"Sustainable
development is a development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. [1]
Sustainable Development is environmental,
economic and social well-being for today and tomorrow. [1] The well-being of
these three areas is intertwined, not separated. For example, a healthy,
prosperous society relies on a healthy environment to provide food and
resources, safe drinking water, and clean air for its people.
Sustainable Development is an
ongoing process which focuses on improving the quality of life for all on the
earth. This is not a new idea. Many Countries/Cultures/Organisations have
recognised the need for sustainable development over the period of time.
A world in which poverty and
inequity are endemic will always be prone to ecological and other crises.
Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending
to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for a better life. [2]
There are number of problems related to the
concept of Sustainable Development, some of them are: Population Growth, Use of
Natural Resources, Food Security, Urbanisation and Climate Change.
According to the report released by the United Nations Population Funds,
The report stated world population will exceed 9 Billion by 2050 with most of
the increase coming from developing countries. During 2010-2050, nine countries
are expected to account for half of the world’s projected population increase:
India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the United States of America, the
Democratic Republic of Congo, the United Republic of Tanzania, China and
Bangladesh.
Increase in population means increase in the use of Natural resources,
food consumption, carbon emissions etc. This will create inequality of income,
education, health and other social resources within and between countries,
which contributes to the inequities of power, violence and destabilisation of
social structures, as well as deforestation, desertification, soil degradation
and loss of agricultural land. Underdeveloped countries under pressure will
grow unsustainable crops and cultivate more land at the expense of self
sustainability in order to survive.
Growing population
raises the question of food security in the developing world. Climate change is
affecting the farming sector very badly. Droughts are increasing around the
world, which creates the shortage of water and food. Technology and more
advance farming techniques are being used in farming to meet the world food
demand. Resources used in agriculture are leaving their carbon foot print, ie;
fossil fuels and fertilisers.
Urbanisation
and the economy are strongly associated because of the success of cities and
wealth accumulation. Rural areas are poor and suffer the most due to the
dependency on most of the natural resources. People concentrate in urban areas
because this is where new investment and new jobs are created. So in many ways,
urbanization is a reflection of economic success. Cities are increasing and
require more food, resources, energy, water etc. State & Local Governments
are challenged around their policies for sustainable development of their
cities. Infrastructure, transport, shelter, sewerage system, food and water
supply are critical component of Sustainable Cities. People of these cities
should be able to contribute to the future policies related to the Sustainable
Development.
Especially in
Australia, the resources and energy companies that make up a fair chunk of the
country’s GDP output continue to enthusiastically meet booming global demand,
while pumping increasing levels of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
Certainly there is valid concern that economic growth will be harmed by an increasingly
carbon-constrained world. [3]
Recently I was watching a documentary on the
ABC about Upper Hunter valley in NSW, Australia. There are 4 main industries in
that region: Vineyards, Horse Breeding, Tourism and Mining.
Even though mining is a new industry in that
region, it is taking over the rest of the other industries by space and
pollution. The Government is continuously giving permits for the expansion of
various coal mines. The Vineyard and Horse Breeding industry owners in that
region are in fear of losing their businesses and the overall impact on nature.
The Tourism industry is heavily reliant on those two industries and therefore
it is at greater risk.
From Sustainable Development point of view
it is very disturbing that we are promoting mining Industry at the cost of our
nature and other non harming industry, which in result produces harmful gases
which affects our Climate and the earth. Specifically the Government and the
media have lot to explain here. The articulation of the message needs to be
clearer so an average Australian Citizen understands his/her role in the
betterment of overall climate change issue.
As the United Nations Environmental
Programme's GEO-2000 report points out, the "time for a rational,
well-planned transition to a sustainable system is running out fast." [4]
And yet we continue to adopt a business-as-usual approach to decision-making,
which increases the chance that our global systems will crack and begin to
crumble. Already we are faced with full-scale emergencies through freshwater
shortages, tropical forest destruction, species extinction, urban air
pollution, and climate change.
Reference:
[1] (http://www.un-documents.net/ocf-02.htm)
[3] Reader, p. 14. Fiddling
while the earth burns.
[4]
http://www.unep.org/geo2000/english/index.htm
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