Sustainable Solutions: Sustainability is what now?
By Mike Davis
The origin of the word sustainable dates back more than 400 years. However, it has been gaining use since the1970s when environmental concerns started growing.
Today, ask ten10 people for a definition, you will likely get 10 different answers. One reason for the lack of consensus is because the word can used in many ways: Environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, sustainable growth, etc.
Well, let’s make it easier.
Sustainability means that you/we use only what we can replenish. Six words. Easy-peasy. It works for environmental protection, our household or governmental budgets, or in planning for growth. Use only what we can replenish.
Overuse is misuse resulting in an out-of-balance system. Fifteen billion carbon dioxide-absorbing trees are cut down each year across the globe. There are 46% fewer trees on Earth since human civilization.
The imbalance occurs as heat-holding carbon dioxide builds in our atmosphere, raising average temperatures by 2°F since 1850. Around the world, and even in Attleboro, we are seeing the impact in extreme weather patterns.
Enter the new Attleboro Sustainability Commission, approved unanimously by the Attleboro City Council and volunteers appointed by the mayor. The mission of the nine-person commission is to make recommendations that will make Attleboro more sustainable and resilient.
In upcoming Sustainable Solutions, we will give you proven sustainable practices that you can do personally, in your home, or at work. We will share projects that we are working on. We will let you about upcoming events where you might get involved.
Sustainability, using only what we can replenish, is an achievable goal.
And, for good balance, it needs to be.
The Sustainability Commission is a nine-member volunteer team of Attleboro residents that are passionate about installing sustainability practices in the city. Mike Davis heads up the commission.
For more information or to help in the mission of the commission, visit
www.cityofattleboro.us and search for Sustainability Commission.