Is The Natural Step Framework an environmental framework?
No it is not! Sustainability is about a lot more than the environment. It is about ensuring that we can continue to have a high quality of life for ourselves, our children and people around the world both today and into the future. The reason that we talk so much about the environment is that we are dependent on the environment for life including clean air, water and food. Sustainability cannot be achieved unless people around the world are able to meet their basic human needs. This is a core part of the Framework (4th sustainability principle ). The other three sustainability principles create the conditions for them to be able to do so now and into the future. We need to take a look at the big picture when addressing social problems. This is an important point, so let’s take a look at an example. Over the last couple of decades, we have seen the collapse and weakening of fishing industries around the world. Is that an environmental, social or economic problem? It’s obviously an
