Living a Sustainable Lifestyle - Essay Example

In an ethical context, the concept of sustainability is directly linked to the notions of social equity and social justice (Warner 2009). Eventually, it is the lifestyle of the richest and poorest members of human society that are a cause of grave concern for the future of the entire humanity, though for very different reasons (Warner 2009).

The richest members of human society tend to consume far more than what the planet earth can provide. In other words, the richest members of human society are much exceeding in their consumption of finite resources, without exhibiting any ethical concern or scruples (Warner 2009). On the other hand, the poorest members of human society that have the meager economic wherewithal to lead an ethically conscious life are left with no option but to exploit the finite resources in an uninformed and irresponsible way to eke out a living (Warner 2009). Such uninformed and ethically deprived excesses may include cutting down the forests for subsistence farming and fuel.
Pressed by their immediate needs, the poorest members of human society do lack the means and capacity to show some ethical initiative (Warner 2009). Eventually, the onus for taking an initiative in the direction of promoting sustainable lifestyles predominantly rests with the better-to-do sections of humanity (Warner 2009). Any approach towards a sustainable existence does show an ethical concern for the well-being of future generations (Warner 2009). The rate at which humanity is consuming resources is much higher compared to the rate at which nature could replenish those resources (Warner 2009). This is putting to risk the extent to which future generations will be able to meet their basic needs. So, from an ethical perspective, future generations are being left with planet earth, which is biologically challenged and deprived, and dangerously polluted (Warner 2009). Sustainability is presenting to contemporary humans, a reason for being morally and ethically concerned about the well-being of future generations. Humans can evince a moral and ethical concern for the well-being of the poor segments of society and the needs of future generations by consuming non-renewable resources in a responsible and concerned manner.

The responsibility of leading sustainable lifestyles rests predominantly with the individuals, then with the governments, corporations, or NGOs, because it is eventually the individuals who benefit from the policies wrought out by the governments, the goods, and services produced by the corporations, and the services rendered by the NGOs (Sustainable Living Project 2012). To put it simply, sustainable lifestyles are potentially attainable at an individual level. Americans, as individuals, though comprising a mere three percent of the world population, consume roughly thirty-three percent of the planet’s resources (Empowerment Institute 2012).
Out of this consumption, nearly seventy-five percent of the resources get wasted owing to a lack of awareness and inefficiency (Empowerment Institute 2012). It is the households that directly consume more than one-third of the resources, and happen to be the indirect consumers of the rest of the resources turned into goods, services, and products churned out by the government, companies, and NGOs (Empowerment Institute 2012). Hence, the attainment of sustainable lifestyles could be realistically attained by individuals, if they show more concern and responsibility in the usage of energy, water, land, minerals, etc. A more proactive approach to individual consumption patterns will ensure that ample resources are left for future generations. Read More