future.
Diffusion

Here the author notes that the sustainability movement began in the United States and some European countries, but states that “it has yet to become a pervasive mainstream phenomenon” (A. R. Edwards, 2005). The author speaks of developing countries and describes their efforts to use renewable energy resources such as extracting methane from animal waste. This may demonstrate that sustainable practices are becoming a global affair, however, in some cases it is noted that these practices only came about for economic reasons. This is a clear example that although society may be moving towards a more sustainable future, it may not be due to a passion for the environment. The key point here is that developing countries are also doing their part and recognizing ways of being more sustainable.

A revolution can begin with an overall change of thought and new ideas. Globally countries are becoming more aware of what sustainability means and what part they can play in becoming more sustainable. This may still only be the beginning, however, a revolution needs to start somewhere at sometime. Everywhere you go in the world you see more and more actions being taken in order to sustain our planet, environment, resources etc. The evidence not only exists within individuals actions, but also the actions of society and the world as a whole. For something to create change, in ideas and actions, on such a large scale it must certainly be defined as a revolution!

Please see the following bookfor the article that was used for the information included in this blog.
Edwards, A. R. (2005). The sustainability revolution: Portrait of a paradigm shift. Gabriola, B.C.: New Society Publishers.