Sustainability can be likened to the term “Rashomon effect,” from the 1950 Japanese film of the same name, which suggests that the truth of a situation can be difficult to ascertain because of conflicting stories from different witnesses or participants. Despite these challenges though, many involved in the pursuit of a united sustainable state see a future with possibilities and work diligently to join the complicated puzzle pieces to reach a state more sustainable than the one that exists today.

Though many definitions of sustainability exist, it is difficult to pinpoint just one that clearly depicts a sustainable state or the many pieces or paths that get us there. The 1987 Bruntland Report defined sustainable development as “meet[ing] the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”1 While it is widely accepted, it is not very operational. ...

You need to register to view the rest of the article. Click here to subscribe.