When I first chose to study sustainability, I thought I knew exactly what I was signing up for: recycling, climate change, renewable energy, maybe a bit of environmental policy. In my mind, sustainability was a synonym for “saving the environment.” Noble, yes, but very green, very scientific, and very far from the world of people and systems I was actually interested in.
But within just a few months of my studies, my narrow definition started to unravel.
What I’ve come to realize — and what I wish more people knew — is that sustainability is not just about protecting nature. It’s about transforming how we live, work, govern, and relate to each other. It’s about equity, culture, power, systems thinking, and social justice.
“In short: sustainability is not just environmental, it’s deeply humane”.
The turning point for me was a course on how Earth summits shape the future. It exposed me to the idea that the biggest barriers to sustainability aren’t technological, they’re rather political, economic, and cultural. We already have the tools to reduce emissions and waste. What we lack is cooperation, fair governance, the inclusion, and the will to change our habits and institutions.
Suddenly, I realized why sustainability needs people from every background and not just environmentalists.
Designers, for instance, are at the heart of shaping user behavior, urban environments, and circular systems. Whether it’s designing buildings, apps, or services, the way we design the world around us influences the sustainability of our choices — often without us even noticing.
Economists are equally vital. Climate change is arguably the biggest market failure of our time. From rethinking GDP to integrating planetary boundaries into fiscal models, economic systems will need a total rethink if we’re to achieve long-term balance between growth and ecological health.
Business students? You’re not off the hook. Sustainability isn’t a CSR side-project anymore – it’s becoming core to strategy. Companies are now expected to prove their environmental and social impact, not just profit margins. Future leaders will need to think in terms of triple bottom lines: people, planet, profit.
Even anthropology and sociology students have a seat at the table. Understanding how cultural narratives, identities, and behaviors shape our relationship to the planet is critical. What good is a climate policy if it doesn’t fit the cultural context of a community?
The more I studied, the more I understood: this is about people.
Take energy poverty, for example. It’s not just a technical problem, it’s a social inequality. When families can’t afford to heat their homes, or are excluded from green innovations like solar panels, the transition is failing them. A truly sustainable future is one that is fair, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of the most vulnerable. Urban planning is an emerging priority as well when it comes to sustainability. Building climate-resilient cities isn’t just about sea walls and green roofs. It’s about making sure those most affected by floods, heatwaves, or air pollution are actually part of the decision-making process. Otherwise, we risk reinforcing the very inequalities we aim to solve.
What I love about studying sustainability is that there’s room for everyone. If you’re a numbers person, you can dive into climate modeling or environmental economics. If you’re a storyteller, you can craft narratives that shift public opinion. If you’re a builder, you can co-create regenerative spaces with communities. If you’re a policy wonk, you can untangle regulations and push for coherence between local and global goals.
In an increasingly polarized and chaotic world, sustainability is one of the few fields that encourages collaboration over competition, integration over isolation, and long-term thinking over short-term fixes.
If you’re considering a degree in sustainability — or just want to make a difference — don’t let outdated stereotypes hold you back. It’s not all lab coats and composting (though those have their place, too). It’s a rich, interdisciplinary, urgent field that asks you to bring your full self, your values, and your skills — whatever they are — to the table.
It reminded me that saving the planet isn’t just about emissions, it’s about people and our future. Autor: Lora Garam
Sustainability Business Strategist Intern at DuurzameJobs.nl
