Sustainability
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Date
2026-06-26
Authors
Jaskolski, Martina
Kavanagh, Elena
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Routledge
Published Version
Abstract
This book entry examines sustainability as a key concept for understanding the long-term relationship between environmental, social, and economic systems. Sustainability concerns the capacity to meet present needs while maintaining the ecological and social conditions necessary for future generations, requiring attention to the interconnected consequences of human activities, resource use, and development.
Within the context of environmental peacebuilding, sustainability provides an important framework for considering whether interventions, policies, and institutions can support both lasting peace and environmental integrity over time. Environmental degradation, resource pressures, inequality, and conflict can undermine sustainable outcomes, while approaches that integrate environmental protection, social well-being, participation, and long-term thinking can contribute to more resilient and peaceful societies.
The entry highlights the relevance of sustainability to environmental peacebuilding as both a guiding principle and a practical objective. It draws attention to the need to move beyond short-term interventions and consider how environmental governance and peacebuilding processes can support enduring relationships between communities, institutions, natural resources, and ecosystems.
Description
Keywords
Sustainability , Ecological and social conditions
Citation
Jaskolski, M. and Kavanagh, E. (2026) 'Sustainability', in Bruch, C., Weaver, R., Matthew, R., Weinthal, E. and Swatuk, L. (eds.) Essential concepts of environmental peacebuilding: an A–Z guide. London. Routledge, pp. 293–295. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.23127784