GEF

Unit 1  |  Why Water Matters 30 1.5  Moving Toward Sustainable Water Systems More than anything, sustainability requires an integrated approach to meeting the water needs of present and future generations of people as well as maintaining the integrity of natural ecosystems. Sustainability is underpinned by a system- based approach in which water is understood as a vital component of the Earth, the biosphere , agriculture, energy production, health, and economic development. The triple bottom line of sustainability emphasizes the unity of the environment, economic development, and social equity. Another way of understanding water sustainability is looking at the “three E’s” of sustainable water, a similar approach to the triple bottom line of sustainability, which emphasizes the unity of environmental health, economic development, and social equity. These three E’s can be thought of as general guidelines moving us toward sustainable water systems: SYSTEM-BASED APPROACH A way of thinking about sets of components or concepts on different scales. BIOSPHERE The zone of life on Earth. TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE A standard originating in the business world that gives equal weight to econom- ics, the environment, and social equity.