Sustainability is defined as how the natural systems function, diversify, and produce everything in an ecological balance. Human civilization takes resources from nature to sustain itself. There are numerous examples of human civilization destroying the environment and endangering future generations. Sustainability teaches the concept of how to harmonize humans with nature.
We live in a gradually industrializing, consumerist, and an urban world where we have forgotten to co-exist with nature. We use natural resources for our own ends without considering the harm we do to nature. We act as though depleting resources is our birthright and nature should just deal with it and provide us with more. We can’t expect a sick man to get healthy without nursing him. The same applies to nature. As compared to rural areas, urban areas use the most energy and natural resources and contribute to pollution the most. Being as it may, sustainability doesn’t focus on urban areas or the most polluted areas. It is for all and everyone. It focuses on maintaining a balance between fulfilling our needs and protecting the environment as well. Keeping in mind the long-term effects, it is necessary to introduce and implement sustainability at full speed. We not only jeopardize our own health but also the health of our loved ones, plants, animals, and other species that rely on coexistence. The real question is how we can improve our routine.
The Three Pillars of Sustainability
The researchers have jotted down and identified three core categories that contribute to the sustainable development of society. These are used universally as the recognized schemes and policies to focus on. They help capture vast terminologies in simple and general categorization. It is said that we must not compromise the ability of future generations to satisfy our current wants. We shall consider the future and take steps accordingly.
Economic Development
This is probably the most controversial of all, as people are divided between the categorization of what falls under necessary and wasteful, and how businesses are affected, among other things. Most businesses fail to go beyond their monetary capabilities to increase profits while keeping in mind the need for sustainability. A person, let alone an organization, can’t do what a planned and powerful organization can do as a whole. To curb and control the equilibrium in regards to supply and demand, keeping the flow parallel and decreasing wastefulness for the sake of the environment, will require fewer resources. It must be about fulfilling the needs and demands of people without keeping the environment at risk. Quality of life must be increased, not cheap and wasteful depletion.
Social Development
When it comes to the “social development” of people, we treat this as urgent. It is a must to protect the health of people from pollution. Many countries ensure regular checks to ensure that the health index of their respective countries is maintained. It is not to compromise the quality of life while keeping in view the maintenance of natural resources. The main focus is on how to involve sustainable practices in our routine practices. The most important element, education, is to ensure that the awareness of it is increased. It is to educate more people about the need for sustainable practices in a person’s life.
Environmental Development
The three R’s of preservation are known by all. Switching to solar energy, shifting from fast to slow fashion, avoiding bulk purchases, carpooling, or taking the bus are all examples of ways to reduce, recycle, and reuse. Businesses are expected to plan their policies accordingly to prevent pollution and decrease carbon emissions. There are numerous ways to go green with a minimum amount of effort. Environmental development, being the third and last pillar, is the primary concern that requires immediate action and reaction.
What is the aim of sustainability?
There are numerous aims highlighted by several organizations, some of which are:
- The decline in poverty and the rise in equal distribution
- Education and health are treated as primary goals.
- Keeping development and sustainability in parallel
- Tackling climate change, pollution and other issues to protect people and their health
- Sustainability will contribute to a more healthy and more durable society and environment.
Following through these processes and finding other ways to promote sustainability will definitely help in increasing the quality of life. Better health equals a better output in life.
A Brief History of Sustainability
The industrialization has been both a boon and a bane to society. With the development of machinery and textiles, people forgot the need to preserve natural resources and continued with the depletion of the same. The advancement of everything came with a price.
The timeline of the sustainable journey starts from:
- 1892—John Muirs, who co-founded the Sierra Club
- Roosevelt’s invention debuted in 1901. The United States Forest Service
- In 1970, the establishment of NEPA (The National Environmental Policy Act)
- In 1972, the formation of UNEP (U. N. Environment Programme)
- The United Nations General Assembly adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015.
By the late 20th century, we were well aware of the effects of climate change and the science behind it. The greenhouse effect and the depletion of the ozone layer have long been a source of concern. We must make efforts to shift from non-renewable to renewable resources.
The Future of Sustainability
With the increase in technology, we hope to discover new ways to be more sustainable and not compromise the future of the coming generations. Since the late 19th century, the problems of natural depletion have become evident. We may not know what the future beholds, but with immediate action and improvements taken towards the preservation of nature, we could do wonders. We have faced several natural calamities and might be faced with more in the future. To prevent that, it is necessary to develop new, cleaner technologies to cope with our demands for energy, resources, etc. Spokespersons and activists connected to the cause hope to break the barrier between rich and poor to provide equal opportunities and fulfill the requirements of people accordingly in the future.
We hope sustainability acts as an angel in disguise, with the help of which we can improve the quality of our society and our flora and fauna.
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