Strong Sustainability

Abstract

Rigorous sustainability Definition/Description The concept of sustainability includes a spectrum of perspectives ranging from a technocentric "very weak sustainability" position through to an ecocentric "very strong sustainability" one (Gibbs et al. 1998). Nowadays, it has been emphasized qualitative side of growth and strong sustainability (rigorous sustainability) position gearing to the green economy and environmental protection (Davies 2013). Environmental protection is seen to be crucial because certain natural resources, e.g., "critical natural capital," are irreversible (Neumayer 2003; Turner 1993), provide some functions, and are not substitutable by produced capital (Balaceanu and Apostol 2014; Klarin 2018). Their loss reflects on all other forms of capital (Neumayer 2003; Turner 1993). Critical natural capital is stressed by defining sustainability as leaving a stock of natural capital for the future generations as big as enjoyed by the current generation (Cabeza Gutés 1996). Strong sustainability position has various variants such as "environmental" and "ecological sustainability" (Pezzey and Toman 2005; Turner 1993). Environmental sustainability is focused on maintaining the factors and practices that contribute to the quality of environment (BusinessDictionary 2018a) which is necessary for conducting the economic activities and quality of life of people on a long-term basis (Elkington 1994). Ecological sustainability is focused on protection and restoration of the integrity of the Earth's ecological systems (Bosselmann 2017) for maintaining their essential functions and processes and retaining their biodiversity in full measure over the long term (BusinessDictionary 2018b). "Very strong sustainability" position again stresses steady-state economic system based on thermodynamic limits and constraints and minimization of matter and energy throughput (Davies 2013; Turner 1993).

Subject Student Teachers’ Perceptions of Key Environmental Problems and Their Own Role as Environmental Problem Solvers

“…In this case, the danger is an overestimation of nature's carrying capacity and an inability to recognize the need to protect nature and change our current behaviours. From a strong sustainability perspective, the dimensions of sustainability complement one another [50], and the importance of the green economy and environmental protection is emphasized [48].…”