The idea of sustainability wasn’t something that was birthed overnight. While it might seem like a recent global movement in wake of various environmental crises, the origins of sustainability date way back.
Sustainable development was a concept that emerged with growing awareness of the ecological crisis facing the world during the end of the 20th century.The demand for raw materials and its impact on the environment has been a constant issue throughout history.
18th Century Beginnings:
Wood was used as both fuel and construction material until the 18th century, and was used in almost all production processes. A German engineer described the negative impacts of this during the 16th century. By the 18th century, there was a shortage of wood because of the massive consumption of wood used for mining, and ship building, among other processes.
In the 18th century there was also concern about population growth and its consequences. The focus shifted in the 19th century to coal and concern surrounding that coal deposits could be exhausted.
An influential publication was circulated during this time which stated that English coal reserves would deplete in a hundred years, and that it would be necessary to use it sparingly because it was a non-renewable resource.
This fear of shortage ignited a new way of thinking, in which responsible use of natural resources for the present and future generations became what it is today.
Hans Carl von Carlowitz:
The term sustainability was first used by Hans Carl von Carlowitz in 1713. He suggested that sustainable use of forest resources would be to maintain a balance between harvesting old trees and making sure that there were enough new trees to replace them.
The Rise of Work and Publications:
During this time there were also various other scholars and experts of forestry who condemned excessive wood consumption. The term eternal forest referred to the regeneration of growing timber.
Various publications appeared with what is now considered topics on sustainable development. When oil became the main source of energy there was a great increase in oil consumption, and fear arose over the idea that supplies would dwindle.
The concept of sustainability can be traced back to ancient times when population growth, and consumption of resources with the Industrial Revolution gave way to fears about sustainability.
In the 20th century, with the rise of industrial and commercial expansion, came the belief that there was an environmental crisis in loom. This birthed more research and insights into climate change, which today, are now cause for major social-political reform throughout the world.
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