Sustainability – a bewildering (buzz)word

Have you googled the term “sustainability” lately? Among the tens of thousands of results, you’ve probably come across scientific articles, environmental organizations, and statements from public institutions, as well as banks, oil companies, tourism offers, political initiatives, and more. “Sustainability” has become a buzzword, a catch-all. In a series focusing on the term, we examine the impact of this appropriation, provide food for thought, and call for a more conscious approach to the concept of sustainability.

BLOG POSTS AND INTERVIEWS

Stefan Leins: Sustainable investing: Is it truly greener, more socially responsible, and more profitable?

ESG principles displayed on futuristic digital graphics

Sustainable finance and sustainable investing are now considered de rigueur in the banking world. But what’s the real story? Stefan Leins, Professor of Social Anthropology at the University of Bern, has researched sustainability in financial markets. Here, he provides insights into the topic and explains why it’s important to take a closer look when today’s bankers talk about sustainable finance.

Theresa Tribaldos: Sustainability on our plates: Is it just a matter of the number of cows?

Theresa Tribaldos

Food polarizes us. Some see veganism as the solution to feeding ourselves within planetary boundaries. Others argue that meat eating should enjoy renewed, widespread societal acceptance. Still others portray Switzerland as a “grassland country” to advocate against reducing consumption of animal products. And they all invoke sustainability. So, what should we do? Theresa Tribaldos offers some clarity.

Juri Auderset: Is its success about to become a Pyrrhic victory? Reflections on the conceptual history of sustainability

Dust Bowl farm Coldwater District, Texas, 1938

“When sustainability risks degenerating into a stock phrase – used to feign serious concern about the environment while blithely continuing to worship the fetish of growth and accumulation – then historical objection, orientation, and clarification become imperative,” says Juri Auderset. In our series, he traces the history of the concept in a few key episodes and encourages critical questioning.

Lilla Gurtner: Heading sustainably towards environmental crisis? When suddenly everything’s sustainable

several icons for net zero

Everything is “sustainable” these days. At least according to the packaging. Whether it’s actually sustainable on the inside is another matter. But the use of this label shows that sustainability is now something desirable; it’s become a social norm. And how do we react when everything looks “sustainable”?