The term sustainability, once meaningful and purposeful, has unfortunately lost its original intent and scope due to misuse and misrepresentation. Nowadays, it has been co-opted and applied as a deceptive tactic by companies such as Shell and Exxon, who falsely claim to be sustainable merely because they can sustain their growth and profits for a few consecutive years. Moreover, scientific evidence now reveals that we have severely degraded the Earth’s natural systems to a point where achieving sustainability alone would have no effect on mitigating the devastating environmental feedback loops, such as climate change, soil loss, ocean acidification, and biodiversity loss, which have already been set into motion.
According to Daniel Christian Wahl, a leading advocate for regenerative development, the concept of ‘regenerative development’ encompasses a clear objective of restoring the health and vitality of interconnected systems at various scales. It emphasizes the responsible use of resources, ensuring that we do not exploit resources that cannot be replenished and avoiding excessive consumption that outpaces regeneration. By designing for regeneration, we have the potential to reverse the damage inflicted upon the planet since the emergence of agriculture, city states, and empires. In essence, we aim to collaborate with and support nature’s inherent processes to heal environmental damage, ultimately improving conditions for all life on Earth, including ourselves. Importantly, this approach can generate win-win scenarios for investors, stakeholders, and the well-being of Mother Nature.
This paradigm shift is slowly gaining momentum worldwide as an increasing number of individuals and organizations recognize that the infinite growth model and business-as-usual practices are paving the way for potential extinction of countless species on our planet. Additionally, scientific findings indicate that Earth’s systems are deteriorating at a rate and pace that surpass the worst-case scenarios projected just a few years ago. Fortunately, alternatives exist, and we are beginning to reconsider both new and old ideas inspired by the custodians of our planet, such as Indigenous peoples who have safeguarded a significant portion of the world’s existing biodiversity. Instead of fearing the decline of the current paradigm and economic model, we should seize the remarkable opportunity that presents itself—a transformative way of conducting our affairs that fosters positive growth and enhances the quality of life, rather than pursuing infinite capital accumulation for the privileged few at the expense of the entire planet.
This emerging paradigm embraces complexity, urging us to break free from siloed knowledge and excessive specialization that obscures our ability to comprehend the larger picture. In the words of esteemed environmental scientist Donella Meadows, a system is defined as “a set of interconnected components that collaborate within a specific environment to fulfill the system’s objectives.” Therefore, we must embrace an integrated perspective that considers the interplay of various components and their functions in order to achieve our collective goals.