What does a sustainable economy and environment mean to you?

It means everyone picks at least one thing they can do to contribute to a better world.
Very, very few people are able to give up driving, recycle every scrap of everything all the time, become self sufficient vegan farmers.

My contributions fall into keeping my 5 acres chemical free, pesticide free, a haven for wildlife. I rescue geese and cats, consolidate my driving, and accomplish all errands in one trip to “town”, once a week or so.

I do, however, enjoy a steak or other meat, once in awhile and don’t believe in any extremist path. Middle of the road and put your energies towards the things that you feel most passionate about.

There should be no superiority trips going on, everyone does their little part, or multiple little parts. That’s the best we can do.

A system that is by-and-large self-maintaining in achieving its purpose.

Does it mean no more carbon emissions?
I wouldn’t think so, but it would mean understanding the cycle of such emissions, their impact, the extent to which any negative results are acceptable, and adjusting them accordingly.

Does it mean no more cars?
Probably not, but it may mean better engineering, fueling, and recycling.

Does it mean we all become vegetarians?
Again it means understanding the cycle, I doubt we would all need to be vegetarians but techniques in farming and the level of meat consumption may well need to change.

Does it mean we resurrect extinct species (should that become possible)?
I’m having a tough time of thinking of why that would be necessary as evolution is pretty good at filling gaps and I’m not sure we’d be able to do it without doing more damage than we fix. Though I suppose it could be possible if we’ve managed to wipe out a species whose niche turned out to be important enough and not being filled. On a personal level, yes it means demands resurrecting extinct species, mostly because I’m looking forward to mammoth rides and updates on megalodon sightings.

It means a way of life that fits comfortably within the natural world of which we are a part. It means a walk through the woods so that when you look back you cannot see your footprint in the grass.

As there always is when an enormous economic or social change occurs, there is a simultaneous antithesis. Once there was an Industrial Revolution. At the same time there was the “Anti” Industrial Revolution. All discouraging talk about sustainability comes from the Anti Industrial Revolution. Sustainability implies that eventually material stuff runs out and economic growth and development stops. As long as there is a material universe, there will be opportunities for economic growth. How human beings deal with the messes that they make is a legitimate discussion. But the Anti Industrialists simply want to eliminate the industry of economic growth, and use concern about the environment as an excuse to do it.

This is such an excellent question and probably the single most important issue facing our race. And I’m too overwhelmed by it to type a pithy answer.

@wundayatta Super question. Like you, I don’t fully know what it means. But I am growing ever more concerned we’d better figure it out, because I do know what UNSUSTAINABLE means, and the course we are currently on is unsustainable. That never bodes well.