Social sustainability

Social sustainability is a sub-discipline of Sustainability Research and treated more generally, the social aspects of sustainability. It exists in the three-pillar model in addition to the economic and environmental level.

• 4.1 anthropocentrism / biocentrism
• 4.2 Effizienz-/Suffizienzstrategie
• 4.3 Laissez-faire/Eingriffe

Meanings

Main importance

In more recent texts from social sustainability in most cases understood the prohibition to carry out in the presence of irreversible changes to the world that may not be desired by future generations. In this sense of intergenerational distributive justice ( intergenerational equity ) is often spoken. This understanding of social sustainability is mainly due to the Brundtland report. Apart from the aspect of securing the basic needs and poverty reduction through equitable access to opportunities and distribution of resources - both within society, including global ( ethics of inter-and intragenerational justice ) - the social dimension refers explicitly the question of gender relations with a ( cf. S. Bauer, 2008 ).

Variations

Overall, the concept has not yet completely clear contours and can therefore also be interpreted differently depending on the context; especially older texts differ quite significantly in the use of the term. According to another understanding of social sustainability can be made only by overcoming social problems a balance in the ecological field. Yet another perspective comes increasingly from the economic use of language, which uses the concept of social sustainability in order to explain long-term phenomena and effects in society, eg: " lasting damage to consumer confidence ." Sometimes the term is also used interchangeably social sustainability for Corporate Social Responsibility.

History of Theory

The concept has grown in sustainability research in the 80 's, when one has noticed examples such as the Chernobyl disaster or global warming that environmental problems often have an international ( often global ) dimension and therefore social measures are necessary to effectively address environmental protection be able to operate. The early approaches of social sustainability, therefore, are primarily concerned with the international institutionalization of environmental protection. Since then, the social sustainability research has increasingly emancipated from the ecological origin and has now developed non- ecological approaches, especially on the subjects of poverty, participation and development.

Fields of application

• Corporate Social Responsibility
• Systemic Consulting
• Planning policies

Dimensions

Anthropocentrism / biocentrism

Under this dimension, two approaches are understood to the concept: In the anthropocentric perspective of social sustainability is seen as necessary for the maintenance of human livelihood, while in the biocentric (also eco-centric ) perspective social sustainability only serves to preserve nature. The ecocentric approach of nature an eigenvalue is therefore often attributed, while the anthropocentric nature is only the means of securing human existence.

Effizienz-/Suffizienzstrategie

The efficiency strategy aims at overcoming social problems, ie through technological efficiency improvement changes should be brought about. In contrast, the sufficiency strategy calls for a change in lifestyles.

Laissez-faire/Eingriffe

Representative of the laissez -faire confident that the momentum of the market will solve the problems independently, while other positions moderate to strong government intervention and changes in individual behavior require to get the problem under control