SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENTAL DEVELOPMENTEnvironmental Studies

CONTEXT• Introduction•Actual definition of sustainability development•Aspects of sustainable development•Measures of sustainable development•The Indian context

INTRODUCTIONSustainable development is not a new concept. It means living in harmony with the nature in full recognition of the needs of all other species. It is no just "the survival of the fittest", we must help even the weakest of the species to survive because each species has a role to play that is ultimately beneficial to the earth and all its human population. Our forefathers preached us the need to coexist with the environment in a balanced manner. The needs of the people in different parts of the world may be different, but our dependence on the Nature is similar. The most important thing to remember is that we have only one earth and if we destroy it by our actions, our children will not have a place to live.

DEFINITION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

• Definition: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

ASPECTSInter generational equity

• This emphasizes that we should minimize any adverse impacts on resources and environment for future generations i.e., we should handover a safe, healthy and resourceful environment to our future generations. This can be possible only if we stop over-exploitation of resources, reduce waste discharge and emission and maintain ecological balance

Intra generational equity• Industrial use. This emphasizes that to minimize the wealth gaps within and

between nations. The Human Development Report of United Nations (2001) emphasizes that the benefits of technology should seek to achieve the goals of intra generational equity like producing drought tolerant varieties for uncertain climates, vaccines for infectious diseases, clean fuels for domestic and industrial use.

MEASURES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Using appropriate technology

• Its one which locally adaptable, eco-friendly, resource-efficient and culturally suitable which involves local resources and local labour.

• Indigenous technologies are more useful, cost-effective and sustainable.

• Nature is often taken as a model, using the natural conditions of that regions as its components. This concept is known as “design with

nature”.

• The technology should use less of resources and should produce minimum waste.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach

• Recycling materials goes a long way in achieving the goals of sustainability.

• It reduces pressure on our resource as well as reduce waste generation and pollution.

Prompting environmental education and awareness

• Making environmental education the centre of all learning process will greatly help in changing people thoughts and attitude towards environment and earth.

• ‘Earth thinking’ will gradually get incorporated in our thinking and action which will greatly help in transforming our life styles to sustainable ones.

Resource utilization as per carrying capacity• Any system can sustain a limited number of organisms on a long-term basis which is

known as its carrying capacity.

• In case of human beings, the carrying concept is more complex because unlike other animals, human beings, not only need food to live but need so many other things to maintain the quality of life.

• Carrying capacity has two basic conceptsi. Supporting capacity i.e., the capacity to regenerate.ii. Assimilative capacity i.e., the capacity to tolerate different stresses

THE INDIAN CONTEXT• India has still to go a long way in implementing the concept of sustainable development to lay

emphasis on framing a well planned strategy for our development activity while increasing our economic growth.

• We have tremendous natural diversity as well as a huge population which makes planning for sustainable growth.

• The National Council of Environmental planning and Coordination (NCPC) set up in 1972 was the focal agency in this regard the ministry of environmental & forests, set up in 1985 has formulated guidelines for various development activities keeping in view the sustainability principles.