What is Sustainability?

Recognizing environmental limits and sharing the ethic that present actions should not "compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,"* the Skidmore College community embraces both the concept and the holistic, lived practice of sustainability. We endeavor to enact environmentally responsible practices, grounded in economic and social equity, and through our actions to have a positive impact on our community and our planet.

Skidmore's primary mission is education, and the College's greatest impacts and achievements will be realized as consequences of the lives our graduates lead. As part of an ever-growing population on a finite planet, we are confronted with an increasingly urgent need to address the resulting environmental constraints and social challenges. Institutional adoption of sustainable practices, informed by an understanding of the complex, interconnected nature of living systems and their physical environment, provides the opportunity for each Skidmore community member to become educated, personally involved in addressing these challenges, and empowered with techniques and strategies that they might apply to make positive changes beyond Skidmore.

We invite Skidmore community members to engage in mindful consideration of their individual and collective ecological, economic, and social impacts; to examine their values; and to collaborate in demonstrating their values and principles through action. Teaching, learning, and living in accordance with the tenet of sustainability fosters broad education and civic engagement of our community members and prepares our students to be informed, active citizens and leaders in realizing sustainable futures. The health and well-being of future generations is dependent upon our success.

*Brundtland Commission