Sustainability: Sustainability Topics

Sustainability is defined as, "The capability of an economic or social system to meet its current needs without impairing the ability of future generations to meet their needs."

-- A Dictionary of Economics

• Green Business Guide

  Created by Business.gov, this site provides resources on green business practices.
• Public Agenda Issue Guide: Environment

  Nonpartisan and nonprofit, Public Agenda produces issues guides that discuss multiple viewpoints on hotbutton issues, including the environment.
• Sustainability: Environmental Protection Agency

  "The Sustainability Program of EPA’s Office of Research and Development maintains this Web site to provide one-stop access to EPA and related programs and the latest research and activities related to Urban Sustainability and the Built Environment; Water and Ecosystem Services; Energy, Biofuels and Climate Change; and Materials Management and Human Health."
• Sustainable Communities Network

  Run by Concern Inc., this site "seeks to increase public understanding of and participation in community sustainability. It has identified and profiled examples of community-wide and issue-specific programs and projects, created a national database of sustainability resources."
• Times Topics

  Times Topics pages collects all the news, reference and archival information, photos, graphics, audio and video files published in the New York Times on various topics, including "Sustainable Development" and "Sustainable Living."
• UC SAREP

  University of California Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program "provides leadership and support for scientific research and education in agricultural and food systems that are economically viable, conserve natural resources and biodiversity, and enhance the quality of life in the state's communities."
• University of California at Davis - Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program

  The UC Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SAREP) is a statewide program within UC Agriculture and Natural Resources. It was created through the grass roots efforts of organizations and individuals concerned about the environmental impacts of agriculture, the health of rural communities, and the profitability of family farming operations, particularly in California.
• USDA: Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC)

  Find USDA guides and links to sustainable agriculture information related to: Definitions and History, Environmental Laws and Policy, Economic and Social Issues, and Food Choices and Food Security.
• WA State House Democrats: Evergreen Legacy

  Listing of current sessions House Bills in the Washington State legislature, that aim for an "Evergreen Legacy" in the state.
• White House: Energy & Environment

  Learn what the current White House administration is doing with regard to energy and environmental issues.

Sustainability spans many fields of study, ranging from environmental and earth sciences, biology, economics and politics, business, and agriculture to name a few.  The concept of sustainability can, therefore, be expressed by many different words and word combinations to get relevant results. Here are some sample terms:

Note: Truncation symbols are often used in databases.  When you use the * symbol at the end of sustain* for example, results will contain alternative endings such as sustain, sustainable, sustainability.  When you use double quotes " ", results will look for the exact phrase.

General:
"green movement"
sustainability
sustain*

Agriculture:
"green agriculture"
"sustainable agriculture"
"factory farming"
"local food" or "food market"
locavore

Construction:
"green building"
"low impact development"
LEED Certif*
"rain gardens"
"green roofs"

Climate:
"global warming"
"climate change"
"greenhouse gases"
"ozone layer"
"ozone hole"

Fuel/Automobiles:
"fossil fuels"
"electric vehicles"
zero polution
Prius, Volt, or Leaf

Consumers
consumerism
consumption
capitalism
industrialism
merchandising