The Power of Human Sustainability

In the last decade, the term Sustainability has become increasingly popular, especially in the context of environmental issues and climate change. However, this term doesn’t just concern the planet, it also concerns people. Human sustainability is a concept that centres on the well-being of society and the quality of human life, both now and in the future. 

Human sustainability is one of the four pillars of sustainability, along with social, economic, and environmental sustainability. There is no unique or universal definition of human sustainability, as different contexts and perspectives may emphasise different aspects or dimensions. However, one possible way to define human sustainability is the ability to maintain and improve the human capital in society by ensuring that all people have access to adequate and quality resources, services, and opportunities that enable them to live healthy, fulfilling, and dignified lives, while also respecting the rights and needs of other living beings and future generations. More specifically, it encompasses various aspects such as health, education, nutrition, culture, justice, human rights, and social inclusion.  

According to this definition, human sustainability has objective and subjective components. Objective components are about the material conditions and resources that affect human well-being, such as food, water, energy, health care, education, income, etc. Subjective components refer to the psychological and emotional aspects that influence human well-being, such as happiness, satisfaction, meaning, purpose, among others.  

Human sustainability is important for several reasons. First, human beings are both the beneficiaries and the promoters of sustainable development. Human sustainability aims to fulfil people’s needs and aspirations, while empowering them to contribute to positive change. Secondly, it argues that human well-being is interdependent on the well-being of other living beings and the environment. Human sustainability seeks to balance the utilisation of natural resources with the protection of ecosystems and biodiversity. On the other hand, human sustainability promotes a long-term perspective that considers the impacts of current actions on future generations. Human sustainability strives to create a more equitable and resilient world for all. 

Beyond individual actions, human sustainability involves sustainable business practices and investments that seek to preserve natural resources and improve human capabilities and opportunities. It therefore has significant implications for work and organisations in various ways:

• It improves people’s commitment and performance by creating a more positive working environment that supports physical, mental, and emotional health, promotes learning and development, encourages creativity and innovation and aligns personal and organisational values. 

• On the other hand, offering products or services that meet or exceed customer expectations, addressing social or environmental issues; demonstrating ethical and responsible practices and communicating transparently and authentically, can improve customer loyalty and reputation. 

• By reducing waste and emissions, optimising the use of resources, adopting renewable or circular solutions, minimising risks and costs and maximising value creation, you can increase operational efficiency and profitability. 

• Human sustainability can foster collaboration and innovation by engaging with diverse stakeholders; building trust and mutual understanding; leveraging collective intelligence and expertise; co-creating solutions; and sharing knowledge and best practices. 

In sum, human sustainability is a concept that encompasses various aspects of human well-being and development in relation to other living beings and the environment, and is fundamental to achieving a more balanced, inclusive, and resilient world for current and future generations.  

Human sustainability also has significant impacts on work and organisations in terms of people’s commitment, the promotion of health and well-being, diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. It must therefore be a fundamental priority for individuals, organisations, communities, and society. 

References

Cantrell, S.; Cunningham, K.; Richards, L.; & Eaton, K. (2023). Advancing the human element of sustainability. Deloitte. Available at: https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/insights/focus/human-capital-trends/2023/integrating-esg-and-sustainability-measures.html. 

Kokemuller, N. (n.d.). What is human sustainability? The classroom. Available at: https://www.theclassroom.com/what-is-human-sustainability-12731251.html 

Rinalducci, S, N. (2023) Human Sustainability Explained. Sustainability Success. Available at: https://sustainability-success.com/human-sustainability/. 

Rinalducci, S, N. (2023) The 4 Pillars of Sustainability Explained. Sustainability Success. Available at https://sustainability-success.com/four-pillars-of-sustainability/. 

RMIT University (2017). The 4 Pillars of Sustainability. Future Learn. Available at: https://www.futurelearn.com/info/courses/sustainable-business/0/steps/78337. 

United Nations (n.d.). Support Sustainable Development and Climate Action. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/our-work/support-sustainable-development-and-climate-action. 

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