Sustainability by Education : Lessons to Be Learned

The concept of "sustainability" deals with a moral concern. The pursuit of sustainability is aimed at building a society which is worth living in, now and in times to come. In this, two dimensions have to be considered: a longitudinal dimension of time spanning several generations, and a cross-sectional dimension of (world) society covering a broad variety of areas: the natural foundations of life as well as social cohesion in view of increasingly individualised lifestyles, and well-being in terms of the availability of material and immaterial goods. Sustainability, in a comprehensive understanding, organises the continuity conditions for the prosperity of (world) society: Sustainability calls for adopting a long-term perspective which considers ecological, social and economic criteria in a balanced manner (three-pillar approach) and for integrating these criteria in a way to ensure lasting stability in a global context.[...]