Sustainability

Sustainability: Meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland Commission 1987). It has three components – environmental conservation, social responsibility, and economic development. While most people primarily associate sustainability with environmental conservation, it is about people and the health of our communities! Sustainability is important for many reasons including:
• Environmental Quality – In order to have healthy communities, we need clean air, natural resources, and a nontoxic environment.
• Growth – SPHINX continues to grow, so we require more resources such as energy, water, and space. Sustainability aims to use our resources efficiently to benefit our world.
• Healthcare – Sustainability and healthcare are intricately related since the quality of our environment affects public health. For example, many health issues are directly related to air and water quality. 
The biggest reason to care for our planet is pretty obvious: So that we as a species can continue to thrive on it. We have a moral and ethical obligation to each other, future generations and other species to sustain this place. When we don’t act responsibly we are choosing to exacerbate the problems future generations will face. The choices we make right now have a direct impact on the future — that’s a serious responsibility.