Understanding sustainability and how to build a career in it

Robin Wall Kimmerer, botanist, member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and author of Braiding Sweetgrass, draws a distinction worth considering: the difference between knowing the name of something and understanding how it connects to everything around it.

Learning the name of a plant is only the beginning. Real understanding comes from seeing how that plant connects to pollinators, ecosystems and human life.

Sustainability works the same way.

Most people can name environmental problems like water shortages, pollution or climate change. But we need to ask a bigger question: how do nature, businesses, cities and communities all affect one another?

That kind of systems thinking is now shaping careers in business, government, technology, city planning and environmental work around the world.

ASU’s SOS 100: Introduction to Sustainability helps you build those skills through college-level learning online. The course is part of ASU Universal Learner Courses, which means you can start without applying to a degree program.

You pay $25 to begin and decide later whether to add official ASU credit for $400 if you are satisfied with your grade.

What sustainability actually means

Sustainability is about how people, businesses and environments continue to function long term without exhausting the systems they depend on.

Conservation is part of that work. Conservation focuses on protecting natural resources like water, forests, wildlife and soil so people and ecosystems can continue to thrive.

The field connects environmental health, human well-being and long-term economic stability. In practice, sustainability asks questions like where clean water comes from, how cities grow responsibly, how businesses reduce waste and how environmental decisions affect communities differently.

This broad perspective is why sustainability now influences careers across industries.

What true sustainability thinking looks like

Today, many companies talk about sustainability. Some are making real operational changes. Others use environmental language mainly for marketing.

This is often called greenwashing and it happens when organizations make environmental claims that sound positive but are difficult to verify. Learning to tell the difference between reach change and empty claims  has become an important skill in business, finance, law and public policy. 

Governments are increasingly requiring companies to provide proof of their environmental impact. In Europe, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive now requires many large companies to publicly report detailed sustainability data.

That shift has created demand for people who understand how environmental systems, regulations and business decisions connect.

Why sustainability matters economically

Scientists describe several major “planetary boundaries” tied to climate, biodiversity, freshwater systems and ecosystem stability. Crossing those boundaries creates risks not only for nature, but also for economies and infrastructure.

Water shortages, extreme weather and biodiversity loss affect:

• food production
• public health
• transportation systems
• housing and insurance markets
• supply chains and manufacturing

That is why sustainability is no longer treated as a niche topic. It has become part of how governments, investors and companies plan for the future.

SOS 100 introduces you to the systems-based thinking used to understand these connections.

Why environmental justice matters

Environmental problems affect every community. Where you live, what resources you have access to and who holds political power shapes how much.

Communities with fewer financial resources often face higher pollution exposure, greater flood and heat risks and less access to clean infrastructure. Environmental justice examines these patterns and asks how environmental solutions can be fair as well as effective.

This is one reason sustainability is not only about science. It’s also about policy, economics and human systems.

How sustainability connects to careers

Sustainability careers now exist in business operations, urban planning, clean energy, law, healthcare, technology and manufacturing. Entry-level roles may include sustainability coordinator, environmental compliance specialist, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) analyst or circular economy operations associate.

Many employers are looking for people who can think across systems and understand how environmental, economic and social issues connect.

Why ASU offers SOS 100 through Universal Learner Courses

ASU Universal Learner Courses are designed for people who want to try college-level learning before committing to a degree program.

You don’t need to apply to ASU to take this course.

Courses are taught by ASU faculty and held to ASU academic standards. If you complete the course and want college credit, you can choose to add it to your official ASU transcript afterward.

If you decide not to add credit, nothing is placed on your transcript.

These courses allow you to:

• experience real college coursework
• build confidence
• explore future interests
• keep options open for later

For high school students, SOS 100 can provide early exposure to college-level work. For adults returning to learning, it offers a flexible way to re-enter higher education without committing upfront.

Start learning about sustainability today

Explore SOS 100 and other ASU Universal Learner Courses at courses.ulc.asu.edu/introduction-to-sustainability-sos-100.