sustainability

Sundre Residents > Sustainability

Pay It Forward Challenge

Sundre's Municipal Sustainability Plan:
Our Roadmap to a Sustainable Sundre

What is "sustainability"?

"Sustainability" is a word thrown around all the time, and it seems to be related to a number of different topics — from development of the oil sands to recycling your tin cans.

Sustainability is "meeting the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs".

While the word "sustainability" is associated with a variety of topics, they are in fact, all part of the same story, much of which is about supply and demand.

In Alberta, we can see this story unfolding in our increasing:

  • Water consumption
  • Population growth
  • Demand for housing

And in our decreasing:

  • Available freshwater
  • Air quality
  • Affordable housing

While we're experiencing great economic wealth and growth in Alberta, this is also increasing our demand on natural resources and the services that natural systems provide (such as water filtration, flood control, climate regulation and soil stabilization). Alberta's astounding economic growth is also leading to a reduction of pure water, farmland, air, forests and natural diversity.

So, we need to look at the demands we make on nature and natural systems and ensure that people's needs — both this generation and future ones — can still be met.

Thinking about the long term means we have to consider how our actions affect not just ourselves, but our children and grandchildren, our neighbours, our economy and our environment.

But it doesn't have to be difficult. We can start this process right here at home with a thoughtful approach to how and why we make our household decisions. To look at how our household decisions can promote sustainability, first we have to take a look at the big picture.

If we want to be sustainable, we have to ensure that future generations can meet their needs, A group of international scientists have determined the four root causes of how we negatively impact the earth's ability to sustain human society and the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Hundreds of leading corporations and organizations around the world are using these same four root causes to help them make strategic decisions toward sustainability — decisions that reduce financial risk and support innovation.