Sustainability is a term that applies to all aspects of life, but how do we define it? According to The United Nations Brundtland Commission, sustainability is: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. To promote the health of our species, our planet, and all other forms of life that depend upon Earth, we must take responsibility for our finite resources. Let’s see how humans are building a better future.
Reducing Waste
We are collectively wasteful. We have grown accustomed to certain comforts which we perceive as basic rights. The right to happiness, home comforts, and the right to be extravagant with our money. But can we afford to continue to indulge ourselves in this way? After all, it is not just our lives we are looking after, but the lives of our future generations. It is the future of our species and our home.
For example, many of us feel we have the right to fill the paddling pool or water the lawn in the summer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, a running hose pipe wastes six gallons of water per minute. How many minutes does it take you to fill your paddling pool?
There is currently a global water crisis. According to the United Nations, 1 in 4 people do not have access to clean drinking water. Given this alarming data, how can we justify such extravagance? Surely, we all have a fundamental right to drink water? A human can only survive for around three days without drinking water.
Fighting Against Deforestation
Many nations approach deforestation with the same attitude. Regardless of the motivation, trees are seen as a resource we can utilize for short-term gains. Yet forests are our planet’s lungs; we all need them for our survival.
According to Consilium Design, forests, woodland, and other unmanaged areas of vegetation absorb approximately 13% of carbon dioxide emissions in the U.S. alone.
Deforestation also hinders the natural cycle of litterfall, which replenishes topsoil. Topsoil contains organic matter; without it, nutrient cycling cannot occur. In time, our soil will become sterile. According to Garden Guides, it takes up to 1,000 years to produce three centimeters of topsoil by natural processes.
Reduce Pollution
Our oceans are our most significant carbon sink and, according to the UN, are our greatest ally against climate change. Yet, we continue to deplete and pollute this invaluable resource.
These are just a few examples of the threats facing our planet through our unsustainable practices. Nevertheless, there are numerous examples of individual groups acting responsibly and making significant innovations regarding sustainable living.
The UN regularly shares success stories from individuals driven by the necessity to care for their families, groups driven by a desire for sustainable solutions, and private organizations and governments trying to lead the way.
Fighting Back
Many people have made their intentions clear. They are prepared to make sacrifices. Human support is forthcoming when initiatives are made available, such as renewable energy, electric cars, building green spaces, and rewilding landscapes. What we need is education, clear leadership, and unity. Change can be rapid if orchestrated precisely.
The answer is a global movement. We must take inspiration from individual factions and start thinking of ourselves with a unified identity. It does not matter what country you come from or where you live when it comes to ensuring a sustainable future; what matters is that we are humans and have it within our power to bring about change.
One thing we can be sure of. The Earth has survived global catastrophes on multiple occasions and will continue to do so. We, however, may not.
