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Sustainability

The capacity to meet present needs while maintaining environmental, social and economic systems over time.

Definition

The capacity to meet present needs while maintaining environmental, social and economic systems over time. Follow the related lesson to see how this term changes a system boundary or decision.

Learn this term in context

Why biomass and waste are finite resources

Renewable flows still have rates, locations, qualities, ecosystem functions and competing uses.

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REFERENCES

References & further reading

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (2026). Sustainable and circular bioeconomy: glossary and key terms.Open source ↗