The Art of Social Sustainability
Like you, someone on the other side of the world has spent time wondering “why.”
An infinite number of “why” questions are being asked at any given moment, and there is incredible power in knowing that many people’s questions align with yours. No one has found all of the answers, but these unspoken connections can spark movement in the right direction.
A sustainable global society, at its core, is made up of people: authentic, unfiltered human beings who strive for mutually beneficial coexistence. Sustainability, as a whole, is about our interactions with Earth’s ecosystems—which humans are fundamentally part of.
Living sustainably, then, requires distinct focus on both the natural environment and our relationships with other people. Recognizing humanity’s ability to connect across vast distances is the first of many steps toward creating the kind of world that we dream of.
The next step is cultivating the foundations of an emerging concept known as social sustainability.
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I first learned of this term in one of my discussion-based classes at university. While there, I was encouraged to critically analyze how global movements are spread, and explore the vital importance of building relationships based on respect and understanding.
If you are wondering why I’m implying that connection is so significant in relation to sustainability, it is because connection—and disconnection—are two of people’s greatest motivators.
Why do humans act in certain ways? This “why” is the hidden force that actually gets things done. It is that which gives us reason for taking action, and what will ultimately make global sustainability possible.
To fully answer this question, we must determine what it is that motivates individuals and the people surrounding them.
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People everywhere desire to be satisfied and understood. That is why we subconsciously seek out connection, success, pleasure, and happiness through our endeavors.
Us humans attribute our own definitions to these aspects of life based on our unique lived experiences and perspectives. Thus, these elements are manifested differently across continents.
Communities are formed based on common motivators. Becoming aware of them enables us to relate to one another despite our differences, so we can use them to build relationships that are founded on mutual respect. As change-makers, we often need to challenge ourselves to understand and learn from people with different viewpoints and lived experiences.
People’s intentions often unknowingly contrast with their actions—myself very much included. This is why I try to practice replacing judgement or defensiveness with an honest attempt at seeing things from another’s point of view.
It can be helpful to facilitate conversations that validate one another by relating back to possible common motivators. Doing this is an effective method of encouraging people to act in ways that benefit a sustainable global society, as well as their own communities.
More than most things, people want to feel like they are being listened to and understood, no matter what is being discussed.
It is important to remember that shifting people’s behaviors is unlikely to be achieved if anyone feels disconnected or belittled during these conversations. Self-interest can be overpowered by collective interest, but only if authentic connection and mutual respect are highly prioritized.
Of course, we also need to recognize that not everyone has the same privilege and ability to live sustainably in the ways that we may choose to; thus, social sustainability involves additional focus on working collaboratively to improve its accessibility on both local and global levels, while staying mindful of our own positionality and socialization.
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Human beings do have quite a lot in common—despite how essential it is to notice the ways in which our society causes us to experience this world differently.
I believe that contemplating the distance and difference between people around the globe can push us to act in solidarity and invoke necessary change within our local communities.
The intersections between various forms of injustice motivate us to find even greater connection and collective power. They remind us that showing up for sustainability requires actively engaging in both social and environmental movements.
It is true that no one else knows about where you come from as well as you and your neighbors. That is why it is important to spread our knowledge and message within our own communities, while remaining open to the wisdom that is offered by other people.
It can be difficult to stay hopeful despite it all, but I’ve found that it is helpful to channel energy into attainable, positive improvements on local levels, instead of solely dreaming about big changes worldwide.
Building strong communities around you and organizing practical actions does wonders, and over time, these seemingly small shifts will be felt internationally.
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So how can we be better members of a socially sustainable society? We have vastly different capacities to live sustainably, so it all comes back to discovering what works for us personally.
After making sure our own well-being and self-care practices are taken into account, we can start cultivating social awareness by engaging in necessary conversations and actively reaching out to people we know.
We can facilitate spaces within our local communities that welcome all people and uplift marginalized voices.
We can fight for equitable access to opportunity, and speak out in support of those who may not be able to do so for themselves.
We can conserve our resources as often as possible, and commit to minimizing our impact.
We can join local chapters of the organizations that are working to bring about necessary change.
Through it all, we can openly discuss the reciprocal relationship between human beings and the natural environment—and advocate for the collective liberation of all people as well as the planet we inhabit.
We can hold ourselves accountable for the impacts that we have on others and the spaces in which we live.
We can learn as we go, and find out what social sustainability really means to us.
It is all of these small, conscious lifestyle changes that provide us with the agency and purpose to continue on this journey. If there’s one thing I’m sure of, it’s that there is so much value in strengthening our connections with one another, no matter where we are in the world.
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A truly sustainable world is one in which all people are free and justice is upheld. That is why social sustainability is critical to the achievement of sustainability as a whole.
It is something that is tangible, possible, and still, a never-ending battle. I like to think of social sustainability as an art form — something that is dynamic, meaningful, and ever-changing, as are we.
Let us call ourselves artists who constantly create and adapt to the process, as the world around us transforms.
Remember this: people have often been the catalysts of change itself. Our seemingly small choices send ripples throughout the fabric of society. We just need to trust in our own power.
After all, ongoing movements throughout history have transformed the world into in what it is today — and they were all started by individual people, like you.