This paper defines environmental sustainability:
as meeting the resource and services needs of current
and future generations without compromising the
health of the ecosystems that provide them,
…and more specifically,
as a condition of balance, resilience, and
interconnectedness that allows human society
to satisfy its needs while neither exceeding the
capacity of its supporting ecosystems to continue
to regenerate the services necessary to meet those
needs nor by our actions diminishing biological
diversity.
It is intended to help operationalize the concept of
sustainability by providing more clarity of purpose
and direction, particularly regarding the importance
of valuing ecological services and recognizing our
interconnectedness.Environmental Sustainability: A Definition for Environmental Professionals 25
It is intended as an articulation of the
professional goal of the environmental manager and
other environmental professionals.