Ensuring Environmental Sustainability

By Jawad Ahmad Khan
Pakistan
“Lets nurture the nature, so that we can have a better future”. Sustainable development or sustainability was once a concept but over the ages it has grown to become a very important term for human development globally. Sustainability in terms of environment is “improving the quality of human life while living with the carrying capacity of supporting eco-systems”. The question arises that why we as human beings are concerned about environmental sustainability? An issue arises when ever the subject is under threat. This matter can be related to something that already exists. For example- specie is under threat and it would be unavailable for future generations, natural resources are under threat etc.



There is no given agenda on how to sustain properly. The given resources are depleting day by day, policy makers are trying their best to achieve sustainability but the need is to address the problem head on. As human beings we care about the well being of other species. We have to maintain non renewable resources to help and support economic development, marine habitat to help the coastal community, prudent use of resources will that will help us in maintaining a right balance. During the last 25 years the human race has seen many things like; population explosion, urbanization, climate change, global cycles and internationalization. To solve these problems the role of international actors is of immense importance because most of the resources and foot print is used by these developed nations and the burden is being carried out by the developing countries.



When we talk about environment, we can find dozens of people who care for it, and for their children and grandchildren. They point out the environmental degradation and ask questions like what can I do? What can my government do? What my society can do to protect the environment? There are many things that can be done. Recycling your bottles and cans, buying energy efficient cars, lights, homes, electronic goods, voting honestly and knowledgeably in elections, re-adjusting your life style and helping your community fellows. All these factors will help in the search of an answer; but you got to have faith and persistence.



The famous 1992 Earth summit conference on Sustainable Development was held in Rio de Janeiro, in which agenda 21 was presented to achieve sustainable development worldwide. This summit was a historic event for humanity but due to the international actors many agenda and policies were compromised. To attain a bright and peaceful future we have to work hard. There is hope of finding a solution. We have to minimize our large foot prints, technological progress with a direction and policy making to ensure that imagination is taking a shape. Sustainability is our best hope and biggest obstacle but we have to stop the misuse of this word. A global collaborative effort is needed to revitalize the system and to ensure future environmental sustainability.