Ablind spot on the increasing global challenges has marked the earliest productive days of sustainable development goals.
Traditional development has offered us the simple definition of progress in terms of economy and technology for decades. It took some time before we finally realised the blind spot: traditional development comes at the expense of the planet’s resources which are not infinitelyavailable.

Dora Marinova, Prof. of Sustainability at the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP)
The realisation, however, is a bit too late as the ecosystems have already depleted and left the global community vulnerable. What the world needs now is a shift from the traditional development toward a sustainable one. Sustainable development is defined as a way of living that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
The discourse remains mostly a matter of indifference to the global public. This indifference needs to be transformed into meaningful engagement. It calls for discussions among experts, policymakers, and educators.
The Sunday Observer encounters Dora Marinova, Professor of Sustainability at the Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP), to explore the nature of sustainability, from its theoretical foundations to its practical applications in governance, technology, and international collaboration.
Dora was CUSP Director from 2015 to 2018 and Deputy Director from 2007 to 2014. She has more than 320 refereed publications and has completed 57 PhD students who now work in academia, industry and government.
She has published in journals, including Scientometrics, Journal of Cleaner Production, Journal of Econometrics and Nanotechnology. The book she edited on Impact of Meat Consumption on Health and Environmental Sustainability was awarded World Best Book in the Sustainable Food category of the prestigious 22nd Gourmand Awards.
In 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2018 she served as a Panel member of the Centres of Research Excellence Peer Review Panel on Population Health and Health Services Research Grant Review Panel, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Government. For the period 1991–2017, Scopus lists her as Australia’s top author and 12th in the world in the area of sustainability.
The following conversation with Prof. Mairnovais an attempt to explore key areas from prioritising SDGs for national recovery to the transformative role of education and cultural awareness in sustainable practices.
Q: How do you define sustainability? Why is it particularly important for a country like Sri Lanka, which has been struggling with economic bankruptcy, rural poverty, and malnutrition?
A: Sustainability is widely understood as a way of thinking and acting that simultaneously integrates environmental, social and economic priorities. The history of economic development shows that we have for a long time prioritised economic priorities over social and environmental considerations. In its nature, sustainability is an anthropocentric concept.In other words, it is about people. Whatever we do should support a better quality of life for people. Malnutrition and rural poverty should be top priorities for Sri Lanka and for the global human community.
Q: Can you explain the history and theoretical framework of sustainability? How does the Triple Bottom Line approach address issues of social equity, environmental conservation, and economic growth?
A: The person who came up with the Triple Bottom Line approach, John Elkington “recalled” this concept in the same way as businesses recall faulty products. In his book “Green Swans” he writes about the need for “miracles on demand” and presents many examples that they are possible if we have the right mindset on finding solutions that address social equity and environmental conservation while also allowing business opportunities.
Q: Do you think this framework sufficiently incorporates technology and governance challenges, especially for developing nations like Sri Lanka?
A: Technology and governance are essential for sustainability. They are also important for the delivery of the new way of living on this planet. New technological solutions are constantly emerging, for example, how to deal with plastics pollution or reduce the environmental footprint of buildings. Innovation is driving the shift to sustainability and it embraces both technology and governance. They are the tools for a sustainability transition.
Q: Sri Lanka, as a member country of the United Nations, has committed to implementing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Considering the country’s challenges, which specific SDGs should be prioritised by the new government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake?
A: All 17 SDGs are important. For me, the crucial one is SDG16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. This is particularly important on the global arena and each country should contribute towards SDG16. SDG17, that is working in partnerships, is the mechanism to achieve all other goals. It is up to the people of Sri Lanka to and its new Government to decide which priorities are the most urgent. My advice would be to look at changes which can deliver benefits to most people and to the natural world.
Q: Having trained top civil servants from Bangladesh in SDG-focused action research, what insights or strategies could be applied to help Sri Lankan officials address sustainability challenges?
A: Changing people’s mindset is perhaps the most challenging thing to achieve. We do this by demonstrating and showcasing examples how things can be done differently. If I have to summarise this approach, it would be: (1) provide practical examples that work in our Australian conditions, which are very different to those in Sri Lanka; and (2) work together with Sri Lankan officials in finding what can work for Sri Lanka.
Q: What role can institutions like Curtin University play in training and equipping Sri Lankan professionals to drive sustainable development?
A: Curtin University has a long tradition in education people for solving real-world problems.
In fact, it is Australia’s No. 1 university for employer satisfaction. We offer a range of courses, including Master in Environmental and Climate Emergency, and also work with the Australian Government on building the capacity and skills of professionals in the area of sustainability. We can jointly pursue such avenues with Sri Lanka.
Q: I’ve had several conversations with your former student, Dr. Sunil Govinnage, now a Curtin Academic who emphasised the importance of culture as a missing pillar of sustainability. How critical is cultural awareness in designing and implementing sustainable development projects?
A: Cultural awareness has always been part of the social aspects of sustainability. In the past, I have argued that sustainability is the new culture that the world needs to embrace. Some of my other students have also argued that spirituality is at the core of sustainability and why people care about other human beings or the natural world. For me, the most important aspect is that the sustainability solutions have to be locally appropriate, they have to build on the creativity and skills of local people.
Q: If invited by the Sri Lankan government, would you be willing to collaborate on their economic recovery programs or conduct training sessions for local officials? What specific areas of expertise would you bring to such an initiative?
A: Yes, I would be happy to do so. We have been working, for example, with the Government of Bangladesh, where we use an action research approach. In other words, those who take the actions – be it for economic recovery or environmental restoration, would need to also reflect on what works and what doesn’t work and adjust accordingly. It is important to agree on the desired sustainability outcomes and be creative and flexible in finding ways to achieve them.