Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable development is usually defined as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs.” This should include not just humans, but generations of all life. Sustainability comprises environmental (“planet”), social (“people”), and economic (“prosperity”) values, also referred to as the “triple bottom line.” The United Nations developed 17 goals for sustainability (UNDP, 2015). These goals create a comprehensive picture of what global sustainability could look like, including all three aspects of environment, society, and economics.