What does the word ‘sustainability’ really mean?

Somewhere along the line, the phrase 'is it sustainable?' became equivalent to 'is it green?'.

But it doesn't mean that. 

Fundamentally, sustainability means 'the ability to maintain something over a period of time'. I believe the French word for it is 'durable', which is more like it. Sustainability is longevity.

So when we think about whether or not something is sustainable, we're not really thinking 'is it green?'. 

We're really wondering 'can we all carry on as we are and still be okay in five years' time?'.

And the short answer is, no - not if we're burnt-out chasing zeros and breaking all the things we need to keep going.

The funny thing is that other countries don't equate 'sustainability' with 'green' at all. They equate it with 'in moderation', which makes more sense.

The Swedish term 'lagom' is akin to saying 'just the right amount', or 'not too little, not too much'.

South American people say 'buen vivir', in relation to living well together with enough for everyone to be content.

Both emphasise respect for nature as integral to these philosophies.

Because this slower and more stress-free pace of 'enough' is naturally green, by reducing demand on finite resources and protecting nature - the essence of the environmental aspect of sustainability.

But it offers so much more than that as well. Imagine all the things we could finally get around to and enjoy, if we could just slow down and take things in moderation. Practice a sport? Learn a skill? Explore the country? Grow some stuff? Help some people? Have a nap? All of the above?

Because when we make the switch from the 'as much as possible' mindset, our understanding of what's 'enough' sets us free.