Sustainability is the preservation of wellbeing and is involved with economical, environmental, and social scope. It entails the component of stewardship, which involves proper use, and maintenance of resources. The main aim of sustainability is to enable humans in the whole world to get their basic needs and have a good quality of life without affecting the resources that will maintain the coming generations. However, there is an increased crisis on humans and the environment all around the globe. Food prices have become too high, clean water has been spoilt; forests and biodiversity are fading away at a high rate. Therefore, society needs to move forward without affecting the needs of future generations.
There is a need for sustainable development in both social and economic development, as well as proper methods of environmental conservation. Social development entails that human beings get their basic need such as food, health, and employment. It also empowers the less fortunate in society so that they can use the available resources properly to meet their basic needs and hence improve their lives. This also involves equal treatment for all, for example, women, the disabled, and those who are considered as most venerable to poverty.
According to Blewitt (2008), sustaining the environment is vital because environmental hazards such as dangerous emissions have been known to damage water, air, and food. Prolonged exposure to these toxic emissions may affect people’s health, especially young children and the elderly. To improve the environment, humans should avoid using non-renewable resources like fossil fuels because they are few. The burning of these fuels releases carbon dioxide into the air, which might change the world’s climate. Farmers should avoid deforestation, which leads to a lack of rain, bad fishing methods that lead to damage to coral reefs. Social conditions like poverty and joblessness may deteriorate health and general well-being. In such situations, the government should cut budgets to have a stable economy.
In this regard, there are some sustainability principles that the society has to follow to enable the community to maintain social, economic, and the environment. First is the quality of life principle, which entails many issues such as education, health, and employment. Different societies put more emphasis on these elements. A given community may have better schools than the other, which makes them think that it is what determines their quality of life. Another society may have people with better jobs, and thus, according to them, better employment is what leads their life. Every society has a duty on making sure that they get a better living to benefit future generations as well (Nemetz, 2003).
The social principle requires that all the available resources and chances be given to everyone in the society, despite the differences in age, race, and belief. A sustainable society should make sure that it does deteriorate its resources, which poses a danger to future generations. In environmental principle, the sustainable society takes care of its resources, and thus reduces human activities that deteriorate them. It sustains the natural ecosystems and at times may take a step in repairing the destroyed ecosystems.
In conclusion, society’s consumption of natural resources is increasing each day and must be reduced to avoid overburdening the earth’s capability to sustain us. Humans have decreased the non-renewable resource, but there is hope since society has shown commitment to sustain these resources. All people should be involved with sustainability because it is critical for today and future generations. There is a need for society to show immense commitment in moving from old to new ways in order has a quality life without compromising the ability to come generations to meet their needs.
References
Blewitt, J. (2008). Understanding Sustainable Development. London: Earthscan.
Nemetz, P.N. (2003). Basic Concepts of Sustainable Development for Business Students. Journal of International Business Education, 1(1).