Sustainability

A relatively stable environment was vital for the advancement of human civilization over the past 12,000 years (the Holocene). During this time period, humans became experts in exploiting natural resources, allowing for an enormous population expansion as a technologically advanced society. Recognition that our very success is causing widespread damage to Earth's ecosystems is the current basis of sustainability initiatives. Life on this planet is endlessly interconnected. Scientists cannot approach sustainability issues in isolation and sustainable development management needs to reconcile social, economic, and environmental demands – the “three pillars” of sustainability. Collaborative and multidisciplinary academic research is required to understand, predict, and manage the effects humans are having on Earth in order to become sustainable.