For most of history, societies understood a simple truth: resources are finite, and working with nature—rather than against it—is crucial to survival. Across continents and cultures, people who had no way of contacting each other independently developed systems that respected the natural world's limits, whether through Indigenous traditions or religious principles.

Fast-forward to today, and the modern global economy has become an outlier—pursuing boundless growth while subjugating key metrics like ecological stability, human health, and long-term resource security.

A Brief Guide to Sustainability Reporting unpacks:

• How we got here

• The forces that shaped modern reporting frameworks

• Why businesses—big and small—are scrambling to adapt.

It also explores why some feel resentful toward a culture that frames anything less than perfect 'sustainability' as a moral or ethical failure—amid ever-changing definitions and expectations. From history to cutting-edge case studies, this book connects the dots between past wisdom and today’s corporate sustainability push. Whether you're a skeptic, a professional, or just curious, this is your crash course on the evolving world of sustainability reporting.