Sustainability

What is Sustainability?

Sustainability is a normative concept for a dynamic long-term balance between humans and nature in an ever-advancing world civilisation.

Sustainable development is an approach to economic activity and human development that aims for a society where living conditions and resources meet human needs without undermining planetary integrity. It aims to balance the needs of the economy, environment, and society. It refers to the many processes and pathways to achieve sustainability.

The term "sustainable development" was first used internationally in 1980 in the IUCN/UNEP/WWF World Conservation Strategy. The 1987 United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development issued its report Our Common Future, commonly called the Brundtland Report. It defined sustainable development as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This contains two key concepts: the concept of 'needs', in particular, the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Earth Summit) in Rio de Janeiro placed the concept of sustainable development on the international agenda. This led to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted in 2015 by the UN General Assembly to be achieved in 2030.

It is normal for the International Environment Forum, as a Bahá'í-inspired professional organization for environment and sustainability, to promote the unity of the human race in a sustainable, ever-advancing world civilization that preserves the ecological balance of the planet. It places serving humankind above worldly interests, rejects the opiate of consumerism, and turns away from materialistic ideologies and the worldviews they aggressively promote. It aims to build upon the most foundational qualities in humanity, ones for which the world stands in great need: unity, trustworthiness, mutual support, collaboration, fellow feeling, selflessness, commitment to truth, a sense of responsibility, a thirst to learn, the love of an all-embracing heart.

Sustainable Development Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 to be achieved by 2030. The seventeen goals cover all the main dimensions of sustainable development, and are intended to be seen as an integrated whole. Unlike Agenda 21 adopted in 1992, the SDGs included defined targets to be achieved, and indicators to measure progress towards those targets. Unfortunately at present, governments are far behind in achieving the goals they set for themselves.

The 17 SDGs are:
Poverty - No poverty (SDG 1)
Food/hunger - Zero hunger (SDG 2)
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Education (SDG 4)
Gender equality (SDG 5)
Water - Clean water and sanitation (SDG 6)
Energy - Affordable and clean energy (SDG 7)
Work - Decent work (SDG 8)
and economic growth (SDG 8)
Industry, innovation and infrastructure (SDG 9)
Inequality - Reduced inequalities (SDG 10)
Communities - Sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11)
Consumption - Responsible consumption (SDG 12)
and production (SDG 12)
Climate change - Climate action (SDG 13)
Oceans - Life below water (SDG 14)
and Freshwater ecosystems
Biodiversity - Life on land (SDG 15)
Peace, justice, and strong institutions (SDG 16)
Partnerships for the goals (SDG 17)

The UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform is: https://sdgs.un.org/

IEF and the Sustainable Development Goals

The International Environment Forum has been engaged with the process of developing the UN 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since the early stages, including inputs to the Rio+20 process and submissions to on-line consultations, listed below in reverse chronological order. Its focus now is on the implementation of the SDGs. Several of the papers below describe approaches to the SDGs for individuals, communities and businesses.

IEF Toolkit for the SDGS

This toolkit contains a selection of SDG targets relevant to local communities, the SDGs rewritten for personal use, SDG targets that businesses can contribute to implementing, and a selection of Baha'i-inspired texts for each SDG.

Implementing the SDGs

IEF 20th Annual Conference, 7-9 October 2016, Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on implementing the SDGs as communities and individuals

Geneva Workshops on Implementing the SDGs
Second Geneva Workshop on the SDGs, Geneva, 7 July 2016
Workshop on implementing the SDGs, Geneva, 27 April 2016

AIESEC Global Leaders Summit, Marrakech, Morocco, February 2016, with IEF keynote speaker on SDGs

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, University of Geneva Global Environmental Policy Programme, Policy Dialogue, 2 September 2015 (video)

Papers on sustainability

Some relevant papers

The 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals: Challenges and Opportunities for Business, Arthur Dahl, presented at the Vision Gulf Business Conference, Kuwait, 31 May 2016

Using the new UN 2030 Agenda to work for justice at the local level, Arthur Dahl, presented at the Justice Conference, Netherlands, March 2016

Europe and the 2030 Agenda: Regional Assessment, Arthur Dahl. Presented at the EESC/UNEP/EEB Conference Sustainable Development Goals: Implementation in Europe, Brussels, 12-13 November 2015

The Sustainable Development Goals and their implications for the Western Balkans Presentation by Arthur Dahl at the European Center for Peace and Development 11th International Conference, Belgrade, Serbia, 24-25 October 2015.

News and Posts on Sustainability and SDGs

(in reverse chronological order)

Health benefits of nature, 26 May 2025

Microplastics, 26 May 2025

A better future for Artificial Intelligence, Arthur Dahl, 24 May 2025

Interconnected Disaster Risks: Turning Over a New Leaf, United Nations University, May 2025

IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, 6 May 2025

Building community resilience against complex risks, Arthur Dahl, 25 April 2025

Young Person’s Guide To Systems Change, The Club of Rome, 29 March 2025

What are rights worth?, blog by Arthur Dahl, 21 March 2025

Africa Facing Polycrisis, UNCTAD Economic Development in Africa Report 2024, 11 March 2025

In full partnership: Women’s advancement as a prerequisite for peaceful societies, Bahá'í International Community, 20 February 2025

Beyond GDP, IISD, 4 March 2025

Reimagining Global Governance for Food Security, Kofi Annan Commission on Food Security, February 2025

Global Disintegration and Integration, blog by Arthur Dahl, 18 February 2025

Teaching Materials on Sustainable Lifestyles, Education for Sustainable Lifestyles, International Partner Network, 18 February 2025

Post-growth: the science of wellbeing within planetary boundaries, Giorgos Kalis et al., summary by Arthur Dahl, January 2025

Strengthening Solidarity: Social Cohesion as a Driver of Development, Bahá’í International Community, 22 January 2025

Transforming Civilisation, The Club of Rome, based on a blog by Nafeez Ahmed, 9 January 2025

Reflections on Information, blog by Arthur Dahl, 16 January 2025

Is our Vision of Progress Really Progress?, Daniel Perell, Bahá’í International Community, 6 January 2025

Land Degradation Threatens Food Supplies, UNCCD COP16, 15 December 2024

Drylands now make up 40% of land on Earth, The Guardian, 9 December 2024

Harnessing science to tackle global crises, The Fifth Element, 22 October 2024

Turning the Tide: Reducing Biodiversity Loss and Restoring Decimated Ecosystems, Anil Singh, The Bahá'í World, 14 October 2024

Earth’s ‘vital signs’ show humanity’s future in balance, The Guardian, Damian Carrington, 8 October 2024

Course on Sustainable Development and Human Prosperity, IEF available for study, 8 October 2024

Nature and Health, blog by Arthur Dahl based on New Scientist 31 August 2024

Leave No One Behind: The Well-Being of the Planet and Its People, G20 Interfaith Forum, Brasilia, 19-22 August 2024

Global Foresight Report 2024, United Nations Environment Programme and International Science Council, 15 July 2024

Future of Agriculture in the European Union, Bahá'í International Community, Brussels Office, 24 June 2024

A human rights economy, Olivier De Schutter, UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, The Guardian 2 July 2024

UN reform for Sustainable Development Goals, Sustainable Development Report 2024, released 17 June 2024

Industry causes a quarter of deaths, WHO study in Europe, The Guardian 12 June 2024

The Cooperation Economy, Arthur Dahl, presented at the ebbf-Ethical Business Building the Future Annual Conference, 17 May 2024

The System Within: Addressing the inner dimensions of sustainability and systems transformation, The Club of Rome, Earth4All Deep Dive Paper 17, May 2024

The Rise of Eco-anxiety, Nature 10 April 2024

Coming financial crisis from extreme heat, April 2024

The Cooperation Economy, ebbf Learning Experience with Arthur Dahl, 30 April 2024

A Systems View of Justice, Arthur Dahl, Presentation at the Justice Conference, 29 March 2024

Environmental and Sustainability Governance, New book chapter by Arthur Dahl, March 2024

Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures, University of Bristol, Reports released 13 March 2024

The Economy: A Bahá'í Perspective, new IEF compilation, 18 February 2024

Equity in action: global to local, David Obura in Global Catastrophic Risks 2024, 16 February 2024

Global Catastrophic Risks Report 2024, Global Challenges Foundation, 16 February 2024

Another planetary boundary: biomass, blog by Arthur Dahl, 3 October 2023

Supporting and Saving the New Regenerative Revolution, Hugh Locke and Tim Tensen, Smallholder Farmers Alliance, Haiti, 27 September 2023

UN Summits Week 2023, SDG Summit, Climate Ambition Summit, Preparatory Meeting SOTF, 18-22 September 2023

Freshwater Use - another planetary boundary overshot, 15 September 2023

A Tale of Two Summits, BIC Calls for Synergy Between SDGs and Summit of the Future, 3 August 2023

Climate Change and World Economy: When an Irresistible Force Meets an Immovable Object, July 2023

The Debt Bubble, blog by Arthur Dahl, 14 July 2023

Transforming Education for Sustainable Futures, Research project led by University of Bristol, UK, 2019-2023

Social Change toward Universal Solidarity with a System of Accountability, Christine Muller, 2 June 2023

Safe and just Earth system boundaries, Earth Commission Report, 31 May 2023

Valuing What Counts: Framework to Progress Beyond GDP, UN Secretary-General, Our Common Agenda Policy Brief no. 4, May 2023

Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report, 25 April 2023

The unfolding food crisis, blog by Arthur Dahl, 23 April 2023

Exploring the future of work, Bahá'í International Community. 9 April 2023

Global fresh water demand will outstrip supply by 40% by 2030, 17 March 2023

The other energy crisis, blog by Arthur Dahl, 22 February 2023

Confluence of Crises: Warnings by the UN Secretary-General, 21 February 2023

Regenerative Agriculture, Earth4All paper, Club of Rome, 18 February 2023

One Planet, One Habitation: A Bahá’í Perspective on Recasting Humanity's Relationship with the Natural World, 16 December 2022

Earth for All: A survival guide for humanity, Club of Rome, reviewed by Arthur Dahl, 5 December 2022

Christian churches call for a New International Financial and Economic Architecture, 7 November 2022

Exploring agricultural policies in light of the oneness of humanity, new BIC statement, 13 September 2022

Food Loss and Waste, 29 September 2022

Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022, 7 July 2022

Navigating the Urgent Transition Toward Sustainability, Wilmette Institute Webinar with Arthur Dahl, 6 April 2022

Rural Social Action on Agriculture and Food in Uganda, Masaidio Kalenga, 2 March 2022

Environmentally Sustainable Bahá'í Properties, Christine Muller, IEF, 8 July 2021

Well-being in Vanuatu, Vanuatu National Statistics Office, July 2021

Sustainable and Just Economies, Joachim Monkelbaan for UN Research Institute for Social Development, 28 May 2021

Letter to G20 Finance Ministers on Taxation, from World Council of Churches and other Christian organizations, 5 July 2021

World Environment Day, 5 June 2021

Our Planet, Our Future, Nobel Laureates Urgent Call for Action, 29 April 2021

Reflections on Earth Day, blog by Arthur Dahl, 22 April 2021

Atlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2020, World Bank, 4 April 2021

G20 Interfaith Forum, For Nature's Sake: A Moral Compass for the SDGs, blog by Arthur Dahl, 19 March 2021

Making Peace with Nature, UNEP Synthesis Report, February 2021

Scientists' Warnings: Affluence, December 2020

The Global Sustainability Challenge: A Systems View of Agriculture, Arthur Dahl for Agriculture Working Group, Association for Bahá'í Studies, 27 September 2020

A Jolt in Consciousness, Great Transition Initiative, forum: After the Pandemic: Which Future? by Arthur Lyon Dahl, September 2020

50th Earth Day 1970-2020, 22 April 2020

Turning Point in the Great Transition?, blog by Arthur Dahl, 11 April 2020

Does the Pandemic have a Silver Lining?, blog by Arthur Dahl, 19 March2020

Multiple eco-crises could trigger 'systemic collapse', 6 February 2020

Complex Systems Science and Global Challenges, Report on a colloquium in Stockholm, Sweden, 7-9 December 2019

Unsustainable Agriculture, blog by Arthur Dahl, July 2019

UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, 21-22 March 2019

Transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies, 22nd IEF Conference in support of UN High Level Political Forum, New York, 9-18 July 2018

UNECE Regional Forum on Sustainable Development, 1-2 March 2018

Millennium Alliance for Humanity and Biosphere, 12 February 2018

The end of Western civilization?, Arthur Dahl, 12 February 2018

Towards a Just Economic Order: Conceptual Foundations and Moral Prerequisites, BIC Statement, 29 January 2018

The Imperatives of Sustainable Development: Needs, Justice, Limits, book review, 6 December 2017

Challenges of Rural Sustainability in France, Triglav Circle, 7-9 July 2017

Global Pact for the Environment, draft 24 June 2017

IEF Toolkit for the Sustainable Development Goals, June 2017

Social Conditions and Economics, summary and commentary by Arthur Dahl on 1 March 2017 Message from Universal House of Justice

From Deficit to Abundance: Seeing Capacity for Meaningful Contribution in all Populations and People, BIC Statement, 25 January 2017

Baha'i Perspectives on Agriculture and Food, On-line course 15 January-5 March 2017

High-quality Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for Implementing the SDGs, Minu Hemmati, 17 August 2016

Second Geneva Workshop on the SDGs, 7 July 2016

Wilmette Institute Course on Sustainable Development, 10 September-28 October 2016

Workshop on implementing the SDGs, Geneva, Switzerland, 27 April 2016

Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals, UN Statistical Commission, 11 March 2016

AIESEC Global Leaders Summit, Marrakech, Morocco, 13-17 February 2016

Workshop on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education, Vienna, 20 November 2015

ECPD 11th International Conference in Belgrade, 24-25 October 2015

New Baha'i International Community Statements on the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, September/October 2015

Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals, Geneva Policy Dialogue, 2 September 2015

Wilmette Institute Web Talk on Sustainability by Arthur Dahl, 6 September 2015

Families as Agents of Change to Build a Just and Sustainable Society, August 2015

Consensus reached at UN on new sustainable development agenda, August 2015

Summary and Commentary on Laudato Si': the Pope's encyclical on the environment and poverty, June 2015

IEF comments on Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals, April 2015

Indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals, comments by IEF, January 2015

IEF response to SG's Synthesis Report, January 2015

The Road to Dignity by 2030 - SG's Synthesis Report, January 2015

UN Secretary-General's Synthesis Report on Post-2015 Agenda, unedited version, December 2014

The Challenge of the Sustainable Development Goals, December 2014

IEF authors featured in two new academic books, December 2014

Review of Paul Hanley's new book "Eleven", November 2014

Small Island Developing States, Third Conference, September 2014

Sustainable Development Goals, proposals 14 July 2014

New video on Baha'i International Community Approach to Sustainable Development, June 2014

Global Research Forum on Sustainable Production and Consumption, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China, 8-11 June 2014

IEF inputs for UN Open Working Group on SDGs, 2 March 2014

UN Post-2015 Reports, 1 November 2013

Breaking Down the Silos: Integrating Environmental Sustainability in the Post-2015 Agenda, 9 September 2013, including IEF contribution

A Million Voices: The World We Want, September 2013

IEF members publish paper on moral leadership, August 2013

IEF contributions to post-2015 dialogue, January-June 2013

IEF comments on post-2015 reports to UN Secretary-General, July 2013

Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals: Towards a New Social Contract, 20 June 2013

Post-2015 contribution on Local Action, 26 May 2013

Post-2015 consultation on Private Sector/Markets, 17 May 2013

Another IEF contribution to UN post-2015 consultation, 7 May 2013

IEF contributions to UN Post 2015 thematic consultations, 28 April 2013

Submissions by IEF members to UN post2015 consultation, 28 December 2012

Green Week in Baku, Azerbaijan, November 2012

IEF 16th Annual Conference - Rio+20, 11-23 June 2012

UN Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform 2012

IEF Statements for Rio+20, 9 June 2012

Invitation to join and contribute to Rio+20 Dialogues on Sustainable Development, 1 May 2012

Planet Under Pressure 2012, 26-29 March 2012, with IEF participation

Comment on the Rio+20 zero draft, 13 January 2012, with IEF input

IEF submission to the Bureau of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), 25 October 2011

Preparations for Rio 2012, 7-8 March 2011