This blog provides information about the term Sustainability. In the start, it provide a detailed introduction of what is Sustainability. Then it explains the importance of sustainability in our lives. It also elaborates the comparison between Sustainability and Conservation with examples. Then it defines Sustainable Development and explain its 5P’s. In the end, it elaborates the steps to attain sustainability in your life. This blog contains Importance, Sustainable Development, Sustainability vs Conservation, and Ways to be Sustainable.
What is the term Sustainability?
Sustainability is the concept of meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This term is used to secure the present day resource needs as well as securing the future resource needs.
It is the name of check and balance of resource utilization of current population in order to save resources for the upcoming or future population. Sustainability can be applied and implemented in any field whether it is life, resources, economic development, and other fields of life.
The word “Sustainability” is derived from Latin word ‘sustinere’. It means to hold, endure, maintain or support. It explains us to support and hold our environment so that the resources that we are using today, can be available for our future generations to fulfil their needs too.
In this concept we are asked to conserve the nature and resources, we are required to use them wisely, we are forced to multiply them with our skills, and everything that involves in sustaining the overall resource cycle.
As we all know that the natural and artificial resources that we use in our daily life, are essential for living so if we will not save these resources, we will lose them in near future. This is the basic purpose of sustainability in our lives.
We can apply and implement policies and systems in accordance to sustainability goals. Or we can apply it for our environment, economy and social lives. This blog contains complete detail about the concept of Sustainability and its comparison with Conservation.
You can get much more information about Sustainability and its role in Economic Growth in our Blog in the link.
Importance of Sustainability:
Sustainability has become important with exponential increase in population and their consumptions. If we will continue to use all the natural resources carelessly, our future generation will not be able enjoy varieties of natural resources that we are using today. Some important points about sustainability are given below:
- It helps in creating balance between people and nature in a good way.
- This concept enhance the quality of life by addressing critical issues such as health, education and protecting the ecosystems.
- It makes the planet healthier and acts are fuel for improving nature.
- Sustainability saves and conserve natural resources for the future generations to live with the same levels of resources like present day.
- This concept makes Earth more convenient and also suitable for humans and animals to live in every way.
These are the points highlighting importance of sustainability. This blog contains Sustainability importance, Comparison with Conservation and Ways to be sustainable.
Sustainability VS Conservation:
Sustainability:
It explains us to use the resources in a way that the needs of future generations are not compromised.
Sustainability is a vast concept that applies on economy, environment, social life and culture.
It teaches us to use as well as save nature to maintain balance with living things.
The main focus of sustainability is the improvement of environment and nature permanently.
It explains us strategies to maintain ecological balance and resilience.
Ex: Reducing Carbon Foot Print, 4R strategy etc.
VS
Conservation:
It explains to save resources from human activities and other types of exploitation.
Conservation is only limited to the natural resources and also their protection.
This concept teaches us to save natural resources from human activities and overuse.
It helps in maintaining the available amount of natural resources in the environment.
The main focus of conservation is to protect natural resources and also advise to use them wisely.
It works for maintaining, recovering and restoring ecosystems.
Ex: Afforestation, wetland restoration, etc.
This blog provide Importance of Sustainability, comparison with Conservation, and Ways to be Sustainable.
Sustainable Development:
The term Sustainable development is applying or implementing sustainability in economic field. It demands the development, that uses least amount of natural resources and mostly rely on already existing resources. We can apply sustainable strategies by implementing eco-friendly and environmentally sound ways of development such as Green Buildings, Aeroponics, etc. This development makes sure to use all the available resources wisely and try not to waste any of them. The concept of sustainable development will help us to make sure that, our development is not harming our environment and nature in any way. This blog contains Sustainability, Importance, Conservation vs Sustainability and Ways to live sustainably.
5P’s of Sustainable Development:
The 5P’s of Sustainable Development represents the top priorities of sustainable development in order to create a Happier, Healthier and Prosperous World. Following is the detail about 5P’s
i. People:
The most important part of our world development, are people. People show responses according to the ways they are treated. So, we prioritize the People-focused initiatives such as gender equality, promoting decent works, affordable and clean energy etc. By providing such fundamental needs to people, we can go towards sustainable development.
ii. Planet:
The second most important thing in sustainable development is our planet where we live. It is important because it is the only home the humans own. Its protection and conservation is our ethical responsibility. This point include conservation of nature and environment by protecting its resources, locations, quality and existence of valuable resources in it.
iii. Prosperity:
The third most important field to work for is the prosperity. This means the standards of lives of people without compromising environmental and social sustainability conditions. It involves reducing every type of poverty, promoting green and clean energy, reducing inequalities and all those aspects that effect the living quality and also standards of people.
iv. Peace:
The fourth important field to work for is to bring peace to each and every resident of Earth. Every person has a right to live a peaceful and stress free life so it includes security of a person, working in a safe environment, doing a safe job, have access to resources without any struggle etc. Peace should be top priority in the people’s life so it is important in sustainable development.
v. Partnership:
The fifth most important element in sustainable development is Partnership. It can be the partnership between institutions, organizations, research centers, industries, international collaborations etc. The purpose of these partnership is to support education, knowledge, expertise, skills, industrial activities, trade and also those developments that are harmless to nature and beneficial for humans.
These are the important priorities in Sustainable Development. You can read Goals of Sustainability in our blog in the link. This blog contains information about Sustainability, Importance, Ways to live sustainably and comparison with Conservation.
Ways to be Sustainable:
Following are some ways by which you can make your life sustainable to an extent:
4R Strategy:
The best and effective way to live a sustainable life is applying 4R strategy. 4R strategy contains 4Rs that represents Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover so if we will use this strategy for all the resources available in our era, we will save the same resources for our future generation for future era.
Composting:
Composting or vermicomposting is the process of utilizing the agricultural wastes and kitchen wastes for the manufacturing of natural fertilizers so this will help in the reduction of use of fertilizer and will provide natural and organic fertilizers for the crops. This reduces wastes, saves money, provide good quality crops and also other steps towards sustainability.
Plant Trees:
Trees are the best way to maintain balance between humans and nature. Trees makes life possible on Earth. They also cleanse the air, provide oxygen, inhale CO2 and other air pollutants, and are always most beneficial in restoring nature and ecosystem. These trees saves us from floods, earthquakes, prevent erosion and increase water holding capacity of soil. Trees are beneficial in every way.
Grow your own Food:
Due to increase in population every year, the world is facing food shortages and insecurities. This is the reason why food is becoming so much expensive and out of reach for people below poverty line. The solution for this is to organize your own kitchen garden and grow your own food. You should also tell your children to do the same. We can also use efficient techniques to grow food if we don’t have a garden. Aeroponics and Hydroponics will help in this cause, this maintains sustainability.
Say no to Plastic:
Plastic is used in every sector in great amounts. The theme of Earth Day 2024 was Plastic vs Planet. Because plastic is the most dangerous issue that the Earth is facing. We can reduce, reuse and recycle plastics with Plastic Waste Management Strategies. We should avoid using plastic because it pollutes every part of our environment and it is the biggest hurdle for Sustainable development.
Conserve Water:
The water crisis are rising on the global level because freshwater is becoming scarce with passing time. We should conserve water and use it wisely because humans cannot survive without water. Conservation of water is possible by Rainwater Harvesting, Dam construction, Wastewater Treatment, Separating uses of freshwater and groundwater. This will a step towards Sustainability.
Eat less meat:
Meaty animals are very expensive and a lot of water and food is used in raising them so a huge amount is needed to raise such animals. We should know that eating meat is causing disturbance in sustainability by utilizing excessive resources. This is exploitation of Natural Resources. We should spread awareness about the resources utilized in meat raising so this will be beneficial for the planet.
Education and Awareness:
We should aware others about the benefits of Sustainability and educate them how to implement sustainability in our lives. This will help people to avoid wrong things that are common to us. It will also help in maintaining ecosystems and environment, reduction of waste, conservation of water, avoiding food insecurity and also all those things that effect sustainable planet.
These are the steps we can take to make our lives sustainable. This blog contains Sustainability, Importance, Conservation vs Sustainability and Ways to live sustainably.
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