When we speak of sustainability we most often use it to refer to ways of interacting with nature and our environment that cause no harm and thus ensure its internal balance to stay intact. How we interact with what we are part(s) of and belong to, however, is an effect of the ways in which we conceptualize the (culturally coded) interfaces by means of which ‘we’ are ‘programmed’ to relate to the earth, nature, ourselves, each other and what we are immersed in. How, then, can we venture to relate to what we belong to and partake in sustainably? Given the circumstance that sustainability is such a vast topic with so many different dimensions there surely cannot be just one unequivocal answer to a question that inevitably involves the whole of what we are part of and belong to but it does seem possible to identify at least some core aspects. One feature the UN has identified as essential with regard to a truly sustainable relationality is inclusivity: in 5 of its SDGs it is mentioned, covering a whole array of fields like education and learning, innovation, building resilient infrastructures, living and working together - and peace. The aspect of peace indicates that a truly inclusive sustainability is about balance which corresponds to a layer of meaning of ‘inclusive’ according to which being inclusive refers to relational ways of being or becoming part of something greater which presupposes that we ‘weave’ ourselves into our respective environments, thus mutually shaping the shared fabric of our being. The aim of inclusivity is thus ultimately the (co)creation of a sense of belonging – but how can we ‘do’ that? Etymologically speaking ‘belonging’ is an amalgam of multiple meaning dimensions in which aspects like to go along (together), to relate (to something greater) and to fit (in) are evoked, deep layers of meaning that, interestingly, are in sync with the etymological roots of the verb ‘to sustain’ according to which sustainability can mean to support, to assist and to hold (each other). Inclusive sustainability thus seems to be a lot about caring for each other and finding ways to truly belong to ourselves, the earth, nature, each other and what we ‘all’ are part(s) of. Should we succeed in doing that we will ‘all’ be sustained by what we belong to and be at peace with the world(s) we partake in.
Dr. Kari van Dijk is an artist, philosopher and researcher on belonging, inclusivity and sustainability. She is also a EUGLOH Let's Talk teacher and lecturer.