Sustainability change is multidimensional and requires something more than trends in circular economies, technology advancements, or schooling. While all these are fundamental, my personal belief is that systemic change is the most vital ingredient necessary to achieve long-term sustainability. It entails addressing the root causes of environmental deterioration and changing the driving forces of our economy, society, and governance systems.
Framing sustainability transitions is the need for political, economic, and social life transformations that focus on environmental conservation and social justice. For example, dominant economic systems promote unsustainable actions by favoring profit maximization, exploitation of nature, and short-term gains. A shift towards a sustainable economic system would require a change in growth, consumption patterns, and natural resource management, focus on long-term prosperity rather than short-term gains.
Systemic change also involves policy change towards the development of sustainability in general. Policymakers are required to set policies that help promote sustainable growth, such as imposing a tax on carbon emissions, subsidizing green energy, and implementing stringent green standards. International cooperation must also be instituted to deal with problems such as global warming, which cannot be battled by individual nations.
Secondly, social systems should be rebuilt in a way that guarantees sustainability fairness. Worst-affected suffering communities are often victims of environmental degradation but least culpable. Guaranteeing transitions to sustainability as fair and equitable guarantees success in the long run.
Overall, education, technology, and circular economies are all major drivers, but they will not function to any extent without systems change. There needs to be a transformation of the systems that control our societies in order to produce a future that is both sustainable and fair for everybody.