Weak Sustainability

Weak sustainability is a concept that suggests natural resources can be replaced or compensated for through human-made capital, such as technology or infrastructure. It assumes that as long as the overall stock of capital—both natural and man-made—is maintained or increased, sustainable development is possible. This perspective emphasizes that economic growth can continue if we invest in substitutes for natural assets, relying on our ability to innovate. While it recognizes the importance of the environment, it treats natural and human-made capital as interchangeable components of a broader system, focusing on total capital conservation rather than strict preservation of specific natural resources.