Question

in a paragraph, List 4 major factors that lead to unsustainable outcomes. Describe each and explain how it impacts sustainability in general.  Select one of these to explore in detail and postulate what specific real-world changes (not general  but specific) would be needed to offset its impact.

Answer 1

ANSWER

THE FOUR MAJOR FACTORS OF THAT LEAD TO UNSUSTAINABULE OUTCOMS

Sustainability refers to the use of natural resources in a way that it meets not only the demands of the present generation but also of the future generation. The concern for 'sustainable development' was introduced in the Brundtland Commission in the year 1987. There are various factors behind unsustainability some of which are listed below:

• Demand for resources: With the advent of industrialization since the year 1857, there has been a surge in income of people. It has resulted in greed among people as growing demands. This resulted in over exploitation of the resources to meet the demands of the people. People have forgotten the basic difference between need and comfort. People are relentlessly destroying the nature for their comforts. Our resources are finite, and our demands are infinite, so it is disrupting the sustainability.
• Social factors: The population is increasing at an alarming rate. The finite resources of the earth and with growing demands of the people, nature is being destroyed at a fast pace. Moreover, lack of proper awareness among the poor, illiterate people lead to higher fertility rates. The available land area is less as compared to the growing population, so man has to destroy the trees and plants. This leads to deforestation and destruction of nature. Hence unsustainability prevails.
• Economic barriers: There is an evident inequality scenario in the world. There is segregation of people as poor and rich and countries as developed and developing and underdeveloped. The rich people are becoming rich with the present policies and strategies adopted by the Government and the poor are getting poorer. This in turn leads to dependence of people upon upon the natural resources for their living. For example,poor people will go to forests, cut trees and sell them to earn and eat.
• Lack of institutions for innovation globally: Around the globe, the concept of 'sustainability' is prevailing since a long time. The developed countries have adopted new regulations which enables them to opt for alternative ways for saving the natural resources. The developed countries are successful to some extent in reducing their dependence on the non renewable and shifting to the renewables. However, the scenario is different in the under developed countries where majority people rely on non renewables. There are lack of funds, incentives for them.

An important aspect which can be worked upon by people is reducing the demand of resources. There are various ways to take which are needed to offset its impact which are given below:

• Man needs to understand the difference between the need and comfort. He needs to understand the Gospel of consumption - i.e., shopping creates only dissatisfaction. This will result in reduction of demand, which will reduce the use of natural resources.
• Provision of stringent rules and regulations on preservation and conservation of natural resources. For example, many laws are there to protect the wildlife and forests, still they are getting depleted. This can be stopped by execution of regulations and proper guards.
• Ban on natural products made up of commercial plants and parts of animals. This will reduce the demand on the products and in turn will limit killing animals and deforestation.
• There is need to conserve energy whenever possible. Try to take a public transportation, whenever needed instead of taking own vehicles. One should turn off electrical appliances as much as possible when not in use.
• There are already laws on water, air, land pollution. However, they should be monitored regularly so as to ascertain that the concerned organizations are releasing wastes in the environment within permissible limits.
• People should plant trees and prevent trees from being cut.