Mission of the Integrated Network for Social Sustainability
The INSS works to encourage a greater appreciation for social aspects of sustainability with a particular focus on engineering and its allied professions. At heart, we see sustainability as an integrated concept, rather than as separate environmental, economic, and social sustainabilities, in that each of these elements is inseparable from the others. Social elements remain underappreciated in this model, and we work for greater inclusion of these in planning and practice.
What are social aspects of sustainability?
We’ve all heard about the three-legged sustainability stool: Environmental, Economic and Social sustainability. But it’s no secret that one of the legs is a lot weaker than the others, and we think it needs more attention.
How do we define social sustainability?
You’ve probably noticed that everyone seems to approach this topic differently. We are all coming at it from different angles, and as a result, convergence is slow, and the stool leg continues to wobble.
How can this network improve the understanding and implementation of sustainability’s social aspects?
- Create opportunities for dialogue and collaboration through conferences, working groups, and other opportunities
- Maintain an online space for sharing resources and ideas
- Build connections among diverse people and groups struggling with sustainability-in-practice
- We created this network to short circuit this process. We want to put those of you engaging with social sustainability in dialogue with one another to accelerate the rate at which we all understand this important aspect of sustainability more fully.
