Abstract
ABSTRACT In environmental discourse, sustainability and sustainable development are buzzwords. In practice, these goals are widely advocated by international agencies, governments, and local non-governmental organizations. While the global discourse of sustainability and sustainable development operates as a powerful source of influence worldwide, we have access to few studies that specifically examine how development practitioners in the Global South interpret and apply these concepts. To fill this gap in environmental-communication research, the case study reported in this article investigates how a local NGO in rural Cambodia interprets and applies the terms “sustainability” and “sustainable development.” Examining local NGO interpretations promotes nuanced insights about a range of development issues, reduces buzzword vagueness, and illuminates gaps in the global discourse. The critical discourse analysis applied reveals the value of conducting additional local investigations in various development contexts that will further inform dialogue about sustainability and sustainable development by incorporating a wider range of local perspectives.
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