The document discusses various perspectives on the concept of sustainability from practitioners. It explores definitions of sustainability from English, Malay, and Sanskrit terminology as well as Islamic perspectives focusing on integration and balance. Examples of sustainability challenges like deforestation and examples of potential solutions from areas like education, stakeholder engagement, and research are provided. The University of Malaya's Sustainable Development Solutions Network which aims to support sustainable development through scientific and technical expertise is also mentioned.

1. NIK MERIAM NIK SULAIMAN
DEAN, SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE RESEARCH CLUSTER, UNIVERSITY OF
MALAYA
Exploring ‘Sustainability’:
Concept and Definition from
Practitioner’s Perspective
INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON SCIENCE FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT:
ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVES
18 November 2014, Grand Hall, IKIM
Theme: Concept and Definition

2. “It suddenly struck me that that tiny
pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I
put up my thumb and shut one eye,
and my thumb blotted out the planet
Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt
very, very small”.
[Neil Armstrong on Apollo 11, July
20, 1969]
Image taken from: http://www.wikinewforum.com

3. How about NOW, 2014?
We can get this photo in an
instant, by a click-of-a-mouse.
‘Thanks’ to those ‘cutting-edge’
technologies…we lost the
‘excitement’ on how we see and
appreciate creation of God.
Image taken from: http://www.nasa.gov

4. Deforestation threats
Water Scarcity Issue
Flood
Waste management issues
GLOBAL &
LOCAL ISSUES

6. SUSTAINABILITY
• Simply put, sustainability,
and its predecessor term,
sustainable development,
mean different things to
different people.
(Mark A. White. 2013. Sustainability: I know it, when I
see it. In Ecological Economics, 86, p.213-217)

7. S
U
S
T
A
I
N
A
B
I
L
I
T
Y

8. “The Future We Want” = Rio+20
• "Rio+20" is the short name
for the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable
Development which took
place in Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil in June 2012 –
twenty years after the
landmark 1992 Earth
Summit in Rio.
• The official discussions
focussed on two main
themes: how to build a
green economy to achieve
sustainable development
and lift people out of
poverty; and how to
improve international
coordination for
sustainable development.
• The world today has 7 billion
people – by 2050, there will
be 9 billion.
• 1/5 people – 1.4 billion –
currently lives on $1.25 a day
or less.
• 1.5 billion people in the world
don’t have access to
electricity.
• 2.5 billion people don’t have a
toilet.
• Almost a billion people go
hungry every day.
• GHG emissions continue to
rise, and more than a third of
all known species could go
extinct if climate change
continues unchecked.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
Further details: http://www.un.org/en/sustainablefuture/about.shtml

9. SUSTAINABILITY
• In Malay,
“Keterlestarian = kebolehlestarian =
kebolehan bertahan lama = boleh tetap
tidak berubah seperti asalnya”
Synonyms: Lestari / Mapan / Mempan
Translation:
Sustainability = ability to endure, to
maintain, to sustain it’s original state
(Mohamad Zain, S. 2012. Keterlestarian sebagai ilmu multidisiplin termasuklah Ekonomi
dan Matematik. In Knowledge Civilisation Discourse Series 1. Centre for Civilisational
Dialogue, University of Malaya)
FROM MALAY TERMINOLOGY

10. • In Sanskrit,
Sustainability = dharma*
1790-1800;
Sanskrit: custom, duty,
akin to dhārayati = holds, maintains
(Mohamad Zain, S. 2012. Keterlestarian sebagai ilmu multidisiplin termasuklah
Ekonomi dan Matematik. In Knowledge Civilisation Discourse Series 1. Centre for
Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya)
*http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dharma
HOLDS
MAINTAINS
SUSTAINABILITY
FROM SANSKRIT TERMINOLOGY

11. SUSTAINABILITY
Emeritus Professor Shaharir M. Zain proposed
and introduced the concept of ‘wusto’:
• Sustainability to be integrated with
the principle of ‘wusto’ or theory of
‘pengwustodan’ – on which
religious perspective can be taken
into account.
• Oppose the concept of extremism,
optimization, quantitative in nature.
Another proposal:
We need to explore the concept of human
happiness in order to support our path
toward sustainability.
(Mohamad Zain, S. 2012. Keterlestarian sebagai ilmu
multidisiplin termasuklah Ekonomi dan Matematik. In
Knowledge Civilisation Discourse Series 1. Centre for
Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya)
“‫”وصط‬ = middle
An Arabic word, which coined
the term ‘wasatiyyah’, almost
similar to ‘wusto’
Synonyms:
Moderate
Balanced
Just / fair
Ideal
Antonyms*:
al-Ighal (beyond exaggeration),
al-Tashadud (exceedingly restrictive),
al-Guluw (excessiveness),
al-Tatarruf (moving to the farthest point
and going the extra mile)
Reference:
*Institut http://www.iium.edu.my/wasatiyyah
ADDITIONAL INFO
In managing
resources

12. Integration of Islamic Perspective
on Sustainability
Translation:
“Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and
ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful”
[Surah al-Isra’: 27]
• Badzara = root word for tabdzir / mubazirun which means the act of wasteful
• ‘wasteful’ in this context is mentioned thrice (3) in Quran: Surah al-Isra’: 26-27
info

13. Integration of Islamic Perspective
on Sustainability
Prophet Muhammad S.A.W said:
“Do not waste water, even if you perform your
ablution on the banks of an abundantly-flowing river”
[HR Imam Ahmad]

14. Integration of Islamic Perspective
on Sustainability
Translation:
O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at
every time and place of prayer: eat and drink: But
waste not by excess, for Allah loveth not the wasters.
[Surah al-A’araf: 31]
• Sarafa = root word for Israf / Musrifin which means the act of wasteful in excess,
transgression beyond limit, excessive
• ‘excessive’ in this context is mentioned twenty three (23) time in 21 verses in
Quran: with different or similar connotation
info

15. Newspaper clipping
Source:
http://www.umlib.um.edu.my/umnews/wasatiyah-lahir_n2-280414.jpg

16. Sustainability ... a 20-year Snapshot
1983 2003Source: Atkisson, A. (2004). A Review of Practical Sustainable Development. Presented at Baltic
University Planning Conference

17. What are people doing when they say
they "do" sustainable development?
Environmental Management
Corporate Social Responsibility
Greening of Operations
Industrial Ecology
Stakeholder Engagement
Life-Cycle Assessment
Pollution Prevention (P2)
Sustainable Development
Design for Environment (DfE)
Green Design
Urban Reinvestment
Brownfield Redevelopment
ISO 14001
Waste Reduction
Closed Loops
Radical Resource Productivity
Radical Transactiveness
Sustainable Technology
Systems Thinking
Corporate Governance
Clean Technology
Eco-Efficiency
Eco-Effectiveness
Biomimicry
Triple Bottom Line
Inclusive Capitalism
Base of the Pyramid
Community Capitalism
Corporate Citizenship
Voluntary Regulation
Civic Entrepreneurship
Full Cost Accounting
EMS
Risk Management
Leapfrog Technology
Cradle to Cradle
Restorative Technology
Balanced Scorecard
Take-Back
Transparency
Source: Stuart Hart,
with thanks to Marty LaGod,
with additions by AtKisson
Digital Divide
Cultural Diversity
Natural Capitalism
Ecological Footprint
Product-to-Service
Integrated Product Mgmt
Natural Step
Building the Pyramid
Compass Index
SROI
Blended Value
GRI
Precautionary Principle
Green Procurement
Green Building
SMS
ISIS
CDM
EUAs
B24B
Source: Atkisson, A. (2004). A Review of Practical Sustainable Development. Presented at Baltic
University Planning Conference

18. Some Important Distinctions
• Sustainability
• Sustainable Development
• Framework
• Model
• Methodology
• Process
• Tool
What’s the difference?

19. Sustainability is ...
 A set of conditions
and trends in a given
system that can
continue indefinitely
 Path/direction
 A strategic process
of continuous
change in the
direction of
sustainability
 Means/tools
Sustainable Development is ...

20. SUSTAINABILITY
FROM GLOBAL LANDSCAPE & ENGLISH TERMINOLOGY
Origin:
(Latin word)
(13th
Century)
=
bearable
(16th Century)
=
defensible
(18th Century)
&
1970’s
Reference: Mohamad Zain, S. 2012. Keterlestarian sebagai ilmu multidisiplin
termasuklah Ekonomi dan Matematik. In Knowledge Civilisation Discourse
Series 1. Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya
1980’s & 1990’s

21. Sustainable Development Timeline

22. Sustainability Concepts
 Long-term balance between economic, social and
environmental goals (look ahead 20-50 years,
understand the connections)
 Limits to natural, social, and built systems (live off
the interest of community capital, don’t degrade or
use it up)
 Inter- and intra- generational equity (share with
future generations and current inhabitants, local
sustainability in harmony with global sustainability
rather than at expense of others)

23. MILLENNIUM
DEVELOPMENT
GOALS
(193 MEMBER STATES)
Further details: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals

24. New Sustainable Development Paradigm
David Griggs et al. (2013). Sustainable Development goals for people and planet. . Nature Mar 21 Vol 495
Old SD
New SD
24

25. Sustainable Development Goals
1. End extreme poverty including hunger
2. Achieve development within planetary boundaries
3. Ensure effective learning for All Children and Youth
for Live and Livelihood
4. Achieve Gender Equality, Social Inclusion, and
Human Rights for All
5. Achieve Health and Wellbeing at All Ages
6. Improve Agriculture Systems and Raise Rural
Prosperity
7. Empower Inclusive, Productive, and Resilient Cities
8. Curb Human-Induced Climate Change and Ensure
Clean Energy for All
9. Secure Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity, Ensure
Good Management of Water and Other Natural
Resources
10. Transform Governance for Sustainable
Development
(Source: An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development:
Report for the UN Secretary-General, 23 October 2013)
25

26. Trees of Sustainability
What word will best
describe ‘sustainability’?

27. (Mark A. White. 2013. Sustainability: I know it, when I see it. In Ecological Economics, 86, p.213-217)

28. SUSTAINABILITY…
HAS DIFFERENT MEANING TO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE

29. SUSTAINABILITY…
HAS DIFFERENT MEANING TO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE
PERSPECTIVE:
ENGINEERING
“…the process of designing or
operating systems such that they
use energy and resources
sustainably, i.e., at a rate that does
not compromise the natural
environment, or the ability of future
generations to meet their own
needs…”
PERSPECTIVE:
BUILT ENVIRONMENT / ARCHITECT
“…architecture that seeks to minimize the
negative environmental impact of
buildings by efficiency and moderation in
the use of materials, energy, and
development space…”

30. SUSTAINABILITY…
HAS DIFFERENT MEANING TO
DIFFERENT PEOPLE
“…The use of various strategies for
employing existing resources
optimally so that that a responsible
and beneficial balance can be achieved
over the longer term”
PERSPECTIVE:
ECONOMICS
PERSPECTIVE:
AGRICULTURE
“…the act of farming using
principles of ecology, the study
of relationships between
organisms and their
environment…as "an integrated
system of plant and animal
production practices having a
site-specific application that will
last over the long term…"

31. SUSTAINABILITY…
ISLAMIC APPROACH FOCUS MORE ON
INTEGRATION
PERSPECTIVE:
RELIGION (ISLAM)
“…integration of Islamic principles based on the Quran and
Sunnah into our day-to-day basis:
• fitra – creation as an original natural order;
• tawhid – the unity of creation, which tells us that all things
in the world are related to one another, all are equally
important, valuable and worthy of preservation;
• mizan – balance, is the state of well-ordered creation,
which must be maintained or restored.
• khilafa - the duty of mankind to maintain the order of
creation. The fruits of the earth are to be enjoyed, but its
resources must not be wastefully exploited.
”

32. 2 Mode of Science: Practitioner’s Perspective
Mode-1
Science
Academic
Mono-
disciplinary
Technocratic
Certain
Predictive
Mode-2
Science
Academic &
Social
Multi-Inter-
Trans-
disciplinary
Participative
Uncertain
Exploratory
Reference: [AKEPT Material] - Martens, P. (2006) Sustainability:
science or fiction? Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 2(1), 1-
5. (also published as: Solidarity & Sustainability, Reflections on
Solidarity, Sustainability and Religious Violence, 2 (9), September
2006.)

33. The role of Sustainability + Science in Policy Process
Reference: [AKEPT Material] - Martens, P. (2006) Sustainability:
science or fiction? Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy, 2(1), 1-
5. (also published as: Solidarity & Sustainability, Reflections on
Solidarity, Sustainability and Religious Violence, 2 (9), September
2006.)

34. Definitions of Sustainable Development
Reference: [AKEPT Material] - Kemp R. & Martens P. 2007. Sustainable development:
how to manage something that is subjective and never can be achieved?.
Sustainability: Science, Practice, & Policy 3(2):5-14. Published online Aug 30, 2007.
http://www.google.com.my/archives/vol3iss2/0703-007.kemp.html
What is to be
sustained?
Nature: Earth, Biodiversity, Ecosystems
Life Support: Ecosystem Services,
Resources, Environment
Community: Cultures, Groups, Places
What is to be
developed?
People: child survival, Life expectancy,
education, Equity, Equal opportunity
Economy: wealth, productive sectors,
consumption
Society: institutions, social capital
states, regions

35. Case Study 1: Problem-based model for Sustainability
Science Water Infrastructure Solutions
Further details: www.iwahq.org

36. Case Study 2:
From Linear to Circular (Cradle-to-Cradle)
Further details: Cradle to Cradle:
Remaking the way we make things, 2002.

37. Case Study 3:
Approach on the complex issue of SD
Further details: Zainal Abidun Sanusi, Dzulkifli Abdul Razak, Kanayuthu Koshy, Salfarina Abd
Gapor, Craig Hutton, Smita Krishnan, Abd. Malik Abd. Aziz. (2013) . Sustainability Science: A
review of context, approaches and potential applications. UNESCO & AKEPT

38. SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS:
PRACTITIONER’s PERSPECTIVE
EDUCATION
• Promotion of Sustainability
in education system
• Penetration on different
level of education in
Malaysia (Primary – Higher
education)
• Role of ESD & HeSD
STAKEHOLDERS
ENGAGEMENT
• Government & Institution: Inclusive
Policies formulation, incentives
• Business Community: Offering
Professional Sustainability Training/
Course/ Certificates/ Consultation
• Public: inclusive roundtable or dialogue
RESEARCH
• Research entities: work not in-silos but
• Promote and practice Multi-Inter-
Trans Disciplinary (M-I-T) approach in
conducting/delivering research

39. UM Sustainable Development
Solutions Network (UM SDSN)
• In response to the mandate on post-2015 and the
outcome of the Rio + 20 Conference, UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has launched the
United Nations Sustainable Development
Solutions Network (UNSDSN) in 2012 which
aims to mobilize scientific and technical
expertise from academia, civil society, and the
private sector in support of sustainable
development at local, national, and global
scales.
• At the national level, SDSN Malaysia Chapter was
launched on October 10th, 2012. UM SDSN is
envisaged to become a recognised sustainability
referral centre in promoting multi-, inter- and
trans-disciplinary approach in engaging
sustainability and sustainable development
issues.
UM SDSN Past Activities:
info

40. UM Sustainable Development
Solutions Network (UM SDSN)
UM SDSN Upcoming & Future Activities
(Tentative):
• (SD)₂ Series II: Sustainable Agenda for
SMEs in Malaysia – December 2014
• (SD)₂ Series III: Sustainability
Discourse from faith and values-based
perspective – 2015
• UM Sustainability Curriculum
Mapping – 2014 – 2015
• UM Living Lab Projects - 2015
• UM Sustainability Summit –
November / December 2015
info
For further enquiries/ networking/
collaboration opportunities:
UM Sustainable Development Solutions
Network (UM SDSN)
Level 6,
Research Management & Innovation
Complex (RMIC), University of Malaya,
50603 Kuala Lumpur,
MALAYSIA
Tel: +603-7967 7022 (+2325/2362)
Fax: +603-7967 7813
Email: umsdsn@gmail.com
Contact details

41. Thought provoking…

42. Toward Sustainable Society…

43. Culture that is needed…yet becoming extinct

44. Sustainability Science Research Cluster UM:
http://susci.um.edu.my/
UM Sustainable Development Solutions Network (UM
SDSN):
https://www.facebook.com/umsdsn

45. Newspaper clipping
Source:
http://www.townplan.gov.my/media_gallery.php?cat=newsclip&year_month=2012_03&ID=408
http://hornbillunleashed.wordpress.com

46. Rethink our eco-nomics

47. From linear to Circular Economy