ABSTRACT
In the first chapter, definitions of sustainability rooted in the debates and events that shaped the environmental movement are presented. The key historical events and intellectual arguments that have contributed a variety of ideas that we now associate with the concept are examined. This chapter begins by outlining two of the core debates that have influenced the way we understand sustainability today: preservation/conservation and the limits to growth debate. These debates serve as a starting point in discussing what to sustain and how to sustain. The inclusion or exclusion of limits, preservation, or conservation in current definitions of sustainability can be indicative of the type of definition being used. That is, conservation-oriented definitions of sustainability tend to focus on “wise use” and the utility of nature for humans, while limits-oriented definitions indicate recognition of the fundamental character of the environment. The idea of limits is also supported by the physical laws of thermodynamics. Specifically, the first and second laws of thermodynamics help explain how energy and matter operate within the earth’s natural systems. The way these foundational concepts are utilized can be a useful analytical tool in understanding interpretations of sustainability.
