Solutions to the many environmental problems facing humanity can only be effective if they are based on sound science that is on what we believe to be true to the best of our knowledge.
Three legged stool model of sustainability.
In part 1 of this article we defined sustainable development as a balanced approach to achieving a better quality of life for more people while minimizing the impact that the associated development has on the natural world.
It is widely agreed that there are three primary aspects to sustainable development that together create a three legged stool upon which a healthy society can sit.
However if all three legs are the same length each pillar being given equal weight the result will be a balanced stool that will support sustainable development.
Sustainability the three legged stool model reinforces the three dimensions that are required for us to enjoy a hi gh quality of life and suggests that society is unstable if one of them is weak.
For example an early suggestion for a model which reflects sustainable development was the three pillared or three legged stool model which emphasised that all three dimensions must remain.
The faulty three legged stool model of sustainable development free download as pdf file pdf text file txt or read online for free.
The faulty three legged stool model of sustainable development.
Economic environmental and social cultural.
The 3 legged stool metaphor reinforces the three dimensions that are required for us to enjoy a high quality of life and shows that society is unstable if one of them is weak.
3 legged stool modelfor years i have used the adjacent slide to illustrate the common three dimensions of sustainability.
The three legged stool of sustainable development the underlying conceptualization of the stool is that if any leg is less important shorter or missing the stool will be unstable.