Environmental and Global Sustainability Issues - Term Paper Example

Running Header: Sustainability and Environmental Issues Student’s Name: Instructor’s Name: Course Code & Name: Date of Submission: Sustainability and Environmental Issues In debates about development and environment, use of sustainability term suggests that change can be made to occur (or permitted to occur) and the best of what has been done previously is maintained, whether that change is in a society, economy, or in an ecosystem. This definition is sometimes viewed as both vague and rhetorical but it has proved to be a convincing way of putting together issues concerning degradation of environment and future and present poverty. Adams (1999, p. 126) indicates that the term sustainability found its popularity when it first appeared in 1991 on the British legislation relating to Act of creating the conservation organization Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). The SNH was mandated with promoting and achieving the conservation and utilization of wildlife and landscape in way that is sustainable. SNH continued to describe sustainability as the ability of development or an undertaking to go on in long term without destabilizing that element of the environment that sustains it. Therefore, environmental sustainability is the improvement that caters requirements of the present population without interfering with the capability of the population to cover their own wants (Naim, Zeljko, & Neven, 2004 p. 4). There are various environmental issues that arise as a result of activities of humans which include climate change, anoxic water, conservation, environmental degradation, energy, environmental health, land degradation, genetic engineering, issues of nuclear, ozone depletion, overpopulation, land use, pollution, waste, resource depletion and toxins. Sustainable development faces various related issues and challenges. Development that is sustainable in the future is feasible only if people are willing to conserve the natural capital assets (Elliot 1999, p. 98). It is continually viewed that sustainable development remains to be a concept of illusion. Its aim is to transform the recent trends that are oriented to growth of socioeconomic system to one that is dedicated on the rising views of ecological world vision of social justice and environmental sustainability. It remains an ideal situation in that way. In this viewpoint, there is an emerging content of literature that accepts on a wide set of sustainability principles to directed achievement of these objectives. For example, there has been an increasing understanding that our economic and political institutions must be viewed as subsystems of the ecology of the planet and be enlightened by its requirements and limitations. Principles of sustainable development indicate that sustainability of environment must be established on long-term social and economic sustainability (Jonathan 2000, p. 5). The aspect of sustainable environment reveals that ecosystem plays a vital role in supplementing the society to develop an environmental necessity that must be embraced in all economic, resource and land decisions. The main concern must be to maintain systems of nature for future and present generations. In addition, the capability to maintain a conserved environment relies on the people’s ability to nurture a sustainable and strong economy. In this way, economy becomes more effective and gives huge social benefits from the utilization of limited assets of environment. A sustainable economy presents ways for improved environmental conservation and protection, while providing society options to unwarranted natural resources exploitation. In concept of social sustainability, the enhancement and protection of the environment is inextricably connected to the development of social justice and equity. Equity in social perspectives demands that the issues of communities and individuals be respected as economic and environmental wants are balanced. Industrial production of mutton, beef, poultry, pork, and dairy products is the rapidly growing method of production of animals. It relies on outside supply of energy, feed, and other varied outputs. The industrial system of bio-industry means huge flock/herd sizes, less attention to animals, high risk on health of animals and large quantities of waste. In particular, the impact of dairy on biodiversity is far from being simple, since it involves the development of invasive plants and loss of grassland diversity because of ever-increasing use of fertilizers. An example of impact of production on diversity is poppy and coca production in Columbia that has resulted to massive deforestation. This has resulted to destruction of natural habitats causing reduced diversity of population of birds in the area. Additionally, there has been impact on the environment diversity because of the witnessed high increase of international trade. Felix and Eugenio (1995, p. 65) suggest that world trade has grown 27 folds in the past half century in volume terms. The opening of trade has resulted to the increased activities in the economy and consequently increased usage of energy. The freer trade will cause increased economic activities resulting to increased emissions of greenhouse gases. These gases have far-reaching implications on the environment diversity. The impact of agricultural biotechnology on biodiversity has gained popularity as a result of introduction of GM crops (Richard 2001, p. 1). This is because it is argued that overall diversity of genetic within species of crops will reduce since programs of breeding will focus on a smaller number of high valued crops. However, biotechnology applications in agriculture have the potential to enhance sustainability in various ways and it is anticipated to help in maintaining natural and agricultural biodiversity. This is because biotechnology will help in reduction of use of pesticides that are threat to diversity. Status of citizenship bears with it both responsibilities and rights. In this viewpoint, citizens are needed to perform towards improving their society through public and economic participation. The concept of citizenship recognizes the significance of baring individual responsibility and deed to make sure that world is made a better place. This way, sustainable development is promoted because individuals will be conscious that population should cover it needs without interfering with future generation. Ecological citizenship recognizes that a citizen of global community is always responsible to others who are at a distance. Such concept obligates individuals to protect a healthy, complex, and autonomously functioning ecological system for the benefit of future and present generations. In addition, education on citizenship can be used to as a primary agent of change towards sustainable development since it can nurture the needed values, lifestyles, and behavior (Arthur, Davies & Hahn 2008, pp. 346). A quality education on citizenship supports an appropriate base to develop a responsible individual who can convey and uphold the principles of a sustainable world. Responsible individuals will have conscious awareness of resources use in their day-to-day activities. This will include efficient use of water and making sure that tap is closed, turning off heaters, lights and other electoral devices when not in use and use of bicycles. Responsible citizens will encourage the process of recycling by separating waste in their households to ease the process. The world is rapidly adopting changes on strategies in order to allow countries to shift from their current situation, frequently destructive, processes of development and growth onto paths of sustainable development (David 2000, p. 2). This has been facilitated by change of policy in all nations, with respect both to their impacts and to development on possible development of other countries. The changes towards sustainable development have been oriented to tackle the challenge of the huge population of people who live in the extreme poverty. Poverty lowers the ability of people to utilize resources in manner that is sustainable resulting to increased strain on the environment. The rise in per capita income in third world countries can be count as change that has aided in lowering extreme poverty and hence sustainable development is feasible. East and South Asia has experienced a 5 % annual growth for the past five years including countries like China and India. Additionally, change in sustainability has resulted to shift focus on quality of growth. Development of sustainability requires a change in growth content, to make it less energy intensive and material while remaining more equitable in its impact. Government of Finland has devised policy in 2007 that is founded on an inclusive approach that touches all sectors of policy related to development. The major aim of this policy is to promote sustainability in line with the goals of millennium development that is poverty eradication. Due to the witnessed deterioration of environment and natural resources depletion as a result of human activities, various countries have adopted principles and practice of restoring the natural environment. Across all mediums, pollution remains as one of the largest challenge facing the environment and sustainable development in the current world (Michael 1999, p. 298). In the past, Control of pollution was viewed as the solution to an environment this is clean. Pollution controls is explained as the actions carried out for pollution management after it has been produced. Although in the modern times, there has been a paradigm shift from control of pollution to prevention of pollution (P2). Recently, the cleaner production (CP) has entered the scenes of global environment. CP fits within P2’s wider obligation in focus of prevention instead the control of pollution. Approach of P2 can be embraced by every sector, whether in a large industrial complex or a small service operation. CP and P2 approaches try to eliminate and/or reduce land, water and air pollution. There have been general principles for control of pollution within the cities. The first one is that pollutants are to be contained within the subject sited and the second one is that surrounding or adjoining properties are not included as buffers for pollutants. In control pollution practice, pollution is identified as non-point source and point source pollution. One of the major practices to control pollution is recycling and wastewater treatment. There has been utilization of best management practices that are designed to lower the pollutants that are generated at and/or delivered from a source to a body of water. The issues, condition, and challenges of waste management in urban of developing and industrialized countries are different and pose challenge to sustainable development. Although developed nations produce huge content of wastes, they have established effective mechanisms, facilities, and bureaucracies to handle wastes. Developing nations are stuck in transition of trying to establish effective waste management but presently they have ineffective collection system and inefficient waste disposal. Apparent policies of governments and effective bureaucracies for solid waste management are required immediately, particularly in nations where population is growing rapidly via urbanization into areas of pre-urban. Programmes and services that involve effective waste disposal for management of hazardous chemical and biological wastes, recycling, and minimization are required. Waste disposal is usually carried out by incineration, dumping (into water bodies or on land), or long-term storage in a facility that is secure. All these approaches have different level of negative impacts on environment with adverse health and environmental risks if wastes are not stored or disposed properly. There has been an increase in movements in various nations push to reduce quantity of wastes being dumped by advocating alternatives to land filling. For example, approximately 36 million tons of waste of municipal was produced in UK in 2004/05 (Waste online organization 2006). However, the large percentage of that waste is still being disposed of via landfill method while the rest is incarnated or recycled. In conclusion, sustainable development principles acknowledge that sustainability of our environment must be developed on long-term social and economic sustainability. Principles of sustainability cover environmental, social, and economy perspectives. Industrial production of animals relies heavily on input energy, feed, and other varied outputs. There has been impact on biodiversity as a result dairy production since it involves utilization of invasive plant and fertilizers on grass. Trade increase has resulted to increased use of energy and emission of gases causing negative impact on environment diversity and sustainability. Biotechnology will help in reduction of use of pesticides that are threat to diversity. Citizenship and responsible individuals are vital concept to promote sustainable development because individuals become aware that resources should be used without interfering with future generation. The world is quickly adopting change of strategies in order to allow countries to shift from their current situation, normally destructive, processes of development and growth onto paths of sustainable development. Pollution remains the major threat to environment and sustainable development hence the need to develop principles and practices to control it. Issues of waste management in developed and developing countries varies and pose hurdle to sustainability. References Adams, W.M. 1999, ‘Sustainability’, in Introduction Human Geographies, eds. P. Cloke, P. Crang & M, Goodwin, Arnold, London. Arthur, J., Davies, I. & Hahn, C. 2008, The Sage Handbook of Education for Citizenship and Democracy, Sage Publications, London. David, B 2000, The Effect of Globalization on the Prospects for Sustainable Development in Mexico, pp. 1-26. Elliot, J. A. 1999, An Introduction to Sustainable Development, Routledge, London. Felix, M. C & Eugenio J. C. 1995, ‘Natural resources, bio-diversity and agriculture,’ International Symposium on Trade and The Environment, vol. 2 no. 6, pp. 55-76. Jonathan, M. H. 2000, ‘Basic principles of sustainable development’, Global Development and Environment, vol. 1 no. 4, pp. 2-26. Michael, J. B 1999, ‘Current pollution control practices in the United States,’ JAOCS, vol. 61, no. 2, pp. 297-301. Naim, A., Zeljko, B. & Neven, D. 2004, Sustainable development of energy, water and environment systems, Swets & Zeitlinger Publishers, Netherlands. Richard, B. 2001, Biodiversity: the Impact of Biotechnology, pp. 1-4. Waste online organization 2006, Waste Online, viewed 9 November 2010, . Read More