Sustainability is all about managing to keep something in a continuous state; literally the ability to sustain. It is development that can be held in the same state for as long as possible. Usually sustainable development would mean that a positive result is being sustained i.e. everyone’s needs are being fulfilled while simultaneously limiting any negative outcomes. So for example, everyone has access to clean water but the environment is not being damaged by the pollution caused in making it possible. This is the kind of sustainable development sought after. To have sustainable development that resulted in negativities wouldn’t be a challenge at all. Producing as much as possible while creating huge quantities of pollution would be a simple task and as a bonus it would make summer a bit hotter (sic).
However, applying this theory to an individual tends to be a bit of a different story entirely. If I were to try and apply the above idea to my wants, some form of paradox is going to come about. I want to spend money on everything I want but I don’t want my wealth to decrease. I want to drink and eat whatever I please but I don’t want my health to deteriorate. I want to achieve but I don’t want to spend time and effort doing so. In a way this idea could be applied to everyone as everyone wants positive outcomes but with no negative ones. However, it is possible to fulfil my wants and needs but reduce the global negative effects. For example, if I need to travel somewhere, rather than driving there, I could walk or cycle. This not only reduces any pollution that would have been emitted by a combustion engine but it would contribute to my overall health and in the end I would still have arrived at my destination. This is an approach I have started to take over the past few weeks. Rather than driving into university, I’ll set off 20 minutes earlier and walk it. There’s also that all important saving on fuel to consider as well. Recycling is something I was never really into when younger but when I moved into a student house and we were provided with recycling boxes for cans and bottles, it soon seemed the best idea to make full use of them. Being a student house, a lot of recycling gets done.
In terms of actions I could take to improve the sustainability of my life, there’s quite a lot that could be done. Trying to kick the habit of leaving every electrical appliance on comes to mind. Not only is it going to help towards energy saving and helping Earth out just a little bit more, it’ll cut back on my bills, so would seem the best course of action. Little things such as trying not to waste food, washing at 40 degrees, using recyclable goods all occur occasionally in my lifestyle but not enough. When it comes down to it, it’s purely whether I can be bothered to and in the end that’s the problem for all of us. Living in a society where it’s faster and easier to choose the less healthy/green/safe option means that the problem will most likely only get worse. The corporations that provide all the negative goods aren’t likely to change if it means they can still make a profit. There are those honourable ones that are trying their hardest to make a difference and the effects are becoming clearer.
In time to come, I’m sure at least one group of people studying sustainable development will start to change their ways.
(While writing this blog two cups of tea were drank and the washing was done at 40 degrees)
Good intelligent comments.
ReplyDeleteI am writing this sweating because the heating needn't be on. All the lights are on, radio on, TV on, washing machine on..and now I want a coffee..
....it's all going to have to change...but who is going to make me???