Sustainability is a challenging topic. It encompasses everything from the basic needs of the most primitive species on earth to more complex issues such as the social implications of global warming. The subject invites opportunities for people to see the world from different perspectives.

Students should be encouraged to gather, process and act upon information to become effective citizens. The issues surrounding sustainability can be complex; they are also challenging to understand and to teach. It is important to highlight the relationships among the different concepts and potential they possess to play with and play against one another. While no single activity can teach any of the concepts completely, individual concepts and activities can contribute to a student's cumulative understanding.

Social equity plays an important role in creating a more sustainable world. Education about sustainability must include the recognition that people of all races, cultures, and incomes have equal rights to live and work in a healthy environment. By encouraging students to examine issues from all viewpoints, they will be encouraged to develop a personal ethical framework for making decisions and taking action. This approach can broaden environmental literacy while expanding knowledge about how to balance limited natural resources with everyday consumer demands.

Concepts of Sustainability

• Sustainability meets our present needs without compromising our ability to meet our future needs
• Sustainability balances the relationship between ecological integrity, economic prosperity and social equity
• Sustainability requires thinking beyond our immediate needs and interests
• Sustainability considers the perspective of other individuals, communities and cultures and looks forward to assess the way actions will affect the lives of people and other species in the United States and around the globe in the future