CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY
Our common future requires individual concern and the assumption that the environment will exhaust its resource at one point. The genesis of the concept of sustainability was in the Brundtland Report in 1987. The document focused on a better life for humankind on one side and challenges inflicted by nature on the other side. These issues were raised by the United Nations that saw the need to address the negative impact of economic, environmental, and societal development and globalization consequences. In this paper, my core interest is to focus on environmental conservation, look in detail the aspect of economic and social sustainability, and the factors that should be preserved and sustained.
The initiative and ideas aimed at preserving sustainability resources rely on three distinct areas: economic, environmental, and society. With industrialization and the advancement in technology, there is a need to develop solutions to cater to the negative effect of this achievement for balanced economic development. Thus, acting on the guiding for environmental conservation and inventing energy-saving development eradicate the emission of carbon dioxide and preserve the ozone layer. According to () utilizing green materials in construction and crafting projects that harvest their energy. Generally, the chief purpose of sustainability is to slow down the depletion of resources, encourage innovation that has minimal harm to the environment, and create environmentally friendly projects. More importantly, what is being sustained by human welfare.
Economic Sustainability.
The aspect of economic sustainability differs depending on the approach used. In the inside approach, economic sustainability is explained in term of the week sustainability. From this approach, economic sustainability is the economy’s capability to support defined levels of economic production indefinitely (.) Notably, this method tie-up economic sustainability with economic growth and production efficiency. This implies utilizing the existing resources optimally to achieve a responsible and advantageous balance over the long run. In light of this, economic systems reinforce sustainable environmental and social outcomes.
On the other hand, strong sustainability implies treating natural capital separately with the assumption that we cannot substitute artificial capital for it. According to Hicks, the founder of economic sustainability, income is the amount one can consume during a specific period and still be well off at the end of the duration. Early on, economists believed that the supply of natural resources was unlimited. According to the classical economist, they emphasized maximum utilization. However, neo-classical economists insist on realizing that resources are not infinite and call for long term financial sustainability and strong economic drivers. A green economy is critical to address the issue of greenhouses gases and climate change. The diagram below shows the relationship between consumer goods and the environment. An increase in non-renewable energy consumption reduces the available non-renewable and diminishes the long-term sustainability.
Environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability involves creating a plan for an effective environmental preservation method that will protect and maintain future generations. With this in mind, sustainable goals are utilized, including recycling, pollution prevention, and green purchasing. Similarly, issues of the ecosystem’s long-term health to meet future social and economic factors are essential. For instance, it is protecting food supplies, fishing, and farming. Further, the use of renewable sources of energy, such as solar and wind power, does not affect nature. When making the economic decision, it is vital to focus on the implication for the succeeding generations. According to () burning of charcoal has minimal benefit in the short term but creates extra pollution cost for the coming day. Environmental sustainability calls for preventing the effect of human-made global warming from curbing extreme weather conditions for time to come.
Moreover, taking care of species diversity to avoid extinction and the ecological structure. Policies to promote environmental sustainability include coming up with government regulation to prevent the release of harmful gases from companies, insisting on the carbon tax, and persuading the masses to use renewable energy. Significantly, including environmental repercussions in the cost-benefit analysis of decision-making can largely contribute to its preservation and conservation.
Society Sustainability.
Social sustainability is often addressed as creating successful welfare for humankind and promoting well-being in work and life. Notably, these include combing the economic and environmental aspects to support social and cultural life elements. The society incorporates a process that meets the current population’s need and promotes descendants’ ability to keep up a healthy community.
This theory explains the relationship between sustained natural resources exploitation and sustained poverty. For economic growth and poverty eradication, there is a need for environmental sustainability. Similarly, it supports an inclusive society where people have a voice, and the government retort accordingly. Thus the individual has equal opportunities, and the issues of inequality are solved. Society boosts environmental protection for the people while improving the standard of living for its citizens. Keen noted transparency, accountability, and public participation in social sustainability while promoting gender empowerment and disadvantaged people. It promotes equality, diversity, and social cohesion while improving the quality of life.
Conclusively, sustainability involves people, their welfare, and equitable relationship with each member of the community. It embraces maintaining a nature-society balance. Keen to note that climate change is a chief aspect of sustainability and human development, and therefore, there is a need to keep a safe environment for future generations.