Sustainability is a way of satisfying our wants without causing the potentiality of the upcoming cohort to satisfy their wants. Besides, natural resources social and economic resources are also required. Sustainability is not all about the surrounding. It might also mean social equity and economic growth. When people and the community at large provide for their individual wants to preserve the resources for their children and their children’s children, they are practicing sustainability. In this regard, a lack of sustainability can lead to a commercial or environmental collision. This collision may take part in our times or the times of our children. Torrents, homelessness caused by storms, plagues, and loss of saved pensions are all examples of collisions due to a lack of sustainability. When unfavorable conditions hit causing unsustainability, there exists a lack of caution and design to blame. Poverty and health can also mean sustainability. Poverty is in itself unsustainable. Poor people can convert to crimes, bad health, and loss of resources. A sustainable coexistence is one with minimal access to safe houses, health care, security protection, and good nutrition. A country that does not provide free medical services to its citizens is unsustainable. This is because, if these people are not treated and diseases are contained early, infectious diseases can spread easily.
Sustainability as a notion acknowledges that the environment is a modest resource. Therefore, it is paramount to utilize the surroundings and what it has rationally and secure them for the betterment of the universe, our environment, humankind, and all living creatures.
Even if most individuals relate sustainability with the surroundings, it can be examined in different ways such as economic growth and social management. This way may include but is not limited to the universe-carrying capability, the sustainability of the ecology, jobs, and behavior patterns.
A sustainable society guarantees harmony with the essential environment, preserving the resources for the coming generations to enjoy societal justice and a recommended quality of living standards.
The origin of sustainability
While the opinion of sustainability is more or less a new thought, the activity by and large has its origin in social justice, custody, and social democracy. All of this joins together in one common goal for sustainable development. Sustainability is a universal proposition that contemplates biodiversity, societal and profitable capacity. This is through acknowledging that everyone should be examined at the same time to realize enduring success.
Pillars of sustainability
There are three main pillars of sustainability. This includes the environmental, economic, and social sustainability
Environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability takes place when natural resources are maintained. Mono-cropping, and the use of pesticides, and fertilizers are all ways of destroying good soil. When this soil becomes infertile, the production of food is futile. Conservation coherence is supporting the whole environmental systems of the earth and maintaining them equally. Besides, the natural wealth in them is utilized by humans a gauge in a manner that it is possible to restore themselves.
Economic sustainability
Economic sustainability happens when inflation is sluggish, and there is enough money in circulation. Therefore, many individuals will be employed and it is safe to open up a pension fund account. The human group across the world can keep their autonomy and reach the resources that they need, monetarily to meet their wants. Economic structures are intact and affairs are accessible to everybody for example safe natural sources for upkeep.
Social sustainability
Common human rights and essential needs are achievable by everyone who can access sufficient resources to maintain their kin and groups' health and security. Healthy groups should have leaders who make certain individual, work, and intellectual rights which are valued, and everyone guarded against the menace of discrimination.
Economic sustainability versus environmental sustainability
Economic sustainability is often conjoined with environmental sustainability. For example, COVID-19. The disease has been ravaging the globe for more than a year now. Jobs have been lost as people have been advised to work at home. Businesses have been closed, and orders and directives on cessation of movement have been put in place together with time-to-time curfews. This has affected most of the countries that have a 24-hour economy. All these are used as containment measures. This disease has brought a lot of disorientation to the entire globe that has led to unsustainability. Thanks to the different vaccines that have been developed, therefore sustainability is being brought back slowly.
Examples of sustainability
It is good in our culture to celebrate those who sustain our natural resources such as forests, water, and soil. On the contrary, we celebrate billionaires blindly not knowing whether they depleted our natural resources to be billionaires or not. Some of the best examples of sustainable practices are;
Wing farming
Solar manufacturing
Production of organic food
Wildlife conservation
Beekeeping
Everyday life sustainability
Examples of Non-sustainability
When a gardener uses poison to eliminate rats, that end up killing all the barn owls who eat rats as their food is the unsustainability
When fishes are fished out without leaving some for reproduction, this is unsustainability.
Contamination of clean water with factory wastes is the unsustainability
Releasing sewage lines to the river when it rains is the unsustainability
Lack of toilets or latrines for people to use bushes instead is the unsustainability
Cutting all the trees to burn charcoal, without planting more in place is unsustainability.
Lack of fetching rainwater during heavy rains for use in the future is unsustainability.
Improper disposal of biodegradable wastes is unsustainable as it will pollute the environment.
Lack of crop pollination due to lack of bees
Sustainable resources
Resources are deemed sustainable if they are utilized in a manner that does not deplete either long or short-term.
Individuals have a role to play to have a sustainable life. Some examples of sustainable behaviors in our daily life include;
Small living place
Invest in just a small enough house for your family. There is no need of having a very big house with five rooms when you are only four in that house.
Live near your place of work
Transportation can affect climate. Lowering the times and number of travels will ensure a sustainable world. The use of a private car is unsustainable as it cost you more money. This in return causes air pollution
Family planning
Fewer children maintain planet sustainability and ensure the sustainability of the family. More children mean higher housing and utility bills.
Cycling
Cycling for shorter distances other than driving is good for your health as a form of exercise. Cycling does not emit more carbon dioxide than cars. They also occupy a smaller space as compared to cars.
Use of hybrid or all-electric car
Guzzlers are unsustainable cars. They ruin our air. Hybrid cars get good gas mileage.
Conserve and reduce utility use
Regulate your thermostat for conservation purposes. Do the same to your refrigerators.
Use solar instead of electricity
Solar panels are a bit expensive. But once you install them, it is a lifetime investment that can serve you for over 20 years. This will minimize your utility bills in an era where there exist electricity fluctuations.
Eat low on the food chain
Consider eating more plant food and minimizing red meat. Plant food has the recommended proteins for your daily intake hence meat is optional.
Eat Local
Consider eating what you have produced on your farm instead of imported food. This is because the process of transportation has a chance of fossil fuel burning. Transportation of food is a major cause of climate change. The process of transporting food is unsustainable. It pollutes the air.
Buy seasonal food at farmer’s markets
Buy customer-supported agriculture. You order while the food is still in the garden
Visit socially liable restaurants
Most hotels boast about using local produce as their ingredients. Other hotels have their farms where they produce what they put on their table. This way you are guaranteed fresh food that has not gone through packaging.
Minimize food waste
Food waste contributes to climate change. This will reduce starvation. If you have extra, share it with those who do not have it. Buy just enough not in excess.
Reduce plastic use
Some countries have banned plastics completely. This is because they pollute oceans or other water bodies. If an animal like a turtle eats plastic, it causes its death. Carry a cloth shopping bag when going shopping. Avoid buying a bag whenever you go shopping. Carry a shopping bag from home.
Importance of sustainability
The driving force behind sustainability is usually compounded, private, and varied. Most of the individual’s sustainability originates from the thought of what they will pass on to the coming generation.
Sustainability is one of the major drivers of quality of life. It ensures the security of our habitat and maintains natural resources for the next generation. In the corporate environment, sustainability is linked to an institution's holistic approach. This is considering everything, from the manufacturing process to supply and consumer services. Focusing on the green is important to the institution as well as the environment. Some of the common importance of sustainability include;
Guarantees a future
Regardless of who you are and where you reside, we all have a moral responsibility to one another, future generations, and other creatures to preserve the earth. Our current choices and acts have a direct effect on the generations to come. Practice sustainability to make ethical choices that lead to a secure and habitable future for all of us. Depleting the resources of the earth depletes the generation to come. For instance, overfishing will deplete the fish supply as well as the related creature in the food chain.
Minimized use of energy
Sustainable practices cause a drastic reduction in energy costs. Some initiatives such as the use of energy saver bulbs reduce the costs of power. The use of solar and wind power together with energy-saving equipment saves on the monthly power costs. Decreasing energy use is a useful thing for enterprises. It aids the inefficiency of the enterprise at large.
Healthy dwelling place
Good and safe water and air quality benefit the community. Sustainable acts assist in making an actual gap in society. Commitment to sustainability will cut toxins production into the environment hence safety. Sustainability brings a safe, clean, and healthy living state.
Societal impact
Energizing the care of natural wealth strongly penetrates both your organization's standards and brand and the staff and their kin. Making sustainability paramount in your enterprise bridges a crucial debate to the front line of trading. The social impact can go beyond for the benefit of the future generation.
Becoming sustainable
You can be sustainable by executing easy choices that can give you a stable enjoyable life. Some of the changes can range from selecting something like sustainable billing options. E-billing simplifies life and is better and more convenient. In addition, the use of sustainable products like those that are recyclable rather than a brand that is used once and added to the landfills is recommended. Transportation adjustments are also another thing that you can practice to become sustainable. Avoiding automobiles as much as you can is crucial in transport adjustments. Consider an electric car or the use of a bike. Consequently, selecting sustainable food and beverages would also impact sustainability. Shop at a local grocery that sells fresh produce from the garden. Choosing reusable products is another good habit to adopt. Use reusable storage containers that will reduce waste. Reduction of plastic product use will also make you sustainable. This will save aquatic animals from poisoning or even death. Plastics cannot rot and therefore they end up in landfills if it is not used by a brand that is devoted to sustainability. Finally, recycling is so simple to practice.
Conclusion
Sustainability is a mindset. It is caring for the globe. It is sympathy for the generation that will inherit the mess we create. It involves a random act of day-to-day kindness. It is thinking about how our lives could be. Do good without expecting some recognition or praise.