Final answer:
Sustainability is about maintaining a balance between environmental, social, and economic factors to ensure resource availability for future generations. It involves sustainable use of natural resources and sustainable development practices that do not harm ecological systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sustainability is a multi-faceted concept that involves ensuring that our actions and development practices do not deplete resources or harm ecological systems in a way that would prevent future generations from meeting their own needs. At its core, sustainability is about maintaining a balance among environmental, social, and economic factors to preserve the planet for future inhabitants. This includes the sustainable use of natural resources, which means using these resources in a way that satisfies current needs while also preserving them for future use. Furthermore, sustainable development is about growth that does not damage or exhaust the natural environment, allowing for long-term ecological integrity and human well-being.
The principles of sustainability also suggest a sustainable ethic that encourages us to treat Earth's resources as if they are limited and to conserve them responsibly. Following this ethic contributes to an ecologically sustainable society, one where the health and survival needs of the population—as well as the ecosystems—are met and maintained.