What is meant by the term 'sustainability'?

http://www.bathtram.org/tfb/tE04.htm

''DEFINITIONS OF SUSTAINABILITY
In 1987, the World Commission on Environment and Development developed a definition of sustainability that was included in its findings, which became known as the Brundtland Report.
It stated that:
Sustainable development meets the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.''

This have helped me to understand more about what sustainability means as my initial thought was just something which was permanent. After researching and finding this on the internet it has helped me to understand is that it is when you create something you must think about how this will affect the future generations.

http://bilumi.org/Main/interest/Ecological_Sustainability/?gclid=CKnAjPXfxKACFRg8lAod21rgZQ

"The state of California is seeking monetary compensation for the environmental damages caused by tailpipe emissions. The State’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against General Motors, Toyota, Ford, Honda, Chrysler, and Nissan for damaging the state’s weather, economy, and public health. Attorney General Bill Lockyer, filing the suit, stated, “Vehicle emissions are the single most rapidly growing source of the carbon emissions contributing to global warming, yet the federal government and automakers have refused to act. It is time to hold these companies responsible for their contribution to this crisis.”"
Quoting CoopAmerica http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=233

This is an example of where car companies have not considered sustainability for future generations.
This helped me to understand the effect things such as the cars can have on the pollution to our air we breathe and I totally agree that manufactures such as the ones in this quote should think of the long sustainable future instead of designing something and letting everybody else deal with the aftermath.

http://www.designcouncil.org.uk/About-Design/Business-Essentials/Sustainability/

''Like any good design, sustainable design involves delivering the best performance or result for the least cost over the long term.''

found this on the design council website it is similar to what i have found previously but it is a different outlook on it. I think this explaination is better though as it gives me a clearer inidication of what sustainability means.