It’s OK to Talk About Sustainability

Abstract

For much of the recent past, state and local governments and a number of businesses have led in making sustainability operational in the United States, but federal policies have lagged far behind. Today, however, environmental, economic, and social pressures are beginning to move governments and businesses to more urgently and effectively adopt sustainable management policies and practices. This shift in public policy and business strategy reflects a new reality that today’s problems are more complex, involve new stressors and multiple environmental media, and thus require approaches that extend beyond traditional business practices or media-specific legislation. The transition to sustainability will not be easy. For the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), this means going beyond the existing regulatory framework and advancing an environmental policy and research agenda that promotes sustainability science, innovation, and problem solving. For business and government alike, this means that innovation and sustainability science must be major drivers to advance economic growth while protecting the environment and human health. More than ever, it is “OK to talk about sustainability.”

Views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the USEPA where he is employed. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute Agency endorsement or recommendations for use.