The global population is estimated to reach 9.6 billion by 2050, a huge sum that makes me wonder whether approaches to sustain and deliver resources for these people will be environmentally sustainable.
"Environmental sustainability" means the use of resources meeting the needs of people now and in the future without harming the natural environment.
For centuries we have been experiencing an exponential growth of the human population, which is spiralling out of control. More people means the need for more food and water, more energy, and more space for increased housing. As a result fertile soil will diminish and famines will become wide-spread. Clean water will disappear, and fossil fuels will vanish. Habitats home to keystone species that play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem will be deforested and concreted-over. Flood will increase due to the lack of infiltration. The list goes on.
So why are we not developing environmentally sustainable methods of resource production more? Unlike economically developed countries such as Germany, why is the UK not increasing the use of solar farms? Why are most cars still dependent on limited fuels which produce harmful gases that famously enhance the greenhouse effect? Antarctica has now become the target for oil production, and the beautiful coral reef in Australia has become victim to the greedy coal industry.
In my village alone, which is home to a mere 2000 residents, 2 kg of general waste per person is produced weekly. And with school and housing shortages, more people are moving in. How can the Council manage this vast production of landfill waste, without harming the environment?
Although recycling is widespread especially in Japan and the UK, and the use of solar energy is increasing (although the expense is still a major discouragement for many), I think it's fair to say that we are currently not very environmentally sustainable. Improvements to the way we approach meeting the needs of people must be made. A spread of understanding about the importance of the environment must be done in order to achieve this. More involvement between developing and developed countries and economic support can help solve this issue.
References: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2013/dec/15/great-barrier-reef-destruction-abbot-point-greg-hunt
www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/Ardingly_Parish_Neighbourhood_Plan.pdf
"Environmental sustainability" means the use of resources meeting the needs of people now and in the future without harming the natural environment.
For centuries we have been experiencing an exponential growth of the human population, which is spiralling out of control. More people means the need for more food and water, more energy, and more space for increased housing. As a result fertile soil will diminish and famines will become wide-spread. Clean water will disappear, and fossil fuels will vanish. Habitats home to keystone species that play a vital role in maintaining the ecosystem will be deforested and concreted-over. Flood will increase due to the lack of infiltration. The list goes on.
So why are we not developing environmentally sustainable methods of resource production more? Unlike economically developed countries such as Germany, why is the UK not increasing the use of solar farms? Why are most cars still dependent on limited fuels which produce harmful gases that famously enhance the greenhouse effect? Antarctica has now become the target for oil production, and the beautiful coral reef in Australia has become victim to the greedy coal industry.
In my village alone, which is home to a mere 2000 residents, 2 kg of general waste per person is produced weekly. And with school and housing shortages, more people are moving in. How can the Council manage this vast production of landfill waste, without harming the environment?
Although recycling is widespread especially in Japan and the UK, and the use of solar energy is increasing (although the expense is still a major discouragement for many), I think it's fair to say that we are currently not very environmentally sustainable. Improvements to the way we approach meeting the needs of people must be made. A spread of understanding about the importance of the environment must be done in order to achieve this. More involvement between developing and developed countries and economic support can help solve this issue.
References: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/southern-crossroads/2013/dec/15/great-barrier-reef-destruction-abbot-point-greg-hunt
www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/Ardingly_Parish_Neighbourhood_Plan.pdf