Radical sustainability

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Radical sustainability is an approach to sustainability that seeks to address the root causes of environmental and social issues rather than merely treating the symptoms. This concept emphasizes systemic change, deep ecological principles, and a holistic view of the interconnectedness of human and natural systems.

Principles[edit | edit source]

Radical sustainability is grounded in several key principles:

**Systemic Change**: Advocates for radical sustainability argue that incremental changes are insufficient to address the scale of environmental challenges. Instead, they call for transformative changes in economic, political, and social systems.
**Deep Ecology**: This principle emphasizes the intrinsic value of all living beings and the need for humans to live in harmony with nature. It challenges anthropocentric views and promotes biocentrism.
**Holistic Approach**: Radical sustainability considers the interconnectedness of various systems, including ecosystems, economies, and societies. It promotes integrated solutions that address multiple issues simultaneously.
**Equity and Justice**: This approach highlights the importance of social justice and equity in sustainability efforts. It recognizes that marginalized communities are often disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and seeks to address these disparities.

Strategies[edit | edit source]

Several strategies are commonly associated with radical sustainability:

**Permaculture**: A design philosophy that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable agricultural systems. It emphasizes biodiversity, resilience, and self-sufficiency.
**Regenerative Agriculture**: Farming practices that restore soil health, increase biodiversity, and sequester carbon. This approach contrasts with conventional industrial agriculture.
**Circular Economy**: An economic model that aims to eliminate waste and promote the continual use of resources. It involves designing products for longevity, reuse, and recycling.
**Decentralization**: Promoting local governance and community-based solutions to reduce reliance on centralized systems. This can include local energy production, community-supported agriculture, and local currencies.

Criticisms[edit | edit source]

While radical sustainability offers a comprehensive framework for addressing environmental issues, it is not without criticisms:

**Practicality**: Critics argue that the radical changes proposed may be impractical or unrealistic given current political and economic structures.
**Scalability**: There are concerns about whether small-scale, localized solutions can be scaled up to address global challenges.
**Resistance to Change**: Significant resistance from established institutions and industries can hinder the implementation of radical sustainability practices.

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v t e Sustainability
Outline Index
Principles	Anthropocene Business action on climate change Business ethics Co-benefits of climate change mitigation Corporate sustainability Earth system governance Ecological modernization Environmental governance Environmentalism Ethical consumerism Global catastrophic risk Green economy Green growth Human impact on the environment Longtermism Planetary boundaries Social sustainability Stewardship Sustainability studies Capitalism Development Developmment goals Finance
Consumption	Anthropization Anti-consumerism Circular economy Earth Overshoot Day Ecological footprint Ethical Green Micro-sustainability Over-consumption Product stewardship Simple living Social return on investment Steady-state economy Sustainability Advertising Brand Marketing myopia Sustainable Consumer behaviour Market Systemic change resistance Tragedy of the commons
World population	Birth control Demographic transition Family planning Control Sustainable population Women's education and empowerment
Technology	Appropriate Digital sustainability Ecotechnology Environmental technology Environmental design High-performance buildings Natural building Superinsulation Sustainability science Sustainable architecture Sustainable design Sustainable design standards Sustainable flooring Sustainable industries Sustainable lighting Sustainable packaging Sustainable transport
Biodiversity	Biosecurity Biosphere Conservation biology Endangered species Holocene extinction Invasive species
Energy	Carbon footprint Climate change mitigation Conservation Descent Efficiency Electrification Emissions trading Energy conservation Energy efficiency implementation Fossil fuel divestment Fossil-fuel phase-out Peak oil Poverty Rebound effect Renewable
Food	Civic agriculture Climate-smart agriculture Community-supported agriculture Cultured meat Forest gardening Foodscaping Local Permaculture Security Sustainable agriculture Sustainable diet Sustainable fishery Urban horticulture Vegetable box scheme
Water	Conservation Desertification Efficiency Footprint Reclaimed Sanitation Scarcity Security
Accountability	Corporate environmental responsibility Corporate social responsibility Environmental accounting Environmental full-cost accounting Environmental planning Sustainability Accounting Measurement Metrics and indices Reporting Standards and certification Sustainable yield
Applications	Advertising Art Building insulation Business City Climate finance College programs Community Disinvestment Eco-capitalism Eco-investing Ecovillage Education Environmental finance Ethical banking Fashion Gardening Geopark Green Development Development Infrastructure Marketing Vehicle Impact investing Landscape Livelihood Living Low-impact development Market Music Organic movement Organizations Practices Procurement Public interest design Radical sustainability Refurbishment Social design Socially responsible business Socially responsible marketing Sourcing Space Sustainability organization Tourism Transport Urban drainage systems Urban infrastructure Urbanism
Sustainable management	Environmental Fisheries Forest Humanistic capitalism Landscape Materials Natural resource Planetary Waste
Agreements and conferences	UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm 1972) Brundtlandt Commission Report (1983) Our Common Future (1987) Earth Summit (1992) Rio Declaration on Environment and Development (1992) Agenda 21 (1992) Convention on Biological Diversity (1992) ICPD Programme of Action (1994) Lisbon Principles (1997) Kyoto Protocol (1997) Earth Charter (2000) UN Millennium Declaration (2000) Earth Summit 2002 (Rio+10, Johannesburg) UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20, 2012) Sustainable Development Goals (2015) Paris Agreement (2015) UN Ocean Conference (2017)
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