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What is sustainability?

What is sustainability?

Sustainability means ‘the capacity to endure'.

A sustainable business is one that generates profit while improving societal and environmental conditions, “meeting our needs without stopping future generations meeting their needs.”

Sustainability means many things. In a business context it is about having an integrated approach that takes into consideration environmental, social and goverance concerns along with economic development. It involves making decisions that are good for your shareholders, your community, your employees, and your environment. It is about thinking about how you do business, and being resilient and able to respond to rapidly changing market conditions. It is the ability for society and the economy to coexist in balance with the environment.

Background to sustainability

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission defined sustainability as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Today, there are almost 140 developing countries in the world seeking ways of meeting their development needs, but with the increasing threat of climate change, concrete efforts must be made to ensure development today does not negatively affect future generations.

Benefits of sustainability

Results of operating sustainably include:

long-term inclusive growth
operational & resource efficiency
effective risk management
higher share price
lower cost of capital
good financial performance
ability to attract and retain talent
resilience

Sustainability, climate change and managing our impact on the world are perhaps the greatest collective challenges we will face in our lifetime.

Pressure on businesses to operate more sustainably is increasing from investors, consumers and employees, making it clear that businesses of all sizes can no longer afford to ignore sustainability. As a profession, Chartered Accountants combine the leadership, values and vision required to help businesses of all sizes to ensure that their targets are met, and that sustainable development becomes a reality.

The Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals form the framework for improving the lives of populations around the world and mitigating the hazardous man-made effects of climate change. Also known as the 'Global Goals' or 'SDGs', they are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

The Goals address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.

The 17 Goals are all interconnected, and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve them all by 2030.

Ireland and the SDGs

Governments, businesses and individuals in Ireland are mobilising efforts to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Agenda by 2030. Ireland's hub for the Sustainable Development Goals is a collaboration platform for reporting on progress towards the Goals and sharing information on related initiatives. Ireland's progress against each Goal is measured using a set of United Nations (UN) global and European Union (EU) agreed targets and indicators.

Glossary

The terminology of sustainability can be confusing. We have put together a list of sustainability and sustainable accounting terms to help clarify it. If we are missing any terms please send us an email to sustainability@charteredaccountants.ie