As part of the Beyond Sustainability research project, invited speakers and the public focused on sharing perspectives on effecting meaningful change at an event on January 25, 2024. Invited panelists included, from left: Patrick Robson, Christopher Warren, Derek Davy, Abiola Oke, Liette Vasseur.

By: Liette Vasseur and Jocelyn Baker

As the Beyond Sustainability project neared completion, the project team continued to engage the public through impactful events. On January 25, 2024, a small panel of individuals, committed to going beyond the standard of conventional sustainability, gathered to share their perspectives on effecting meaningful change. The event aimed to highlight tangible actions that can motivate society to move beyond sustainability and actively seek innovative and transformative approaches that challenge existing boundaries and push the concept of sustainability to new levels.

Among the invitees were Liette Vasseur, UNESCO Chair on Community Sustainability: From Local to Global; Christopher Warren from Sustainability Leadership (Hamilton); Abiola Oke, a graduate of Niagara College’s Beekeeping Program; and Derek Davy, CEO of Econse Water Technologies. Facilitating the event was Patrick Robson, Professor of Environmental Studies at Niagara College. Each panelist discussed their own approaches to advancing sustainability, highlighting the need for transformative thinking and action.

The event also provided a platform for public participation, inviting attendees to share their insights and ideas. Responses to questions such as “What does sustainability mean to you?” brought forward interesting perspectives, like the idea of ecosystem maintenance, long-term conservation, and conscientious decision-making. Notable responses included the “the ability to maintain an ecosystem”; “the practice and the methodology that allow the conservation of the environment and people in the long term”; “to enjoy the fruits of the tree without destroying it for future generations”; “being aware of how your actions directly and indirectly impact the environment while taking steps to gradually make better decisions when it comes to said impact”; “keeping the long-term benefit for something of value”; “conscientious communities where no one is left behind and growth is dependent on what the earth can provide”; and, “taking care of the earth so it will continue to take care of my children”.

When getting further into the idea of “beyond sustainability,” participants stressed the necessity for societal paradigm shifts, behavioral changes, and holistic viewpoints.

Responses included:

• “A change in how societies operate and make their decisions. It moves further beyond the three pillars of sustainability. In simple terms, it is changing the mindset.”
• “A behavioural change of people. Shifts in the way people consume, a decrease in waste, and a raised awareness of the effects that individual decisions have on the environment and society.”
• “Hopeful imagining that we can reframe sustainability away from the idea of sacrifice”
• “Going beyond the concept we know about sustainability which is meeting our need now while meeting the needs of future generations (economics, society, environment). It means considering the world systems as a whole and world issues as complex and interconnected”
• “A holistic viewpoint of life in all aspects, both on an individual and grand scale.”

The discussions encouraged attendees to reconsider their personal views and daily actions. Many expressed a newfound awareness of the interconnections between their behaviours and environmental impacts. Some found it surprisingly possible to reduce their carbon footprints through minor lifestyle adjustments, while others remained skeptical, concerned about inaction, particularly among large corporations.

Despite varying viewpoints, common ground was seen in a commitment to promoting sustainability beyond its conventional boundaries. As one participant summarized, every small change contributes to a larger transformation. This sentiment resonated throughout the event, reinforcing the need for radical action in the face of global crises.

The panelists’ contributions further defined pathways to achieving beyond sustainability.  Oke, for example, outlined her vision of equalizing environmental, societal, and economic considerations advocating for individual carbon footprint reduction as an important step.  Davy shared his insights into combating water pollution through innovative on-site treatment technologies, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in addressing environmental challenges. Warren encouraged participants to consider scale and geography when looking at options, recognizing that the solution should not cause more harm than the problem itself.

The Beyond Sustainability event provided an opportunity to discuss strategies for moving to new ways of thinking about sustainability that are more ambitious and progressive than what is commonly accepted or practiced. The action-oriented approach showcased practical solutions challenging attendees to think beyond the status quo and commit to meaningful change. This collective reframing, although on a small scale, is especially important amidst the urgency imposed by accelerated planetary changes.