In fact, he suggested we use the word “viabilité” rather than “durabilité”. I don't think I could do justice to his eloquence since he is after all a journalist and an author. In short, the French word “durabilité” is ugly, it doesn't sound right and it gives the impression that something will endure and develop in an inherent way, whereas the notion of viability suggests instead a concept of inherent limits, the limits of the ecosystems within which we must stay.
I have four paragraphs in hand that I could read to you. It is a term which, in my opinion, would advance the debate a great deal. Moreover, it would be a better translation of what was really meant by “sustainability”, from the days of the Brundtland report, which goes back a long way.