The concept of "Sustainability" emerged in the 1970s, but was first used in the context of global resource conservation in the 1987 Brundtland Report1, in which sustainable development is defined as .. development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs..

The term has been used by movements from the extremes of the political right (e.g., the Wise Use Movement) to the political left (e.g., Deep Ecology Movement). The right tends to emphasize the need to sustain resources through technological advancement for sustainable yields and future capital (generally for specific industries or corporations), while the latter emphasizes the interconnectedness and inherent worth of living things, including those things described as resources.

Frequently the concept of environmental and socially responsibility (i.e., true sustainability) is used to market products, services, or corporate interests. This often leads to confusing messages when the terms "sustainability" or "sustainable" are used. Determining whether or not actions, entities, or products are truly sustainable must be made at a systems (e.g., political, cultural, economic, ecosystem) level. Ultimately, actions must be measured by their global consequences.