Sustainability
Sustainability is different things to different people. Today, more than ever before in our history, our world needs to be considered as a partner in all facets of our living. The Footbeat Festival has adopted the tag ‘Our sustainable Footprint” to engender the exploration of what it means to have concern for our community, our environment and our ways of doing business. The aim is to introduce concepts, innovation and information on the whole subject and to facilitate the interest in and uptake of technology, practices and processes in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
Globally, the move is towards adopting and adapting to climate change while seeking to reduce our ‘ecological footprint’ or, in other words, reduce man’s negative impact on the environment. In 1992 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the first definition of sustainability was developed:
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” - Brundtland Commission
Since then, we realise that there is a need to be specific and call on scientists, humanitarians and financiers to find a ways to make a difference and engage the broader community in action. From 2005 to 2014 is the UN Decade of Education for Sustainability, bringing global focus to the need for us to being sustainable. The 350.org movement has developed an International Day of Climate Action, one such initiative – www.350.org – which has now found resonance in 83 countries.
