Analysis of Sustainability and its Attributes
Analysis of Sustainability and its Attributes
Sustainability of a system is its ability to persist over time. Any system that fulfills the need of the present generation without compromising the needs of the future can be termed as a sustainable system. This definition of sustainable development, now commonly cited as a definition of sustainability as a whole, is derived from Brundtland definition which is widely cited as the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs (Brundtland, G. H. 1987). The concept of sustainability is gaining the attention of policy makers, ecologists, business owners, social workers and researchers because of the depletion of resources at an alarming rate. Everyone who has a stake in Ecology, Society or Economy is concerned that if the public is not made aware of this indiscriminate use of resources and not influenced to preserve them, the consequences will be dangerous to Humanity, Ecology and Economy of the world. The discussion that follows is undertaken with the aim to understand what sustainability is and examine its relevance with respect to the three overlapping spheres – Ecological, Social and Economic sustainability and analyze in depth the concept of the six associated themes of sustainability viz. sustainable population, nature conservation, Technological reorientation and risk management, policymaking, present planning for meeting future needs and ecosystem sustainability. Before we proceed further let us review the conceptual framework of the three areas of sustainability.
Discussion
A country’s economic growth is measured by the growth of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Per Capita Income, Employment rate and other drivers of economy. Modern technology, liberalization of trade laws and expansion strategies of businesses across the world have witnessed an unprecedented activity in world economy with a surge in demand for more facilities. Economic sustainability means that the sense of economic well being experienced by developed nations will continue indefinitely and extend to the future generation. However, economic growth also means a continuous demand on resources which unfortunately is limited. The countries whose economy is dependent on huge resources of oil and other resources and have money to spend on luxury and comfort may not be able to pass on the same standards of living to their future generation unless they devise a mechanism to conserve the reserves. With depletion of resources, economic growth cannot be sustained indefinitely unless alternative sources are discovered and our priorities redefined. (Higgins. K.L 2013) reflects that our continued emphasis on the economic growth is diametrically opposed to sustainability of our planet and we must find a way to balance the two and allow them to coexist by inventing alternative energy sources but mostly by restricting the growth spirals of economy, population and depletion of resources. Higgins suggests that this can be achieved through the transformation of consumerism mentality to something more meaningful like preserving the resources for our future generations.
Social Sustainability
Researchers contend that the social sustainability is perhaps the most poorly defined concept in the study of sustainability (McKenzie, S. 2004). At the most it can be referred to as sustainability of the demographic standards of living and social justice without compromising on environmental sustainability. McKenzie has offered a working definition of Social sustainability as a life-enhancing condition within communities, and a process within communities that can achieve that condition. Social sustainability addresses in its purview the issues of equity of access to key services such as health, education, transport, housing and recreation without compromising the equity of accessibility of services by future generation. It also advocates that ethnic and cultural values of different societies be respected and preserved in future, individuals be committed towards maintaining a civilized society protected by law and transmitting awareness of social sustainability from one generation to the next.
Ecological Sustainability
Conserving the natural environment for future is the chief constituent of ecological sustainability. The concept of sustainable development has its roots during 1960 displayed in the concern of the environmentalists about the ecological degradation because of carbon dioxide emissions and pollution of water and air. Many countries adopted sustainable development as a political goal and confirmed its intention to attain it through promotion of policies that would achieve the greatest sustainable economic development, facilitate employment and improve living standards without damaging the surrounding natural ecosystem. Economic growth also bring forth an alarming rise in the number of factories and automobiles, the chief source of emitting chemical wastes and harmful pollutants into the atmosphere and water bodies which in turn kills or mutates organisms and spreads harmful diseases. Ecological sustainability is concerned with the optimum use of natural resources for agriculture and industries so as not to drain the ecology of its ability to sustain. There is an emerging concept of economic degrowth which is defined as an equitable downscaling of production and consumption that increases human well-being and enhances ecological conditions at the local and global level, in the short and long term (Schneider, Et. al, 2010). The proponents of ecological sustainability are of the view that if human beings display a more rational attitude towards consumption and consequently production there are chances that the future generations will also avail natural resources for survival.
However, it is a fact that all the spheres encompassing the concept of sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Each is dependent on the other for a conscientious approach towards conserving the biosphere. Industries and agriculture should plan their production processes and turnover with a view to preserve the resources. Distribution of economic facilities should be more even to promote social justice otherwise the weak and underdeveloped societies would perish or destroy privileged societies resulting in anarchy. Each of the spheres described above has related components which have to be examined to have a more dedicated approach towards sustainability. The themes that surround the concept of sustainability and are discussed below are sustainable population, nature conservation, Technological reorientation and risk management, policymaking, present planning for meeting future needs and ecosystem sustainability.
Population Sustainability- The uncontrolled rate of population growth is a major concern for the proponents of sustainability. If the explosion of population continues at the present rate, shortage of earth’s limited economic, social and ecological resources is certain. The promoters of social sustainability advocate for equal access to all segments of society but this is possible only when the population justifies equal distribution. The phenomenal rate at which the current population is growing especially in many developing countries becomes more disastrous as there is no international protocol for proliferation of people like proliferation of nuclear weapons (Daily & Ehrlich, 1992). Extreme growth of population affects all three spheres of sustainability producing a scarcity of essential facilities such as food, medicines, shelter etc. Poorer countries have witnessed disappearance of tribal communities and aborigines due to epidemics which could not be controlled because of absence of necessary infrastructure. Uncontrolled population results in such skewed distribution of infrastructural facilities where only the rich can afford them.
Economic, social and ecological sustainability can be achieved only if population proliferation is controlled. Individuals, Policymakers, Social workers and Organizations should design campaigns to build awareness among people about the possible destructive implications of a population explosion. Imbalance in population is also a consequence of indiscriminate growth of population causing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. Educating the people about birth control measures and making policies at all levels to curb growth of population are perhaps the only methods to modify it.
Nature Conservation- Nature has provided human beings with every resource to satisfy their needs but unfortunately thoughtless consumption has lead the world to such a position that the future generation may not have access to some natural resources like timber, food and even water if prompt intervention does not take place. Adams, W. M. (1996) argues that conservation must not be limited to parks and reserves but must embrace the whole countryside, and people must practice nature preservation as a way of life. Rapid industrialization and urbanization has caused forests to disappear resulting in global warming, melting of glaciers, natural disasters and wiping out of species of friendly flora and fauna. Unless there is a well programmed approach towards forestation and developing alternatives for forest produce, the future generation may face serious issues.
Technological reorientation and risk management- The world has faced technological disasters like Chernobyl Nuclear disaster and Bhopal Gas Tragedy, both results of human technological failures to monitor, control and react. Loss of lives, permanent disability and deformities of new born babies were the consequences of this mishap. Even after so many years, there are indications of these fallacies in the atmosphere. This brings us to another important aspect of sustainability- technological reorientation and risk management. The present day innovations must incorporate the concept of sustainability by designing implements that are manufactured from eco friendly material. Researchers suggest that the approach should be moved from traditional finance-based thinking to developing technological reorientation by combining technology road mapping, information technology (IT) and supply chain management to make more sustainable new product development decisions (Petrick & Echols, 2004). Technological innovations based on chemical and nuclear engineering are accident prone. Since it is not possible to prohibit the nuclear and chemical innovation based products or processes, it is advised that the countries formulate strict regulations to implement security and safety standards to minimize the hazards. There should be sufficient preparation to handle the crisis emerging from accidents like quick evacuation process, control of toxic material into the atmosphere etc. Therefore technological sustainability has two aspects – prevention of harmful effects of technological development and risk management and incorporating eco friendly substitutes for components to protect the biosphere.
Merging environment and economic matters in policy making- There has been repeated assertions from the sustainability researchers that economic and ecological components of sustainability are not mutually exclusive. Therefore it is quite relevant that both the issues be merged by policymakers to devise a concrete strategy to give the necessary impetus to sustainable development. There should be legislation that should restrain indiscriminate use of resources for economic progress at the cost of ecological degradation. Industries should present a social accountability report that contains the methods adopted by them to augment sustainable development in all three spheres. Economic development that results in the mentality of consumerism is bound to show escalation in ecological depletion and jeopardize future generations. Therefore all policy makers at national and corporate level must ensure that economic growth is planned in a more conscientious manner.
Meeting essential human needs and those of future generations – Nature has been quite generous to us by providing us with all necessary material for simple living. Human beings by their entrepreneurial qualities have added value to these resources and made accessible many comforts of the modern world. It is desirable that these comforts be accessible to us and the generations in future also. Nature does not discriminate in its provisions between the rich and the poor and human beings should also endeavor that basic needs of all human beings are satisfied. Instead of concentrating wealth in a few hands, the emphasis should be on distribution of this wealth to satisfy the under privileged sections of the society by the rich. This may mean sacrificing some of it or the associated luxury but this is perhaps the best way to conserve resources for meeting our needs and those of the future generation. Amartya Sen., the noble laureate has observed that sustainable human development appeals to the idea of ethical “universalism”—an elementary demand for impartiality of claims—applied within and between generations meaning the resources available to us should be available to the future generations too in equal quantity. Economic sustainability is often seen as a matter of intergenerational equity, but the specification of what is to be sustained is not always straightforward (Anand, S. & Sen, A. 2000).
Ecosystem Approach- Ecosystems are biological communities consisting of organisms that produce, consume and decompose and who interact with each other and with the environment. Preservation of ecosystems is necessary for sustainability of healthy population in the future. Authors are of the view that the traditional methods of preserving ecosystems for protecting endangered species are no longer adequate (Freese, C. 2012). Emission of toxic waste in the atmosphere and water bodies is highly detrimental to the ecosystem and endangers the species present in the ecosystem. Many natural decomposers and consumers have become extinct because of the endangered ecosystems posing a threat to human health and safety. Many epidemic causing viruses like the avian flu virus are results of destruction of the ecosystem (Waltner-Toews, D. Et al, 2008).
Conclusion
The above discussion has examined the concept of sustainability within the three spheres encompassing it – ecological, economic and social. All the three spheres are interdependent and studying one without the other is meaningless as manipulation of one sphere has a direct influence on the other. Sustainability or the ability to be conserved over time for the future generation can be achieved through conscientious consumption or limiting present consumption to absolute necessities and avoiding excesses. The process of sustainability can be initiated through controlling growth rate of population, technological reorientation, nature conservation, merging economic and ecological sustainability, meeting essential human needs and those of the future and by using an ecosystem approach. A growing awareness towards the detrimental effects of misuse or indiscriminate use of policy makers has been helpful in adopting sustainability measures but it is only through its incorporation in our way of life that authentic sustainable development can be implemented.
References
Adams, W. M. (1996). Future nature: a vision for conservation. Earthscan Publications Ltd.
Anand, S., & Sen., A. (2000) Human development and economic sustainability, World development, 28(12), 2029-2049
Brundtland, G. H. (1987). World Commission on Environment and Development, Our common future, UK: Oxford University press.
Daily, G. C., & Ehrlich, P. R. (1992) Population, sustainability, and Earth's carrying capacity Bio Science, 42(10), 761-771.
Freese, C. (2012). Wild species as commodities: managing markets and ecosystems for sustainability. Island Press
Higgins, K. (2013). Economic growth and sustainability–are they mutually exclusive. Elsevier
McKenzie, S. (2004). Social sustainability: towards some definitions.
Petrick, I. J., & Echols, A. E. (2004) Technology road mapping in review: A tool for making sustainable new product development decisions. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 71(1), 81-100.
Schneider, F., Kallis, G., & Martinez-Alier, J. (2010), Crisis or opportunity?, Economic degrowth for social equity and ecological sustainability, Introduction to this special issue. Journal of cleaner production, 18(6), 511-518
Waltner-Toews, D., Kay J. J, & Lister, N. E (2008) The Ecosystem Approach: Complexity, Uncertainty, and Managing for Sustainability, Columbia University Press
