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Revisiting the Sustainability Timeline

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Learning activity

Take some time to reflect on the non-Western world's contributions to sustainability, then write down how these have changed your perspective, if at all, on which parts of the world should be leading the charge in sustainability.

Key Takeaways

Sustainability has been influenced by various cultures and thinkers beyond the European and American contexts. The traditional sustainability narrative is predominantly Western-focused, overlooking significant non-Western contributions.

  1. Sustainability is more than protecting the environment. It encompasses the iterative improvement of our economic systems, socioeconomic development, governance, and more.

  2. Sustainability is not static. It varies across cultures, geographies, governance systems, and developmental stages. There is no “one size fits all” approach to sustainability.

  3. Ultimately, recognising non-Western perspectives on sustainability is crucial for creating effective global solutions that take into account different perspectives and desired outcomes.

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Further Readings
  1. UNEP (2023)About Montreal Protocol
  2. Secretariat of the Basel ConventionThe Basel Convention at a glance
  3. Hamed A. Ead and Tarek Y S Kapiel (2022)Mostafa Kamal Tolba, Egyptian scientist, Environmental Expert, and the Founder of Environmental Diplomacy (1922 – 2016)Egyptian Journal of Botany
  4. Thich Nhat Hanh et al. (1971)A Message to our 3.5 billion neighbours on Planet Earth
  5. Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (2023)Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index
  6. Barry Lopez (2007)The Leadership Imperative: An Interview with Oren LyonsOrion Magazine
  7. Mia MacDonald (2013)The Legacy of Wangari Maathai: Two Years OnHuffpost
  8. Aditi H Trivedi (2022)Khadi: The Fabric of Sustainability and Beyond. Mahatma Gandhi
  9. Hannah Ritchie et al. (2023)Ozone LayerOur World in Data
  10. James Ogude et al. (2019)I am because you are: an interview with James OgudeCHC Ideas
  11. Arthur Hanson (2019)Ecological civilisation in the People's Republic of China: values, action, and future needsADB East Asia Working Paper Series