12. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Sustainable development can be defined as an approach to the economic
development of a country without compromising with the quality of the
environment for future generations. In the name of economic
development, the price of environmental damage is paid in the form of
land degradation, soil erosion, air and water pollution, deforestation, etc.
This damage may surpass the advantages of having more quality output of
goods and services.
Sustainable Development Goals
To promote the kind of development that minimizes environmental
problems.
To meet the needs of the existing generation without compromising with
the quality of the environment for future generations.
13. Principles/Premises of Sustainable Development
The following principles/premises underlying the concept of sustainable development:
Sustainable development is the alternative method for development, which by definition is eco-friendly and resource-
efficient.
There is a symbiotic relationship between consumer and producer’s natural systems.
The present generation should meet its needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs i.e. to ensure that productive assets available to future generations are not unfairly minimized.
Those who enjoy the fruits of economic development must not make the resources of future generations worse by
excessively degrading the Earth’s exhaustible resources and polluting its ecology and environment.
The development should not focus only on growth, instead it should aim for broader goals of social transformation.
Internally and externally sustainable development are two major aspects of sustainable development. With both, no real
sustainable development would emerge.
In the long term, sustainable development has to maintain relations with ecology, resources, and people along with their
service agencies, institutions, and other aspects of their social organizations.
The economic progress which destroys natural capital is not often successful.
Sustainable development is largely responsible for the poor, and hence it should ensure that the poor have adequate access
to sustainable and secure living.
The past environmental mistakes should not be repeated as past patterns of environmental degradations are unavoidable.
The environment and development are not mutually incompatible. Both a healthy environment and a healthy economy is
essential for economic development.
14. Achieving Sustainable Development
Sustainable development can be achieved if we follow the following points:
It can be achieved by restricting human activities.
Technological development should be input effective and not input utilizing.
The rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of salvation.
For renewable resources, the rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of production of renewable substitutes.
All types of pollution should be minimized.
It can be achieved by sensible use of natural resources.
Examples of Sustainable Development
Wind energy
Solar energy
Crop rotation
Sustainable construction
Efficient water fixtures
Green space
Sustainable forestry
15. What is Environmental Crisis?
Environmental crisis refers to a situation when an environment fails to perform its vital function of life sustenance. The
environment becomes suitable as soon as the following happens:
Resource extraction remains below the rate of resource generation.
Generation of waste remains within the absorption capacity of the environment.
16. Reasons for Environmental Crisis
(1) Population explosion
The high rate of growth of population adversely affects the environment.
It increases the demand for environmental resources, but their supply is limited.
This results in overuse and misuse of resources.
(2) Rise in economic activity
The rise in economic growth results in affluent consumption and production of goods and services.
It generates wastes that are beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment.
(3) Rapid industrialization
Rapid industrialization has led to deforestation, and depletion of natural resources.
It leads to contamination of water due to the accumulation of increasing quantity of toxic substances and industrial wastes in
the water bodies.
(4) Urbanization
A large migration of population from rural to urban areas results in the fast growth of slum areas.
It leads to the excess burden on the existing infrastructural activities.
(5) Deforestation
Deforestation refers to cutting down of trees, clearing forest, etc.
It adversely affects the environment and causes other problems.
(6) Increased use of insecticides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers
Farmers and workers suffer health problems due to the increased use of poisonous insecticides, pesticides, and chemical
fertilizers.
The crop generated also contains chemical elements in it.
