Research Guide to Sustainability: Sustainability

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. "

-United Nations, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, 1987

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The following open-access websites provide definitions of sustainability and overviews of sustainability issues, ideas, and tactics:

International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD)

• IISD's SDG Knowledge Hub provides a wealth of information around Sustainable Development Goals, including news, guest articles, and policy briefs

UN Documents: Sustainable Development

• facilitates access to United Nations reports and agreements related to sustainable development, including the United Nations Millennium Declaration and the Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future
• provides a direct link to Chapter 2 of Our Common Future, which defines sustainable development and details strategic imperatives for sustainability

Alex Steffen: Inspired ideas for a sustainable future

Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity’s ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries (17:34). 

For more information about this subject or this speaker, visit this talk at ted.org.

For more ted.org talks on sustainability topics, visit

Ted Talks Tag > Sustainability

You might find the following eBooks useful when researching sustainability.  You will need to enter the barcode number from the back of your AACC photo ID or Truxal Library card to access these resources from off-campus.

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You might find the following eBooks useful as introductions to sustainability concepts and issues. You will need to enter the barcode number from the back of your AACC photo ID or Truxal Library card to access these resources from off-campus.