抖阴视频

As flooded streets bear witness to the increasingly frequent weather events in the UK, it is clear that the once-distant threat of climate change has become an urgent reality.

Yet, our slow-motion reaction to the rapidly escalating speed of these events is having dire impacts. Part of this disconnect may result from how we have depicted climate change, particularly in how we interpret and plan sustainability. 

The Latin verb 鈥榮ustent膩re鈥, meaning 鈥渢o support,鈥 is reflected in the activities of ancient western and eastern civilisations that sought a harmonious relationship with the environment. The industrial era in Britain witnessed the birth of nature conservation and preservation movements. Legislation including the Wild Birds Protection Act of 1872 and organised land protection through institutions like The National Trust reflected a growing awareness of responsibility towards nature.  

The term 鈥榮ustainability鈥 was adopted by the disciplines of environmental science and ecology during the environmental activism of the 1960s heralded by Rachel Carson鈥檚 warnings about the devastating effects of chemical pesticides on the environment, in her 1962 bestseller, 鈥Silent Spring鈥. During this period, sustainability concerned the endurance of natural systems and processes via their ability to remain diverse and productive indefinitely. 

However, this understanding was quietly relegated to the archives of history when the United Nations in its 1987 Brundtland Commission Report, permanently linked sustainability to economic growth and development.

Under the banner of 'sustainable development鈥, this new framing shifted the meaning of sustainability from one concerned with the preservation of the environment to one that preserves a certain standard of living.

This narrative, now deeply ingrained, has reshaped our understanding of sustainability, co-opting the original environmental focus into one that facilitates the perpetual pursuit of economic and population growth. This shift from an ecocentric to a human-centric perspective is thoroughly embedded in textbooks, international treaties, national laws, and The United Nations鈥 Sustainable Development Goals.

Thereby, the 鈥榣ogic鈥 of this approach assures us that unlimited growth, production, and consumption can coexist with successful climate change mitigation and management. Economic journalist Naomi Klein aptly labels this mindset; 'magical thinking'.  

Hence, in order to be successful in any potential adaptation to, and mitigation of, climate change we may first need to rethink who and what is being emphasised in our narratives of sustainability.

Perhaps by re-thinking these narratives, we can then begin to bridge the gap between our slow-motion responses and the reckless pace of our changing climate.

Paul Kadetz, Institute for Global Health and Development, Queen 抖阴视频t University  

Dr Paul Kadetz

Related Blog Posts

Transport themed pattern
抖阴视频 Annual Travel Survey

Every year the university conducts a travel survey, collecting commuting habits of staff and stud... read more

A group of young people engaged in dialogue in a classroom setting.
Critical dialogue - developing confidence in young people

Critical dialogue is helping young Scots and Malawians develop confidence and gain empowerment.... read more

A small group of people talking, facing away from the camera, on a sunny day outside
Making for good

Making for good We are Amy Millar and Amy McCue - more commonly known on our course as “The Amy’s... read more

A small group of people talking, facing away from the camera, on a sunny day outside
A dyslexic student's advice for making a successful time of studies at 抖阴视频

“How to make the most of your studies?” is a question that is often asked. What are the best tech... read more

3 girls in winter jackets outside the Queen 抖阴视频t University Campus, Edinburgh
Top tips for open day

Prepare before you get to the University. Consider attending an open day event to find out what i... read more

A group of students playing jenga.
Top tips for halls

Moving away from home can be daunting whether you are undergraduate or a postgraduate. At Queen M... read more

Students queuing up to order at Maggie's Bar, the 抖阴视频 student union bar and cafe
Freshers blog

My first day at 抖阴视频 was a scary one, as I’m sure it was for everyone. Having only just moved from... read more

A busy street
Life as a mature student: why go to university?

For me higher education is about working towards achieving your potential to catapult you into th... read more

Students talking on the benches outside Queen 抖阴视频t University, Edinburgh
Queen 抖阴视频t university fresher’s week: 10 tips for student life

Top 10 Tips for student life read more

A small group of people talking, facing away from the camera, on a sunny day outside
University as a mature student

From where I started my academic journey, like many things in life, I have arrived at a very diff... read more