The well-being of human beings inhabiting the Earth depends on the health of the planet’s natural environment. People worldwide require clean air to breathe with the abundance of fresh water to quench their thirst. They even need to live in places where there is fertile soil and no toxic substances in the atmosphere. This allows them to grow different varieties of grains, fruits, and vegetables using various agricultural practices to sustain their bodies. However, the rapid industrialization, population growth, urbanization, and pollution in recent decades has led to:
- Extreme climate changes resulting from greenhouse gas emissions,
- Extinction of certain species of animals due to destruction of their natural habitat,
- Unreliable food supply because of the use of intensive farming practices, and
- Extensive deforestation, soil erosion, and depletion of freshwater sources.
If this present trend of environmental degradation continues, it can endanger the survival rates of future generations on the Earth.
What is environmental sustainability, and why is it important – An overview
Most people are now beginning to realize the need to tackle the issues of climate change, rapid industrialization, and overpopulation. They are even willing to make the necessary changes in their daily lives to perverse this plant for future generations. However, when it comes to the question of what is environmental sustainability and why is it important, many of them are still unsure of the answer, and this is where awareness about the subject is the need of the hour today.
Environmental sustainability means the responsibility of all human beings to conserve the Earth’s precious natural resources and safeguard its fragile ecosystem. It assumes that these resources on the planet are finite, and people should use them conservatively for their own consumption. This ensures there are enough resources available on the planet to sustain the consumption needs of future generations.
To achieve the above objective:
- The rate at which farmers regrow renewable crops and should not exceed the quantity they harvest,
- The depletion of fossil fuels should not be greater than the development of alternative renewable energy sources, and
- The rate at which humans generate waste should not go beyond Earth’s capacity to assimilate it.
Importance of environmental sustainability
People need to remember it is not possible to preserve the Earth’s fragile ecosystem unless they make sustainable choices. Otherwise, there will be irreparable atmospheric damage, many animal species will eventually become extinct, and fossil fuels will run out. It is only when they adopt environmentally sustainable practices that such a scenario can be averted. These can be in the form of:
- Supporting reforestation projects by planting more trees in their neighborhoods,
- Planting and growing various kinds of fruits and vegetables in their home gardens,
- Buying products from farmers adopting sustainable agricultural methods,
- Opting to use renewable alternatives to fossil fuels to meet their energy needs, and
- Adopting clean water supply and air initiatives to minimize environmental pollution.
A thorough understanding of what is environmental sustainability and why is it important for human development can enable people to perverse Earth for future generations. NGOs and businesses should take the initiative to spread awareness on the above subject so that everyone can become a part of this movement to save the Earth today and in the future successfully!