ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the concepts of sustainability, sustainable development (SD), and 8 millennium development goals. It introduces sustainability models including the triple bottom line and the egg of sustainability. The chapter discusses the driving forces for sustainable solutions, where the technology dimension is central to the three main pillars of sustainability: economy, society, and ecology. It shows how ideas of circular economy have been proposed to change the "take-make-waste" linear economic system in order to lower resource use and waste of natural capital. The chapter describes the stages of sustainability planning and the requirements for sustainability approaches in engineering and the unique role of engineers in SD. It investigates an integrated approach toward meeting SD goals through a case that explores the interaction of three major resources, water, energy, and food, in the state of California. The chapter also discusses urban transformation and determinants of sustainable and smarter cities.
