Rather than separate pillars of sustainable development, the economy must be seen as servicing society, which in turn thrives within a secure natural environment. Viewed this way, sustainable development should be redefined as “development that meets the needs of the present while safeguarding the Earth’s life-support system, on which the welfare of current and future generations depends.”
我们需要新方法。经济不应该视为可持续发展的单独基石，而应该用来服务社会，而社会职能在安全的自然环境中实现繁荣。从这个角度看，可持续发展应该定义为“满足当前需求，同时保护当前和子孙后代所依赖的地球生命支持系统的发展”。毕竟，一个健康、兴盛的地球是健康、繁荣的生活的先决条件。