Sustaining: the environment

Abstract

Key points: - Economic growth is a longstanding and vital feature of modern capitalism. - From the late-nineteenth century some classical social analysis began to express concern about the environmental impact of modern forms of production and consumption. - Increasing mass production and mass consumption led to concerns being expressed about waste and the sustainability of modern ways of living. - Scientific research suggests that capitalist economic life and modern ways of living are creatin a global ecological crisis. - Notwithstanding scientific evidence indicating that relentless pursuit of economic growth is unsustainable the policy accorded priority on official discourse has continued to be ' business as usual'. - Sustaining the environment is a priority and needs to be a prominent focus of sociological inquiry,