environmental sustainability essay introduction

Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Students are often asked to write an essay on Environmental Sustainability in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Understanding environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is about making decisions that do not harm the environment. It’s about preserving nature for future generations.

Importance of Environmental Sustainability

Our survival depends on the environment. If we don’t sustain it, we risk losing resources like water and air. It’s crucial for our health and economy.

Ways to Achieve Sustainability

We can achieve sustainability by reducing waste, recycling, and using renewable energy. It’s about changing our lifestyles to protect the environment.

Environmental sustainability is crucial for our future. We all need to play our part to ensure our planet remains healthy.

250 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

Introduction to environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability is an integral aspect of our existence, intertwined with the notion of preserving the natural world for future generations. It encapsulates the concept of stewardship, wherein we are responsible for managing the Earth’s resources responsibly and efficiently.

The Imperative of Sustainable Practices

The current environmental crisis, characterized by climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss, underscores the urgency of sustainable practices. These practices aim to minimize the environmental footprint by reducing waste, conserving energy, and promoting recycling. They are not merely an ethical obligation, but a necessity for human survival.

Role of Innovation in Sustainability

Innovation plays a pivotal role in environmental sustainability. Technological advancements like renewable energy, green architecture, and waste management systems pave the way for a sustainable future. They provide practical solutions to environmental problems, enabling us to balance economic growth with ecological preservation.

Individual Responsibility and Collective Action

Environmental sustainability demands individual responsibility and collective action. Each of us can contribute by adopting sustainable lifestyles, such as minimizing waste, conserving water, and reducing energy consumption. Collective action, on the other hand, involves policy changes, corporate responsibility, and international cooperation.

In conclusion, environmental sustainability is a multidimensional concept, involving the careful management of natural resources, innovative technologies, and concerted human effort. As stewards of the Earth, we must strive to ensure the sustainability of our planet for future generations.

500 Words Essay on Environmental Sustainability

The importance of environmental sustainability.

The significance of environmental sustainability cannot be overstated. As the world’s population continues to grow, so does the demand for resources. This increased demand, coupled with unsustainable practices, has led to environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, and climate change. By practicing environmental sustainability, we can help ensure that future generations inherit a planet that is as rich and diverse as the one we enjoy today.

Principles of Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is underpinned by several key principles. First, we must recognize the finite nature of our planet’s resources and strive to use them sparingly. Second, we must work towards reducing waste and promoting recycling. Third, we must strive to reduce our carbon footprint and promote renewable energy. Lastly, we must value and protect our biodiversity, recognizing the intrinsic worth of all living things.

Challenges to Environmental Sustainability

Role of individuals and institutions in promoting environmental sustainability.

Individuals and institutions have a crucial role to play in promoting environmental sustainability. Individuals can make a difference by making sustainable choices in their daily lives, such as reducing waste, recycling, and choosing renewable energy. Institutions, on the other hand, can implement sustainable practices in their operations and advocate for environmental sustainability at the policy level.

In conclusion, environmental sustainability is not just a buzzword; it is a necessity for our survival and the survival of future generations. It requires a collective effort from individuals, institutions, and governments alike. By understanding the importance of environmental sustainability and the principles that underpin it, we can all play a part in preserving our planet for future generations.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

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Environmental Sustainability, Essay Example

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The implication of sustainability is the inherent potential for tolerance. In the context of human life, the implication of sustainability is maintaining a fair well-being on a long term basis with regard to the dimensions of environmental, social as well as economic perspectives (Bell, 2003, 115-156). The idea of stewardship in addition to managing the utility of resources in a responsible manner is encompassed in the issues of sustainability. Sustainability has an ecological dimension which addresses the diversity of biological systems and the maintenance of their productivity which is a significant precondition for the well-being of people.

The maintenance of healthy environments as well as ecosystems is a source of important goods as well as services to the human kind as well as the rest of the organisms. Human influence to the ecosystem is an issue that requires proper management. One important approach to achieve this end is through the management of the environment. The achievement of this is facilitated by information accessible from the fields of conservation biology, environmental science as well as earth science. Resources consumption is another alternative approach in management of ecosystem (Gottfried, 2004, 97-106).

Human beings should strive towards a sustainable living which is achievable through restricting human activities within the natural or environmental system while at the same time avoiding acts that can inflict harm to others. This relates to the determination of appropriate sources of food, energy, cloths among other products. Sustainability through recycling has positively impacted on the habits of majority people and this has been reflected on the positive impact on worldwide climate change.

Recycle for Environmental Sustainability

A positive impact on global climate change is achieved through recycling (Hiss, 1990, 167). The starting point is the local retailer who is encouraged to avail more products that can be recycled. Buying products along with their containers whose materials can be recycled has been a significant step towards promotion of recycled product market. Paper products such as the toilet papers should have a percentage of about 50% materials that have already been recycled. Products from companies which use chlorine in the process of bleaching paper products results to the creation of dioxin waste and therefore are deliberately avoided.

Enacting and Implementing a New Method of Environmental Sustainability

The use of organic foods offers the most reliable solution of eating sustainably. This is an important direction to take in an attempt of achieving environmental sustainability because of a variety of reasons. The local and seasoned foods are associated with several benefits in addition making a positive impact on global climate change. The amount of energy that is allied to the emissions of carbon dioxide arising from the systems of growth as well as transportation of food products is significantly reduced. The economy is supported from the local level and there is a reconnection of the cycles of nature as time progresses. Eating locally takes account of choosing the types of food closed to the living locality and this is an implication of sustainability. It reduces the time period between harvesting of the food product or its processing to the time of its consumption. A lot of nutrients are lost when a certain food product takes significantly long time between the time of its harvesting to the time of its consumption

Works Cited

Bell, Simon & Morse, Stephen. Measuring Sustainability. London: Earthscan Pub. Ltd., 2003.

Gottfried, David. Greed to Green. CA: Worldbuild Pub., 2004. >>http://www.lincolngreenbydesign.com/resources/bibliography.php<<

Hiss, Tony. The Experience of Place. NY: Alfred A. Knopf, 1990.

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Explainer: What Is Sustainability and Why Is It Important?

It seems like nowadays, the term ‘sustainable’ is used all around us – from food packaging to clothing companies and even tourism. In fact, ‘sustainability’ was one of the most-searched terms in fashion in 2019, and Google searches for the term have been on the rise, illustrating the public’s growing interest in the topic. But what is sustainability exactly and why is it so important?

What Is Sustainability

The go-to definition when discussing sustainability is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. And though you may have heard this before, many people do not know the origins of this definition in particular. In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commission published this particular definition of sustainability in the Brundtland report , which called for a strategy that united development and the environment. Over the years, alternative definitions have emerged, but the Brundtland report’s 1980s take on the explanation is still commonly used.

The ‘ Three Pillars of Sustainability’ is another popular framework used to describe what sustainable development is. This tool conveys that sustainability consists of environmental, social, and economic factors that are vital when discussing the topic:

Environmental sustainability is perhaps the most obvious of the three pillars, as it symbolises the importance of things like natural resources and biodiversity to support life on Earth.
Social sustainability places importance on social structures, well-being, and harmony; all factors that poverty, wars, and injustices can affect.
Economic sustainability describes the ability of an economy to grow. This is especially important in today’s societies, at a time when many sustainable initiatives require financing and a strong economic rationale.

In order to find solutions to ongoing sustainability issues, it is imperative that we consider all three pillars.

what is sustainability; why is sustainability important

You might also like: We Need Sustainable Food Packaging Now. Here’s Why.

What Are the Planetary Boundaries And How Do They Relate to Sustainability?

The concept of planetary boundaries (PB) is focussed on nine aspects that humanity needs in order to thrive in the future. This idea was developed in 2009 by the Stockholm Resilience Centre and other groups: “ We propose a new approach to global sustainability in which we define planetary boundaries within which we expect that humanity can operate safely. Transgressing one or more […] may be deleterious or even catastrophic due to the risk of crossing .”

At the time when this new concept was introduced, scientists believed that humanity had already transgressed three boundaries, and was rapidly approaching several others. In 2022, a re-assessment of the PBs by fourteen scientists concluded that humanity had transgressed additional boundaries, relating to freshwater and environmental pollutants in particular.

The PBs have been widely cited in sustainability literature over the last decade, and provide an illustrative tool to track and evaluate how we are depleting the Earth’s valuable ecosystem services and precious systems. Though the tool is mainly environmentally focused, it has informed various policies and practices, including the World Business Council on Sustainable Development’s Action 2020 Strategy. In turn, this has had a knock-on effect on social and economic aspects of global policy and governance, including “financial investment, food, textiles, building, technology and household goods sectors”.

You might also like: Sustainable Alternatives to Fast Fashion

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by the UN Member States. One of the most well-known elements of this were the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which set out various goals that the international community must work together to achieve – ranging from environmental and social to economic issues.

We cannot discuss the SDGs without first acknowledging their predecessor – the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – set out in September 2000. These goals ranged from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS. By the end of the 15-year cycle of the MDGs in 2015, the UN established an even more ambitious set of goals – the SDGs – to enter into force on 1 January 2016. While not all of the MDGs were met globally, significant progress was made in several areas.

The SDGs have been continually monitored and provide key benchmarks for us to understand how sustainability is being achieved worldwide. Overview reports are regularly published and comment on the nuances that significant events bring to achieving the SDGs (like the COVID-19 pandemic, for example). You can read the 2022 SDG Report here .

You might also like: Why the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 Are More Important Than Ever

Why Is Sustainability Important?

So far, we’ve discussed the different ways that sustainability is defined and the tools and metrics we have developed on a global scale to measure our impact on the environment, societies, and economies worldwide. But why is sustainability important?

Here are a few reasons, although the list could go on for a lot longer:

Sustainability joins social, environmental, and economic issues together throughout global discussions, ensuring that key elements do not get left behind. Focusing on aspects other than the environment alone ensures a fairer, more equitable discussion (as long as a diverse range of players is at the table).
Sustainability opens up new conversations between a range of people with diverse skills and thought processes – for example scientists, sociologists, and economists all have key skills to enable humanity to thrive and sustain the Earth.
The SDGs are an impactful way to evaluate our progress and have encouraged key ideas and strategies to flourish while remaining realistic about the next steps and improvements.

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12.4 Annotated Student Sample: "Healthy Diets from Sustainable Sources Can Save the Earth" by Lily Tran

Learning outcomes.

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

Analyze how writers use evidence in research writing.
Analyze the ways a writer incorporates sources into research writing, while retaining their own voice.
Explain the use of headings as organizational tools in research writing.
Analyze how writers use evidence to address counterarguments when writing a research essay.

Introduction

In this argumentative research essay for a first-year composition class, student Lily Tran creates a solid, focused argument and supports it with researched evidence. Throughout the essay, she uses this evidence to support cause-and-effect and problem-solution reasoning, make strong appeals, and develop her ethos on the topic.

Living by Their Own Words

Food as change.

public domain text For the human race to have a sustainable future, massive changes in the way food is produced, processed, and distributed are necessary on a global scale. end public domain text

annotated text Purpose. Lily Tran refers to what she sees as the general purpose for writing this paper: the problem of current global practices in food production, processing, and distribution. By presenting the “problem,” she immediately prepares readers for her proposed solution. end annotated text

public domain text The required changes will affect nearly all aspects of life, including not only world hunger but also health and welfare, land use and habitats, water quality and availability, energy use and production, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, economics, and even cultural and social values. These changes may not be popular, but they are imperative. The human race must turn to sustainable food systems that provide healthy diets with minimal environmental impact—and starting now. end public domain text

annotated text Thesis. Leading up to this clear, declarative thesis statement are key points on which Tran will expand later. In doing this, she presents some foundational evidence that connects the problem to the proposed solution. end annotated text

THE COMING FOOD CRISIS

public domain text The world population has been rising exponentially in modern history. From 1 billion in 1804, it doubled to approximately 2 billion by 1927, then doubled again to approximately 4 billion in 1974. By 2019, it had nearly doubled again, rising to 7.7 billion (“World Population by Year”). It has been projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050 (Berners-Lee et al.). At the same time, the average life span also has been increasing. These situations have led to severe stress on the environment, particularly in the demands for food. It has been estimated, for example, that by 2050, milk production will increase 58 percent and meat production 73 percent (Chai et al.). end public domain text

annotated text Evidence. In this first supporting paragraph, Tran uses numerical evidence from several sources. This numerical data as evidence helps establish the projection of population growth. By beginning with such evidence, Tran underscores the severity of the situation. end annotated text

public domain text Theoretically, the planet can produce enough food for everyone, but human activities have endangered this capability through unsustainable practices. Currently, agriculture produces 10–23 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases—the most common being carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and water vapor— trap heat in the atmosphere, reradiate it, and send it back to Earth again. Heat trapped in the atmosphere is a problem because it causes unnatural global warming as well as air pollution, extreme weather conditions, and respiratory diseases. end public domain text

annotated text Audience. With her audience in mind, Tran briefly explains the problem of greenhouse gases and global warming. end annotated text

public domain text It has been estimated that global greenhouse gas emissions will increase by as much as 150 percent by 2030 (Chai et al.). Transportation also has a negative effect on the environment when foods are shipped around the world. As Joseph Poore of the University of Oxford commented, “It’s essential to be mindful about everything we consume: air-transported fruit and veg can create more greenhouse gas emissions per kilogram than poultry meat, for example” (qtd. in Gray). end public domain text

annotated text Transition. By beginning this paragraph with her own transition of ideas, Tran establishes control over the organization and development of ideas. Thus, she retains her sources as supports and does not allow them to dominate her essay. end annotated text

public domain text Current practices have affected the nutritional value of foods. Concentrated animal-feeding operations, intended to increase production, have had the side effect of decreasing nutritional content in animal protein and increasing saturated fat. One study found that an intensively raised chicken in 2017 contained only one-sixth of the amount of omega-3 fatty acid, an essential nutrient, that was in a chicken in 1970. Today the majority of calories in chicken come from fat rather than protein (World Wildlife Fund). end public domain text

annotated text Example. By focusing on an example (chicken), Tran uses specific research data to develop the nuance of the argument. end annotated text

public domain text Current policies such as government subsidies that divert food to biofuels are counterproductive to the goal of achieving adequate global nutrition. Some trade policies allow “dumping” of below-cost, subsidized foods on developing countries that should instead be enabled to protect their farmers and meet their own nutritional needs (Sierra Club). Too often, agriculture’s objectives are geared toward maximizing quantities produced per acre rather than optimizing output of critical nutritional needs and protection of the environment. end public domain text

AREAS OF CONCERN

Hunger and nutrition.

annotated text Headings and Subheadings. Throughout the essay, Tran has created headings and subheadings to help organize her argument and clarify it for readers. end annotated text

public domain text More than 820 million people around the world do not have enough to eat. At the same time, about a third of all grains and almost two-thirds of all soybeans, maize, and barley crops are fed to animals (Barnard). According to the World Health Organization, 462 million adults are underweight, 47 million children under 5 years of age are underweight for their height, 14.3 million are severely underweight for their height, and 144 million are stunted (“Malnutrition”). About 45 percent of mortality among children under 5 is linked to undernutrition. These deaths occur mainly in low- and middle-income countries where, in stark contrast, the rate of childhood obesity is rising. Globally, 1.9 billion adults and 38.3 million children are overweight or obese (“Obesity”). Undernutrition and obesity can be found in the same household, largely a result of eating energy-dense foods that are high in fat and sugars. The global impact of malnutrition, which includes both undernutrition and obesity, has lasting developmental, economic, social, and medical consequences. end public domain text

public domain text In 2019, Berners-Lee et al. published the results of their quantitative analysis of global and regional food supply. They determined that significant changes are needed on four fronts: end public domain text

Food production must be sufficient, in quantity and quality, to feed the global population without unacceptable environmental impacts. Food distribution must be sufficiently efficient so that a diverse range of foods containing adequate nutrition is available to all, again without unacceptable environmental impacts. Socio-economic conditions must be sufficiently equitable so that all consumers can access the quantity and range of foods needed for a healthy diet. Consumers need to be able to make informed and rational choices so that they consume a healthy and environmentally sustainable diet (10).

annotated text Block Quote. The writer has chosen to present important evidence as a direct quotation, using the correct format for direct quotations longer than four lines. See Section Editing Focus: Integrating Sources and Quotations for more information about block quotes. end annotated text

public domain text Among their findings, they singled out, in particular, the practice of using human-edible crops to produce meat, dairy, and fish for the human table. Currently 34 percent of human-edible crops are fed to animals, a practice that reduces calorie and protein supplies. They state in their report, “If society continues on a ‘business-as-usual’ dietary trajectory, a 119% increase in edible crops grown will be required by 2050” (1). Future food production and distribution must be transformed into systems that are nutritionally adequate, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. end public domain text

Land and Water Use

public domain text Agriculture occupies 40 percent of Earth’s ice-free land mass (Barnard). While the net area used for producing food has been fairly constant since the mid-20th century, the locations have shifted significantly. Temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Russia have lost agricultural land to other uses, while in the tropics, agricultural land has expanded, mainly as a result of clearing forests and burning biomass (Willett et al.). Seventy percent of the rainforest that has been cut down is being used to graze livestock (Münter). Agricultural use of water is of critical concern both quantitatively and qualitatively. Agriculture accounts for about 70 percent of freshwater use, making it “the world’s largest water-consuming sector” (Barnard). Meat, dairy, and egg production causes water pollution, as liquid wastes flow into rivers and to the ocean (World Wildlife Fund and Knorr Foods). According to the Hertwich et al., “the impacts related to these activities are unlikely to be reduced, but rather enhanced, in a business-as-usual scenario for the future” (13). end public domain text

annotated text Statistical Data. To develop her points related to land and water use, Tran presents specific statistical data throughout this section. Notice that she has chosen only the needed words of these key points to ensure that she controls the development of the supporting point and does not overuse borrowed source material. end annotated text

annotated text Defining Terms. Aware of her audience, Tran defines monocropping , a term that may be unfamiliar. end annotated text

public domain text Earth’s resources and ability to absorb pollution are limited, and many current agricultural practices undermine these capacities. Among these unsustainable practices are monocropping [growing a single crop year after year on the same land], concentrated animal-feeding operations, and overdependence on manufactured pesticides and fertilizers (Hamilton). Such practices deplete the soil, dramatically increase energy use, reduce pollinator populations, and lead to the collapse of resource supplies. One study found that producing one gram of beef for human consumption requires 42 times more land, 2 times more water, and 4 times more nitrogen than staple crops. It also creates 3 times more greenhouse gas emissions (Chai et al.). The EAT– Lancet Commission calls for “halting expansion of new agricultural land at the expense of natural ecosystems . . . strict protections on intact ecosystems, suspending concessions for logging in protected areas, or conversion of remaining intact ecosystems, particularly peatlands and forest areas” (Willett et al. 481). The Commission also calls for land-use zoning, regulations prohibiting land clearing, and incentives for protecting natural areas, including forests. end public domain text

annotated text Synthesis. The paragraphs above and below this comment show how Tran has synthesized content from several sources to help establish and reinforce key supports of her essay . end annotated text

Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change

public domain text Climate change is heavily affected by two factors: greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration. In nature, the two remain in balance; for example, most animals exhale carbon dioxide, and most plants capture carbon dioxide. Carbon is also captured, or sequestered, by soil and water, especially oceans, in what are called “sinks.” Human activities have skewed this balance over the past two centuries. The shift in land use, which exploits land, water, and fossil energy, has caused increased greenhouse-gas emissions, which in turn accelerate climate change. end public domain text

public domain text Global food systems are threatened by climate change because farmers depend on relatively stable climate systems to plan for production and harvest. Yet food production is responsible for up to 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions (Barnard). While soil can be a highly effective means of carbon sequestration, agricultural soils have lost much of their effectiveness from overgrazing, erosion, overuse of chemical fertilizer, and excess tilling. Hamilton reports that the world’s cultivated and grazed soils have lost 50 to 70 percent of their ability to accumulate and store carbon. As a result, “billions of tons of carbon have been released into the atmosphere.” end public domain text

annotated text Direct Quotation and Paraphrase. While Tran has paraphrased some content of this source borrowing, because of the specificity and impact of the number— “billions of tons of carbon”—she has chosen to use the author’s original words. As she has done elsewhere in the essay, she has indicated these as directly borrowed words by placing them within quotation marks. See Section 12.5 for more about paraphrasing. end annotated text

public domain text While carbon sequestration has been falling, greenhouse gas emissions have been increasing as a result of the production, transport, processing, storage, waste disposal, and other life stages of food production. Agriculture alone is responsible for fully 10 to 12 percent of global emissions, and that figure is estimated to rise by up to 150 percent of current levels by 2030 (Chai et al.). Münter reports that “more greenhouse gas emissions are produced by growing livestock for meat than all the planes, trains, ships, cars, trucks, and all forms of fossil fuel-based transportation combined” (5). Additional greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide, are produced by the decomposition of organic wastes. Methane has 25 times and nitrous oxide has nearly 300 times the global warming potential of carbon dioxide (Curnow). Agricultural and food production systems must be reformed to shift agriculture from greenhouse gas source to sink. end public domain text

Social and Cultural Values

public domain text As the Sierra Club has pointed out, agriculture is inherently cultural: all systems of food production have “the capacity to generate . . . economic benefits and ecological capital” as well as “a sense of meaning and connection to natural resources.” Yet this connection is more evident in some cultures and less so in others. Wealthy countries built on a consumer culture emphasize excess consumption. One result of this attitude is that in 2014, Americans discarded the equivalent of $165 billion worth of food. Much of this waste ended up rotting in landfills, comprised the single largest component of U.S. municipal solid waste, and contributed a substantial portion of U.S. methane emissions (Sierra Club). In low- and middle-income countries, food waste tends to occur in early production stages because of poor scheduling of harvests, improper handling of produce, or lack of market access (Willett et al.). The recent “America First” philosophy has encouraged prioritizing the economic welfare of one nation to the detriment of global welfare and sustainability. end public domain text

annotated text Synthesis and Response to Claims. Here, as in subsequent sections, while still relying heavily on facts and content from borrowed sources, Tran provides her synthesized understanding of the information by responding to key points. end annotated text

public domain text In response to claims that a vegetarian diet is a necessary component of sustainable food production and consumption, Lusk and Norwood determined the importance of meat in a consumer’s diet. Their study indicated that meat is the most valuable food category to consumers, and “humans derive great pleasure from consuming beef, pork, and poultry” (120). Currently only 4 percent of Americans are vegetarians, and it would be difficult to convince consumers to change their eating habits. Purdy adds “there’s the issue of philosophy. A lot of vegans aren’t in the business of avoiding animal products for the sake of land sustainability. Many would prefer to just leave animal husbandry out of food altogether.” end public domain text

public domain text At the same time, consumers expect ready availability of the foods they desire, regardless of health implications or sustainability of sources. Unhealthy and unsustainable foods are heavily marketed. Out-of-season produce is imported year-round, increasing carbon emissions from air transportation. Highly processed and packaged convenience foods are nutritionally inferior and waste both energy and packaging materials. Serving sizes are larger than necessary, contributing to overconsumption and obesity. Snack food vending machines are ubiquitous in schools and public buildings. What is needed is a widespread attitude shift toward reducing waste, choosing local fruits and vegetables that are in season, and paying attention to how foods are grown and transported. end public domain text

annotated text Thesis Restated. Restating her thesis, Tran ends this section by advocating for a change in attitude to bring about sustainability. end annotated text

DISSENTING OPINIONS

annotated text Counterclaims . Tran uses equally strong research to present the counterargument. Presenting both sides by addressing objections is important in constructing a clear, well-reasoned argument. Writers should use as much rigor in finding research-based evidence to counter the opposition as they do to develop their argument. end annotated text

public domain text Transformation of the food production system faces resistance for a number of reasons, most of which dispute the need for plant-based diets. Historically, meat has been considered integral to athletes’ diets and thus has caused many consumers to believe meat is necessary for a healthy diet. Lynch et al. examined the impact of plant-based diets on human physical health, environmental sustainability, and exercise performance capacity. The results show “it is unlikely that plant-based diets provide advantages, but do not suffer from disadvantages, compared to omnivorous diets for strength, anaerobic, or aerobic exercise performance” (1). end public domain text

public domain text A second objection addresses the claim that land use for animal-based food production contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and is inefficient in terms of nutrient delivery. Berners-Lee et al. point out that animal nutrition from grass, pasture, and silage comes partially from land that cannot be used for other purposes, such as producing food directly edible by humans or for other ecosystem services such as biofuel production. Consequently, nutritional losses from such land use do not fully translate into losses of human-available nutrients (3). end public domain text

annotated text Paraphrase. Tran has paraphrased the information as support. Though she still cites the source, she has changed the words to her own, most likely to condense a larger amount of original text or to make it more accessible. end annotated text

public domain text While this objection may be correct, it does not address the fact that natural carbon sinks are being destroyed to increase agricultural land and, therefore, increase greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. end public domain text

public domain text Another significant dissenting opinion is that transforming food production will place hardships on farmers and others employed in the food industry. Farmers and ranchers make a major investment in their own operations. At the same time, they support jobs in related industries, as consumers of farm machinery, customers at local businesses, and suppliers for other industries such as food processing (Schulz). Sparks reports that “livestock farmers are being unfairly ‘demonized’ by vegans and environmental advocates” and argues that while farming includes both costs and benefits, the costs receive much more attention than the benefits. end public domain text

FUTURE GENERATIONS

public domain text The EAT– Lancet Commission calls for a transformation in the global food system, implementing different core processes and feedback. This transformation will not happen unless there is “widespread, multi-sector, multilevel action to change what food is eaten, how it is produced, and its effects on the environment and health, while providing healthy diets for the global population” (Willett et al. 476). System changes will require global efforts coordinated across all levels and will require governments, the private sector, and civil society to share a common vision and goals. Scientific modeling indicates 10 billion people could indeed be fed a healthy and sustainable diet. end public domain text

annotated text Conclusion. While still using research-based sources as evidence in the concluding section, Tran finishes with her own words, restating her thesis. end annotated text

public domain text For the human race to have a sustainable future, massive changes in the way food is produced, processed, and distributed are necessary on a global scale. The required changes will affect nearly all aspects of life, including not only world hunger but also health and welfare, land use and habitats, water quality and availability, energy use and production, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, economics, and even cultural and social values. These changes may not be popular, but they are imperative. They are also achievable. The human race must turn to sustainable food systems that provide healthy diets with minimal environmental impact, starting now. end public domain text

annotated text Sources. Note two important aspects of the sources chosen: 1) They represent a range of perspectives, and 2) They are all quite current. When exploring a contemporary topic, it is important to avoid research that is out of date. end annotated text

Works Cited

Barnard, Neal. “How Eating More Plants Can Save Lives and the Planet.” Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine , 24 Jan. 2019, www.pcrm.org/news/blog/how-eating-more-plants-can-save-lives-and-planet. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Berners-Lee, M., et al. “Current Global Food Production Is Sufficient to Meet Human Nutritional Needs in 2050 Provided There Is Radical Societal Adaptation.” Elementa: Science of the Anthropocene , vol. 6, no. 52, 2018, doi:10.1525/elementa.310. Accessed 7 Dec. 2020.

Chai, Bingli Clark, et al. “Which Diet Has the Least Environmental Impact on Our Planet? A Systematic Review of Vegan, Vegetarian and Omnivorous Diets.” Sustainability , vol. 11, no. 15, 2019, doi: underline 10.3390/su11154110 end underline . Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Curnow, Mandy. “Managing Manure to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.” Government of Western Australia, Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, 2 Nov. 2020, www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-change/managing-manure-reduce-greenhouse-gas-emissions. Accessed 9 Dec. 2020.

Gray, Richard. “Why the Vegan Diet Is Not Always Green.” BBC , 13 Feb. 2020, www.bbc.com/future/article/20200211-why-the-vegan-diet-is-not-always-green. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Hamilton, Bruce. “Food and Our Climate.” Sierra Club, 2014, www.sierraclub.org/compass/2014/10/food-and-our-climate. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Hertwich. Edgar G., et al. Assessing the Environmental Impacts of Consumption and Production. United Nations Environment Programme, 2010, www.resourcepanel.org/reports/assessing-environmental-impacts-consumption-and-production.

Lusk, Jayson L., and F. Bailey Norwood. “Some Economic Benefits and Costs of Vegetarianism.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review , vol. 38, no. 2, 2009, pp. 109-24, doi: 10.1017/S1068280500003142. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Lynch Heidi, et al. “Plant-Based Diets: Considerations for Environmental Impact, Protein Quality, and Exercise Performance.” Nutrients, vol. 10, no. 12, 2018, doi:10.3390/nu10121841. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Münter, Leilani. “Why a Plant-Based Diet Will Save the World.” Health and the Environment. Disruptive Women in Health Care & the United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012, archive.epa.gov/womenandgirls/web/pdf/1016healththeenvironmentebook.pdf.

Purdy, Chase. “Being Vegan Isn’t as Good for Humanity as You Think.” Quartz , 4 Aug. 2016, qz.com/749443/being-vegan-isnt-as-environmentally-friendly-as-you-think/. Accessed 7 Dec. 2020.

Schulz, Lee. “Would a Sudden Loss of the Meat and Dairy Industry, and All the Ripple Effects, Destroy the Economy?” Iowa State U Department of Economics, www.econ.iastate.edu/node/691. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Sierra Club. “Agriculture and Food.” Sierra Club, 28 Feb. 2015, www.sierraclub.org/policy/agriculture/food. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Sparks, Hannah. “Veganism Won’t Save the World from Environmental Ruin, Researchers Warn.” New York Post , 29 Nov. 2019, nypost.com/2019/11/29/veganism-wont-save-the-world-from-environmental-ruin-researchers-warn/. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

Willett, Walter, et al. “Food in the Anthropocene: The EAT– Lancet Commission on Healthy Diets from Sustainable Food Systems.” The Lancet, vol. 393, no. 10170, 2019. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31788-4. Accessed 6 Dec. 2020.

World Health Organization. “Malnutrition.” World Health Organization, 1 Apr. 2020, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/malnutrition. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.

World Health Organization. “Obesity and Overweight.” World Health Organization, 1 Apr. 2020, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.

World Wildlife Fund. Appetite for Destruction: Summary Report. World Wildlife Fund, 2017, www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-10/WWF_AppetiteForDestruction_Summary_Report_SignOff.pdf.

World Wildlife Fund and Knorr Foods. Future Fifty Foods. World Wildlife Fund, 2019, www.wwf.org.uk/sites/default/files/2019-02/Knorr_Future_50_Report_FINAL_Online.pdf.

“World Population by Year.” Worldometer , www.worldometers.info/world-population/world-population-by-year/. Accessed 8 Dec. 2020.

Discussion Questions

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Sustainability - Essay Examples And Topic Ideas For Free

Sustainability, a multifaceted concept, embraces the aspiration to fulfill present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Essays on sustainability could explore its three core pillars: economic, environmental, and social sustainability. Discussions might delve into various sustainable practices, such as renewable energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture, along with the examination of sustainability indices and certifications. The discourse could extend to the exploration of sustainable urban planning, the challenges of fast fashion, and the push towards circular economies. Moreover, essays could delve into the role of policy, education, and innovation in promoting sustainability and addressing climate change. The implications of sustainability on global trade, corporate practices, and consumer behavior, alongside the examination of case studies and initiatives promoting sustainable development across different regions, could provide a well-rounded insight into the complexity and necessity of sustainability in the modern world. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Sustainability you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Sustainability in Architecture

Sustainability in architecture is a concept that has been spread across the United States of America for decades now. For some time now the public has acknowledged that if we don't take care of the world we live in then soon it will be gone. The first signs that warned the people in urban areas were not only the in your face issue of global warming but also the increase in the price of energy. Building and business owners found […]

Sustainability Policy

1.Introduction The Sustainability Policy defines the overall Sustainability Practices for (ORGANISATION), as per the ORGANISATION Sustainability Framework. The purpose of this policy is to support ORGANISATION in becoming the most sustainable transport provider in the Middle East. ORGANISATION's Policy is aligned with the relevant local and national strategic directions of the UAE. The ORGANISATION Sustainability Framework follows a continual improvement management approach (Plan-Do-Check-Act) to ensure continuous improvement. It includes establishing reference to the ORGANISATION Sustainability Framework, the related KPIs, and […]

Walmart Vision and Mission Statement

Walmart is one of the major and more famous retailers around the globe operating in more than 11,000 stores in over 25 nations (Hunt, Watts & Bryant, 2018). The company was inaugurated in 1962 and has achieved significant progress due to its effective business strategy (Hunt, Watts & Bryant, 2018). Walmart operates both physical and online stores to enhance convenience for its global consumers. The company realized annual revenue of $500 billion in the fiscal year, of 2017 and boasts […]

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The Case for Urban Agriculture as a Driver of Environmental Sustainability

Abstract As a result of the growing global population, many cities around the world are experiencing rapid urbanization. With that comes a growing demand for food and increasing challenges in food production. One solution increasing in popularity is urban agriculture (UA), simply defined as the production of food in an urban environment. UA can operate on different scales (micro, meso, and macro) have various objectives (recreational, subsistence, or commercial), and take place across landscapes in the form of backyard gardens, […]

Report of a Current Ethical And/or Sustainability Issue in Business

Introduction Business organizations need to be ethical so as to achieve the sustainability of the businesses in the industry. For a business to be ethical it must do what is right and avoid what is wrong towards its stakeholders. When a business organization is ethical to its stakeholders it enhances the organization to have a competitive advantage and customer satisfaction which leads to more sales hence growth and sustainability of the organization. Business can be ethical to its stakeholders. Some […]

Is Globalization Good or Bad Reevaluation

Looking back to the beginning of the semester, the class was tasked to answer if globalization is a good or bad thing. As I was just starting class, I could only answer with personal experiences. Whether if it was from a history lesson from high school, or from playing video games when I was a child. My discussion was not carried through both discussions two and three, even when I took the position of a market globalist with multiple blind […]

Sustainability and Social Responsibility in Companies and People

Social responsibility is the belief that businesses have an obligation to balance profit-making practices with activities that benefit their community. This is also referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR). Sustainability is the ability to supply necessities for the population without compromising the availability of the resources for those in the future. Throughout this essay, the popularity of sustainability and social responsibility in corporate companies will be examined and explained. In addition, the demographics, including race and religion, of CSR […]

Sustainability in Artisanal Mining: the Role of Major Stakeholders

The Case of Ghana: An Introduction to Mining. Mining can be traced back in history when its activities were informal and unregulated. Today, the formal mining industry can be said to be a 'child' of an informal mining sector whose contribution to the development of mining cannot be overemphasized. Some countries, like Canada, the United States, Australia, and others, in the course of developing their mining sectors, formalized their artisanal gold mining industry through the provision of services such as […]

Overpopulation and its Effects on Human

Approximately 200 years ago, the total population of the Earth was less than one billion. According to the UN, as of 2017 the human population has reached a staggering 7.7 billion. (UN, 2015) Between 1900 and 2000, humanity saw a dramatic increase in its population from 1.5 to 6.1 billion. As the global population continues to balloon, one major issue that is looming overhead the human species is overpopulation. By 2050 the world population will reach to 10 billion people; […]

Sustainability, Starting with Businesses

Sustainability is the ball to the Earths chain, it is something that we need to help humanity, along with every other creature on this planet, survive and also protect the Earth. Sustainability is where Humans can sustain themselves without harming the planet, or at least have the biggest effect on the planet than Earth herself. There are ways that we, as a whole, can change to help reduce the carbon footprint that we so greatly have increased over the years. […]

Sustainability in Water Supply

The theory of water's origin may be debated, but the versatility of water is recognized as vital to human life. Innumerable theories have been proposed about how water was acquired on the earth's surface over the last 4.6 billion years (Robert, "The Origin of Water on Earth," 2001). The significance of water extends beyond everyday survival, serving as an environmental lifeline for numerous species and habitats. Water provides humans with the opportunity to maintain balanced health, support agricultural labor, and […]

Globalization and Automation

Introduction Globalization and Automation are referred to as two megatrends which are influencing the workers' job in industrialized countries. Both types of workers such as blue collar and white collar workers are influenced by it, however, the impact on white collar workers is higher as millions of laborers are being migrated from one country to other for getting jobs. The migration of workers has assisted the countries to eliminate the poverty in developing countries. The globalization and automation also assisted […]

The Sustainability of Bottled Water

Water is a valuable resource that all living things including human beings require in order to survive. It is believed that the realities of the environment will soon hit us to an extent of making us change the behavior regarding the costly use of resources (Earle, 2009). The changes are most likely going to affect the manner in which we use water and hence cause alterations both in quantity and water usage. Privatization of water resources as well as selling […]

Foreign Aid and Micro-entrepreneurship Microfinance Sustainability and Complementary Programs

Cross-borrowing enables clients to collect more money from various institutions without close inspection, and the number of applicants for microfinance has rocketed due to cross-borrowing. This has caused new problems for the microfinance sector. The purpose of achieving self-financial sustainability did not have a positive outcome. Because of the poor portfolios of the clients, MFIs could not demand repayment of the debts from the borrowers. Cross-borrowing also deteriorated the financial situation of the poor and trapped them in the cycle […]

Factors Influencing Sustainability of Electronic Manufacturing Company in Laguna

The 5S program is a technique originated in Japan and was introduced by Takashi Osada in 1980. 5S is consist of five phases from Japanese words: Seiri (sort), Seiton (set in order), Seiso (shine), Seiketso (standardize) and Shitsuke (sustain). 5S is a step by step process of housekeeping to achieve a safe, clean and organized environment in the work area involving the employees with a commitment to sincerely implement and practice housekeeping. When the workplace is unorganized and dirty, the […]

What is Sustainability in Business?

The first aspect business looks when thinking about sustainability is the operational aspect and saving cost as it is easy to measure.Most of the resource we are using are non-renewable resources,from our energy need to the consumption of oil.But all these resources are bound to get over in the future.There is a term called peak oil,after which production of oil reduces due to reduce reserves.There is already an alert for helium gas which is used in many areas like filling […]

Overpopulation and Climate Change

In the article Overpopulation and Climate Change Arthur H. Westing tells us that the in 1970, the greenhouse gas emission was beyond the sustainability level of the atmosphere and at that time the worlds population was 3.7 million and today it is 6.9 million. In the mean time emission from fossil fuel increased from 14 billion tons to 29 billion tons. Despite the growing awareness of climate change. In the article, Arthur H. Westing gives us the idea to divide […]

JOR Study on the Emerging Trend of Green-Banking and Environment-Sustainability through PSBSIN India

ABSTRACT The problem related to the environment, the maintenance of ecological balance and environmental-sustainability have become topics of debate throughout the world. Both organizations and consumers have understood the importance of the environment for the survival of human beings. The banking sector plays an important role in the economic growth of a nation. Given that public sectors banks (PSBs) are among one of the main sources of financing for commercial projects, they can play an important role in promoting environmental-sustainability […]

Sustainability Community Engagement and Diversity Inclusion Review BA

Introduction: Southern Company is an energy holding company that produces and sells electricity through various southern power subsidiaries. It's headquarters is located in Atlanta, GA and the company has been a part of the Fortune 500 list for 24 years. It's current rank is 126, up 19 spots from its ranking in 2017. The CEO is Thomas A. Fanning and he is in charge of 31,344 employees. Southern Company operates 11 regulated utilities serving an estimated 9 million people in […]

Managing Sustainability Development

Executive summary Sustainable development practices for any organization have to be informed by the goals of the company. For Vodafone Company in New Zealand, the goals of the company are to produce quality cell phones, conserve the environment and encourage young people to work hard and be responsible citizens. The project will be undertaken to evaluate how the company can improve efficiency in operations and at the same time maintain the profit margin as it stands. The company is thus […]

Ethics, Sustainability and CSR

The article by Julia Wolf on stakeholder pressure explores the relationship between supply chain management and sustainable corporate performance, taking a critical look at the Nestle campaign in relation to these factors. The article examines supply chain management and the influence of external forces. It also discusses the relationship between supply chain control and stakeholders' perceptions of an organization. It highlights how stakeholder pressure and supply chain management contribute towards achieving sustainable performance (Wolf, 2013). The paper covers several theories, […]

Milton Friedmen and CSR

Social responsibility can be viewed as a vital aspect of people's lives across the globe. Lately, it has also become one of the major increasing concerns in the business world. As a result, interactions between businesses, society, and government have greatly developed. In addition, the standard view of a business's social responsibility holds that it should involve actions that maximize its profit according to Milton Friedman. Contrasting to this view is the socioeconomic outlook of social responsibility which believes that […]

Sustainability in Focus: the Evolution of Waste Management in Augusta

The city of Augusta, known for its rich history and the iconic Augusta National Golf Club, faces a challenge common to many growing urban areas: effective waste management. As populations grow and urban landscapes expand, cities like Augusta must adapt and evolve their waste disposal strategies to meet the increasing demands while also addressing environmental concerns. This essay explores the multifaceted approach of Augusta's waste management system, examining its current practices, the challenges it faces, and the strides being made […]

Sustainability of Excessive Consumption: Untangling the Web of Excesses

As a brain scientist with a penchant for unraveling the intricacies of human behavior, the concept of overconsumption emerges as a captivating subject. In delving into the realm of overconsumption, we embark on a journey through the neural pathways that govern our desires, societal norms that shape our consumption patterns, and the environmental ramifications of our insatiable appetites. At its core, overconsumption is more than a mere imbalance between wants and needs; it represents a complex interplay of psychological, cultural, […]

An Important Role of Globalization

Recently, globalization has played an important role in the national market economies of various countries. It not only enhances economic integration but also motivates trade liberalization. However, many debates still exist regarding the "side effects" of globalization on the development of countries. Therefore, globalization is a controversial issue that consistently receives significant attention from governments around the world. Firstly, according to Chernotsky & Hobbs (2018), globalization is defined as a political, economic, and cultural exchange among nations that enhances trade […]

Water Pollution in China

The challenge of rising water pollution in China poses a huge threat to existing water bodies that greatly benefit indigenous people, industries, and government. This water pollution was the result of effluents from large industrial areas, which drained the chemicals of rivers and other related streams. The escalating impasse of China's water pollution requires quick and practical measures aimed at protecting a few uncontaminated water bodies and stopping further pollution of those already polluted. These efforts will help protect aquatic […]

About the Walt Disney Company

From its 1923 beginnings in animation to the magical resorts today, The Walt Disney Company, or simply Disney, is an international icon where "imagination has no age" (Disney, 2018; Perez, 2013, para. 15). Disney and its subsidiaries comprise cruise lines, media networks, studio entertainment, streaming services, and world-renowned theme parks in 45 countries (Disney, 2018). The Walt Disney Company employs nearly 200,000 employees around the globe, as well as an executive team and board of directors at its headquarters in […]

Climate Change: Environmental Protection Agency

Global warming, often referred to as climate change is used to describe the rise in average surface temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and its oceans, a change that is believed to be permanently changing the Earth's climate. There is a great debate amongst many as to whether global warming is real( some call it a hoax). There is a broad-based agreement within the scientific community that climate change is real. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space […]

The Theory of Planned Behavior

The natural environment in Iran faces severe threats such as desertification, degradation of forests and rangelands, land use change, declining groundwater table, landslides, etc. (Geravandi et al., 2012; Ravanbakhsh Sangjoei, 2013; Mesgaran et al., 2017). Ecological pressure in agricultural production spaces, frequent use of land, inappropriate and destructive use of water resources, and reduction of the efficiency of the underlying factors of production (water and land) are all signs of agricultural instability in Iran (Afrakhteh et al., 2013). Based on […]

Implementation of the Environmental Disclosure Requirement in Australian Service Industry

The issue of environmental conservation has been a primary subject in many countries across the world. Concerns raised in respect to the subject often stem from the negative effects environmental pollution has demonstrated worldwide. Over the previous decades, a wealth of literature has surfaced from the social accounting sector, indicating a continuous growth in the extent of social disclosure appearing in corporate annual reports. Specifically, the level of environmental disclosures has consistently increased compared to past decades. In Australia, for […]

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Essay Samples on Sustainability

Sustainability and helping the environment: a path to a greener future.

In an era marked by growing environmental concerns, the importance of sustainability has never been more evident. As the human footprint on the planet continues to expand, there is a pressing need to adopt practices that mitigate environmental degradation and promote a healthier planet for...

Environmentalism
Sustainability

Harmony for the Future: Exploring Sustainable Development

Sustainable development, a term that has gained prominence in recent decades, encompasses a vision for a world that balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental preservation. In the face of global challenges such as climate change, resource depletion, and inequality, sustainable development offers a pathway...

Environmental Issues

Environmental Problems: Navigating the Path to Sustainability

The state of our planet is a topic of increasing concern as we grapple with a myriad of environmental problems. From climate change to habitat loss, pollution to resource depletion, the challenges facing our environment are complex and interconnected. This essay aims to shed light...

The Sustainability of the Electrical Engineering Practices

Introduction Like other engineering disciplines sustainable engineering,also deals with the designs,technique and manufacturing the usage of the assets and power in a sustainable manner. Sustainable engineering explores the provision of natural assets.It also makes evaluation about water pollutants,air pollution and waste disposal.when you consider that...

Electrical Engineering

The Purpose and Principles of New Urbanism in Social Community

New Urbanism is a planning trend that values sustainability, mixed housing types, mixed land use, diverse transportation options, sociability and walkable communities. On the other hand, traditional planning focuses more on urban sprawls, less diverse and more separated housing and a higher reliance on vehicle...

Green Building
New Urbanism

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Critical Analysis of Zara Corporation's Sustainability Report

Introduction Zara has maintained its position to be among the largest fashion retailers in the world. It is estimated that they have more than 7200 stores and 41 online markets. The company was founded by Amancio Ortega Gaona in the year 1975 (Ruddick, 2017). It...

Strategic Management

Poverty Reduction and Shared Prosperity Development

Sustainable development does not merely imply to the economic growth but is composed of peace, healthy and dignified human life, human capital development, proper social safety net and environmental sustainability. Economic growth along with proper education, better health status, social cohesion, fair distribution of public...

Economic Growth

Sustainability: Organizations' Institutional Challenge To Advantage

Introduction The Austrian economic chamber’s advertisement slogan reflects how we think and motivate growth today “If the economy is well, we are all well” (Labitsch, 2016). I believe this concept of growth needs to be redefined in the wake of mankind's struggle for existence because...

Competitive Advantage
Organizational Culture

Gaziantep, The Town That Sun Shines

Would you like to live longer? Would you like your friends and family to live longer? Would you like your planet to live longer? The key to all of that is not far away, it is renewable energy. But what exactly is renewable energy, also...

Renewable Energy

Gross Domestic Product: Need for Change

Executive Summary GDP (Gross Domestic Product) is one of the most arguable and debatable topic through out the world because of the way it works. It does not represent the quality of life because during the valuation of GDP, we never consider the factors associated...

Gross Domestic Product
Macroeconomics

Replacement of Factory-Made Soap with Homemade Soap

Softsoap, Dial, Mrs. Meyers, and so many others, are all hand soap companies most of us recognize or even know by name. What most people do not know, is all of the harmful, drying, and irritating chemicals that are used to make these soaps. Before...

Sustainability Statistics of Kuala Lumpur

Sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It's about doing more good. ” said Jochen Zeitz. The definition of sustainability is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, according to the...

Kuala Lumpur

Sustainability of American Lifestyle with Ocean Pollution

The ocean covers seventy percent of Earth’s surface and the ocean is extremely important to our daily lives. The ocean provides us with seventy percent of our oxygen, cleans the air, governs our whether, and provides food for millions of people. The ocean does a...

Ocean Pollution

The Concept of Resilience in Co-Management and Development

Introduction The climate is changing and the steadily growing human pressure on the Earth is considered the main driver of environmental change. In this new geological epoch defined by some scientists as the Anthropocene (Crutzen and Stoermer, 2000), questions about future sustainability have therefore became...

Project Management

Establishment of Charity Retail Association for Sustainability

Charity Retail Association This is a family aid organisation funding education with donations. It intends to work with already existing aid organisations and a cotton/textile industry as a charity retailer. Recruiting volunteer staffs. The charity shop driven force is the resale of donated goods to...

Green Graphic Designers and Sustainability

By ignoring the negative impact of paper manufacturing systems, designers are supporting paper which is the fourth largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. However, many are unaware that the environmental impacts of graphic design are closely tied to the paper and printing industry. Paper distribution...

A Report On The Wave – The Ecocampus Initiative

National Technological University (NTU) is a global leader in sustainability research, attracting more than s $1. 2 billion in research funding while implementing sustainability principles, in the design of its lush green campus and adding the new Sports Hall called The Wave to its green...

Energy Efficiency

Analysis Of The Sustainability Report Of Westfarmers

Sustainability is defined as the process of maintaining, enhancing and balancing the business environment. Sustainability emerged as a component of corporate principles in response to supposed public dissatisfaction over the long-term harm caused by a focus on short-term profits. Sustainability should be managed by management...

Business Success

The Concept of Sustainable Development and Employee Perception

Introduction Background of Corporate Sustainability During earlier times, the main objective of organizations was efficient utilization of resources and to capitalize on the fact that how efficient an organization is to convert its capital into profits (Jensen and Meckling 1976). The main role of the...

Corporate Social Responsibility

Organic And Sustainable Farms On Auroville's Scattered Lands

From the very early days – and at considerable distances from each other – a number of Auroville farmers have literally battled to create organic and sustainable farms on Auroville’s scattered lands. Started in 2000 as a vegetable section of Siddhartha Farm, Buddha Garden very...

The Main Connotations Of Sustainability And Equity In Society

What are the basic questions that any civilization should ask to itself in order to evaluate its success and to answer the most crucial problems faced by it? The first question should be about sustainability and equity. As an unsustainable civilization cannot continue to grow...

Pros And Cons Of Global Sustainability Reporting

There are some pros and cons of global sustainability reporting: 1. Reporting becomes too burdensome": Much of the current criticism has to do with the number of indicators expected and the inclusion of value chain assessments in order better define an organization’s broader negative and...

Modern Technology

Management Of Our Ecosystem – The Goal Of My Career

Melting ice caps, famine, deforestration: too many tragedies prove we have a debt to pay to our phenomenal world, a task to evolve society towards sustainability. To belong to a community of such importance fills me with awe. Studying a subject where my interest is...

Career Goals
Earth Science

Alternative Solutions For Sustainable Environment

Colours, which have fascinated us for their sheer beauty and aesthetics, are now becoming functional and an integral part of our continuing understanding. Colours and our ability to produce them from a variety of materials, organic or inorganic, natural or synthetic continue to fascinate scientists....

Environmental Protection
Green Chemistry

The Importance Of Sustainable Power Source In Our Day By Day Life

At the present minute sustainable power source contributes just 11% to our essential vitality. In the event that we expect to take care of our planet, to defend our future and to make a solid situation for the ages to come, at that point we...

Industrialization

Best topics on Sustainability

1. Sustainability and Helping the Environment: A Path to a Greener Future

2. Harmony for the Future: Exploring Sustainable Development

3. Environmental Problems: Navigating the Path to Sustainability

4. The Sustainability of the Electrical Engineering Practices

5. The Purpose and Principles of New Urbanism in Social Community

6. Critical Analysis of Zara Corporation’s Sustainability Report

7. Poverty Reduction and Shared Prosperity Development

8. Sustainability: Organizations’ Institutional Challenge To Advantage

9. Gaziantep, The Town That Sun Shines

10. Gross Domestic Product: Need for Change

11. Replacement of Factory-Made Soap with Homemade Soap

12. Sustainability Statistics of Kuala Lumpur

13. Sustainability of American Lifestyle with Ocean Pollution

14. The Concept of Resilience in Co-Management and Development

15. Establishment of Charity Retail Association for Sustainability

Water Conservation
Climate Change
Environment Issue
Rubbish Problem
Global Warming
Deforestation

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Introduction

This chapter will provide the reader with a background in sustainability and its numerous definitions. It also will talk about the history of sustainability, and when that term first started being used. It goes in depth into the “pillars” of sustainability and what each of those means. Finally, it will talk about what a Grand Challenge is and give some examples. This chapter will allow the reader to continue reading this paper and allow them to understand the topics being presented.

Sustainability

Sustainability is a complex subject with many different definitions. To many, it can be as simple as using and reusing resources in an effective way. The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines it as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The problem with many of these definitions though is that they do not include all aspects of sustainability, and most importantly the 3 pillars of sustainability.

The three pillars are Environmental Sustainability , Social Sustainability , and Economic Sustainability . Environmental sustainability focuses on the health of the earth, how do we best preserve our environment. Social sustainability focuses on making life equitable and fair for all, highlighting social justice and differences between socioeconomic groups. Economic sustainability aims to balance long-term economic growth with the environmental and social pillars. These pillars are interrelated as well, and many issues can be categorized into more than one category. By breaking up sustainability into three sections, or pillars, we can better understand how to tackle sustainability issues. Sustainability issues are very complex in nature, as they encompass many different disciplines and can have different effects on different individuals. They often don’t have a clear solution, or are so broad they can’t exactly be defined. The solutions may not always work for everyone as well, so it is important for individuals to work together to find equitable solutions.

Three Pillars of Sustainability

Social sustainability

Social is a human aspect of the three pillars of sustainability. Social sustainability looks at how humans interact together and how they approach sustainability issues. There are four aspects that contribute to social well-being in society.

Equity in Quality of Life:

Equity refers to everyone having equal opportunities no matter their demographic and a fair distribution of resources whether it be within a country or between countries. In an equitable society, the government is able to provide welfare goods and protection for the community they are governing. When moving towards creating equity in a community having access to education, clean water, healthcare and other welfare goods are necessary. Protection against discrimination is vital for a society to be considered equitable because it goes along the guidelines of fair and equal treatment for all citizens.

Participation in Governance:

Participation includes different groups of stakeholders coming together to form solutions and make decisions that instigate policy and affect citizens lives. Governance helps an institution implement strategies, maintain goals and improve relationships between stakeholders. Outcomes of participation are most successful when a diverse range of people and the government come together to solve a problem. Government relies on their citizens input when creating policy. Policy that comes out of participation is seen as more viable by the community that the decision is affecting. Power imbalances between participants must be noted because it can influence outcomes and may not take all participators thoughts and ideas into account during the decision-making process.

Social Cohesion:

Social cohesion consists of citizens forming social ties based off of the belief that they share a moral community which allows them to trust each other and remain integrated. Social integration allows for the creation of cohesion in a community. Trust, an indicator of social cohesion, shared between citizens is a resource that helps communities overcome basic problems. Social cohesion is a non-material phenomenon so it can be difficult to measure if integration and trust are taking place in a community. Social cohesion can strengthen citizen’s pride, creates better networking and allows people to feel more safe in their community.

Education and Awareness:

Educating communities on sustainability issues is the first step to awareness. This could include educational programs, community events, labeling on products and pamphlets. Formal education is curriculum taught in schools. Informal education can be conveyed through public meetings, pamphlets or formatting scientific studies so that non-scientists can understand the information. It is important for a community with little to no sustainability background to understand information so it needs to be formatted in a way that everyone can understand. During decision-making processes it is important that all stakeholders have access to available information. The main goals of these outreach methods are focused on spreading knowledge about sustainability challenges and solutions.

Environmental Sustainability

An ecosystem is a community in which there is a network of biotic factors interacting with abiotic factors . Ecosystems are complex and can be susceptible to human interaction or the introduction of a new species. The type of ecosystem is determined by a number of factors based off of geographical position. These factors could include average temperature, average annual precipitation, how much sunlight the area receives, energy flow occurs in ecosystems through the passing of energy from trophic levels. Primary producers at the first trophic level take energy from sunlight and nutrients from soil courtesy of decomposers. Primary producers are then consumed by primary consumers at the second trophic level. Secondary consumers obtain energy from eating primary consumers and so on until the top of the food pyramid is reached.

As energy moves up the trophic levels, more of it escapes so there is less energy at the fourth trophic level than at the first trophic level.

environmental sustainability essay introduction

Photo Credit: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/photo/marine-food-pyramid-1/

Ecosystem populations of organisms preserve health when the carrying capacity of the ecosystem is maintained. Biogeochemical cycling is the process of elements getting cycled through an ecosystem. The most important cycles consist of water, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Human activity has had negative impacts on biogeochemical cycles. For instance, humans have accelerated the nitrogen cycle by adding reactive nitrogen compounds to the atmosphere. When there are negative impacts on Earth systems our environment becomes less resilient to problems like loss of biodiversity and climate change.

Ecosystem services are the resources we receive from our ecosystems. For instance, clean air, water, nutrient cycling and spiritual benefits. We also receive energy resources from Earth that are renewable and non-renewable . Non-renewable resources include coal, oil and natural gas that will inevitably run out at the rate in which they are being consumed. These non-renewable resources also contribute a considerate amount to climate change as they release greenhouse gases into the air. Renewable energy includes things like sun and wind that will always be able to provide energy based on the geographical location and are considered to be green energy .

Economic Sustainability

The third pillar of sustainability is economic sustainability. Economic sustainability is the practice of responsible economic growth in the long-term, that does not negatively affect social and environmental pillars. One of the largest drivers of change is economics, and in the past, society has been focused on economic growth without necessarily understanding the externalities of it. Economic sustainability is not well defined, and can be understood in two main threads. The first thread concerns economic development in the “Global South”. The main focus of the “Global North” were efforts in environmental protection in sustainability, as these nations are typically more developed and economically better off. Nations in the “South” are not as developed, and focused more on economic development. This model focused on improving the well-being of the people in these nations, while protecting and using natural resources efficiently. The second thread has to do with a shift from linear economies to circular economies. Circular economies emphasize the reuse of products. In a circular economy, products will be manufactured in such a way that can be reused, or upcycled at the end of their lifespan. This type of economy requires a major shift in product design and production, but will be more sustainable in the long run.

Economic Growth

The most common measure of economic growth is by using Gross Domestic Product (GDP). GDP is defined as the total value of goods produced and services provided in a country during one year. However, it is not a good representation of economic well being. GDP falls short in identifying externalities, and does not represent progress or well-being, especially in middle and lower socioeconomic scenarios. Instead, the United Nations uses the Human Development Index (HDI), which also takes into account health and longevity, knowledge, and income. Another measure of economic growth is the Genuine Progress Indicator, which also factors in consumption, income inequality, underemployment, pollution, habitat loss, value of household services, costs of crime, costs of accidents. GPI helps highlight that economic growth does not just rely on goods and services, but rather a collection of complex factors.

Economic Growth v. Sustainable Development

Economic growth is defined as the increase in the quantity of economic activity (spending, production, etc.). Sustainable development is defined as the increase in quality of life or environment well-being, and is not dependent on economic growth. It is also essential in many areas, where people cannot meet basic needs. Economic sustainability tries to find a balance between these two. Some ways to encourage sustainable development and economic sustainability include to promote and support sustainable business practices and models, and to buy products that support environmental and social sustainability. Another way is to encourage lawmakers to pass policies and regulations that protect our natural environment while promoting economic growth.

History of Sustainability

Each pillar of sustainability: environmental, economic, and social, originated as its own movement often running parallel to each other but never interacting or collaborating. Only within recent history have the three different sectors started to work together, and they all come together under the concept of sustainability. In order to understand the present-day meaning of the word sustainability it’s important to look at the history behind the development of each pillar and ultimately the concept of sustainability itself.

The Environmental Movement

Although individuals have been concerned with the degradation of their surrounding environment for thousands of years the modern-day environmental movement as we understand it today began in the 19th century with the poets and writers of the American Transcendentalist movement. Writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau promoted the idea that humans experience a better life when surrounded by nature. By the early 20th century, the US environmental movement had split into two groups, conservationists and preservationists, with differing opinions on the motivation for protecting nature. Conservationists, like the first head of the US Forest Service Gifford Pinchot, believed that nature should be used for human benefit as long as human activity is regulated to prevent serious degradation. Preservationists like naturalist and Sierra Club co-founder John Muir, thought that nature should be preserved due to its own inherent value. Regardless of the specifics about environmental protection, by the 1960s a greater public environmental awareness emerged. This was sparked in part by Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring which increased concern about the impact of pesticide use on the environment. As a response to their concerns, the public staged protests and forced debates about the negative impact of technology that hadn’t been considered before. This led to the creation of the US Environmental Protections Agency, as well as the federal ban on the pesticide DDT. Other major US laws that were passed during this time period include the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act.

The Economic Movement

A global history of colonialism left many countries that had been stripped of their natural resources struggling to ensure their people had access to basic resources required for survival and human well-being. For decades, there was a lack of concern for developing countries needs because many people believed that natural human progress would improve everyone’s well-being as global society modernized through advancements in technology and continued economic growth. In the 1950s two frames of thought emerged to attempt to provide a solution for the gaps in economic equality between developing and developed countries. The first is modernization theory which argues that developing countries should imitate the development model of industrialized countries by opening up their domestic markets to the global market, allowing wealth to trickle down to poorer countries and alleviate poverty. The second theory is dependency theory which claims that the solution to alleviating poverty is for these countries to become independent and self-reliant by closing their markets to the world and transferring market control to their governments, thereby preventing the pattern of colonialization from repeating itself. Both of theories at the time relied on gross domestic product (GDP) to measure the economic success of developing countries. However, in the 1990s criticisms of GDP emerged, with many saying it only measured economic growth which is not a true measure of poverty or well-being. With these criticisms came the development of other metrics used to measure true economic growth. These include the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) and the Human Development Index (HDI) which both measure more holistic economic well-being. A shift towards caring more about economic well-being than economic growth fostered the growing movement of business systems trying to employ a circular economy to encourage profits while recycling and reusing their resources. An example of one of these systems is Certified B Corps which consists of over 3,000 businesses who aim to balance purpose with profit who are legally required to measure their business’s environmental, economic, and social impact.

The Social Movement

The social pillar of sustainability is largely concerned with social equity which is equal opportunity for all through fair access to education, democratic participation, and other resources. The social equity movement became relevant with the citizen movements of the 1960s and 70s. The most well-known being the civil rights movement which used civil disobedience and protests to improve legal protections for African Americans. Another example of the mobilization of the people is the United Farm Workers movement where Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta mobilized Hispanic California field workers into this labor union. They used worker protests and consumer boycotts to advocate for safer working conditions and better pay. The Environmental Justice movement emerged during the civil rights movement in the United States. Environmental Justice activists were concerned about how power and privilege lead to unequal access to environmental resources, like clean water, and unequal exposure to pollution. It was through this increased awareness and protest of inequalities that people began to demand equity for all and participation for all in governance and decision making.

Global Sustainability Movement

Increasing global concerns in the environmental, economic, and social movements led to global action. While the histories of the above movements are US centric, each country has its own in-depth history of sustainability. All of these histories come together on the international scale to provide more global sustainable action. The first international sustainability meeting was the United Nations (UN) Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 where environmentalists joined together with economic development advocates to alleviate poverty. As a result of this alliance, several organizations formed, like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), to align development needs with environmental issues. The World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was formed and it published on of the most important reports in sustainability called Our Common Future also referred to as The Brundtland Report which defined sustainability for people worldwide as development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the needs of future generations. This report led to the UN holding several conferences over the next few years aimed at global sustainability. These meetings produced the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) which were eight international development goals, like to promote gender equality and empower women, with the goal of greatly improving all eight by 2015. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) followed the MDGs and were developed by the UN to be more comprehensive than the MDGs, with an emphasis on the collaboration of all three sectors within sustainability. The UN publishes an annual report on the current status of the SDGs and areas that could be improved with the aim of creating clarity on complicated issues and encouraging more action.

Sustainability Grand Challenges

Sustainability grand challenges, sometimes also called wicked problems, are issues that can be difficult to solve due to incomplete, contradictory, and morphing conditions that often can be complicated to recognize. Unlike other challenges in our lives, such as preparing for a final exam or changing a tire on your car, grand challenges can not be solved with one single solution. They require multiple perspectives and methods to achieve success due to the complex nature of the problem. Grand challenges can also be defined by the following characteristics:

No definitive formula or template
Hard to measure success due being nonlinear and existing within multiple regimes
Solutions to wicked problems are good or bad, not true or false
Always more than one solution
All wicked problems are unique
Wicked problems require systems thinking to discover solution

When looking at tackling grand challenges, we have to take a systems thinking approach to help us avoid making decisions that are helpful in the short term, but can be problematic in the long run. One concept of systems thinking is that we are a part of social-ecological systems and changes that we make to one part of the system can have an effect on another. An example of this concept can be seen with our production of greenhouse gas. As we continue to produce more CO2, this has an effect on how our oceans thrive and the viability of marine ecosystems, such as coral reefs. Without coral reefs, this can cause more wave action along the shore and allow more tropical storms to hit our coasts harder, resulting in a greater potential harm to people. By recognizing that we are a part of systems thinking, we can see that each response has a feedback that can be seen throughout the whole social-ecological system, rather than focusing on one part of the system separately.

Grand Challenge #1: Climate Change

One grand challenge we can recognize is climate change. Climate change is the most pressing challenge that is facing our current generation. Not only is it causing damage to ecosystems across the planet by decreasing the biodiversity of species, changing the timing of seasonal life cycle events (migration, blooming, reproduction), and shifting the ranges at which species can thrive, it is also causing social and economic difficulties. Cities along coasts are experiencing increased flooding due to sea level rise, as well as increase in the amount of severe weather events, causing risk to human life. Other locations experience prolonged periods of high temperatures that bring drought, large wildfires, and longer fire seasons that will force communities to relocate. Certain municipalities without adequate access to resources and infrastructure will find themselves stranded, creating an unequal capacity for adaptation and a decrease in social well being. Similarly, our economy will experience some strain due to damage to agriculture, marine fisheries, and forestry. Consider all these factors and many others not mentioned, it is extremely challenging to work toward solutions because there is no definitive formula to solve climate change, solutions that might work in one location will not be transferable to another, and the necessary approach of systematic thinking when tackling the issue. It is key to remember that no one solution will be able to solve this challenge.

Photo credit: https://climate.nasa.gov/effects/

Grand Challenge #2: Poverty

Another grand challenge we face is caused by the large gap of monetary income between the rich and poor. While the rich continue to get richer, the poor continue to get poorer and head deeper into poverty. Due to labor markets experiencing unparalleled changes driven by globalization and new technical advances, workers who do not have the proper education are being forced into situations where they do not have any marketable skills and left with either a poverty level wage or unemployed. This gap has caused fairness, justice, and basic human rights to be undermined within many societies while also robbing society from achieving the fullest productivity and efficiency possible. Poverty also caused environmental issues such as overexploitation of natural resources and increased deforestation to meet the demands of people in needPoverty is a grand challenge due the issue being complex, unpredictable, and unique. There is no set formula to solve poverty and there is more than one solutions that can be used to help combat the issue.

Grand Challenge #3: Environmental Injustice

We can also find another grand challenge within the way we see urban development of some municipalities. When looking to establish a location that will serve as a dumping ground for pollutants, some governments will seek areas that are near people who are from a different race, lower income level, and/or lack of an English language proficiency. This injustice does not allow for those facing the dumping of toxins to have a voice in whether the dumping ground should be placed within their community, encourages the continuation of institutionalized racism, and takes advantage of the lack of money or power individuals of low economic value have. Environmental injustice is a grand challenge because the solution the issue, is either good or bad, not true or false. Any decision made needs to require a systems thinking approach to recognize that one change within the system will have effects on of components of the structure. Environment injustice is also hard to measure due to the being nonlinear and existing at multiple regimes.

Sustainability Development Goals:

One way we have collaborated to make us more aware and actively work toward finding solutions to our grand challenges has been the international effort from the United Nations. In 2015, the United Nations created the 17 Sustainable Development Goals , also known as the SDGs. By following these goals, the United Nations members are committing to creation development that incorporates a balance of social, economic, and environmental sustainability and making sure that no one is left behind as we transition into this new way of life. The SDGs are considered by the United Nations to be a global plan to building a better world for people and the planet by the year 2030. The goals are helpful because it gives countries a frame of mind for where they should focus their efforts with the assistance of integrated solutions from the United Nations. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are as follows:

No Poverty 10. Reduced Inequalities
Zero Hunger 11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
Good Health and Well-being 12. Responsible Consumption and Production
Quality Education 13. Climate Action
Gender Equality 14. Life below Water
Clean Water and Sanitation 15. Life on Land
Affordable and Clean Energy 16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Decent Work and Economic Growth 17. Partnership for the Goals
Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

By having members of the United Nations use the Sustainable Development Goals, not only are countries setting a precedent for the direction society should currently be heading in, but they are constructing a planet that will be better for future generations to use. Members of the UN are not the only ones who should be following these goals. If governments, private sectors, NGOs, and citizens all stepped forward to accept these ambitious goals, a new era of safer and sustainability humanity would endure.

Chapter Summary

Sustainability is a complex, ever-evolving topic that touches each and everyone of us. It also can mean very different things to different individuals involved in the process, and does not have one single definition. The definition of sustainability must however relate to the three pillars of sustainability, Environmental, Social, and Economic. Environmental sustainability relates to how humans are changing ecosystems and affecting our climate. Social sustainability is one of the harder ones to define, and talks about equity among individuals, social cohesion, and the importance of participation in governance in sustainability. Finally, economic sustainability is the practice of responsible economic growth in the long-term, that does not affect social and environmental pillars. Most sustainability issues will relate to each pillar on some level. We call these issues grand challenges, as they are complex, don’t have a clear solution, and often take collaboration across many disciplines and multiple perspectives to address.

Chapter Questions

What are the three pillars of sustainability? Define them.
What is the goal of sustainability education and awareness?
How is climate change a grand challenge? Explain.
Can you think of another grand challenge that affects you?

Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance in perpetuity.

Indefinite use of resources at a rate in which the resources will not be depleted

How humans interact and respond to sustainability issues

the practice of responsible economic growth in the long-term, that does not negatively affect social and environmental pillars.

Governmental support through goods and services for its citizens

All people and groups affected and involved in the development of a solution towards a shared problem.

The action of governing

Citizens, including newcomers and minorities, being incorporated into the social structure of a society

A living component in an ecosystem

A non-living component in an ecosystem

The position at where an organism is in the food chain

The maximum population size an environment can sustain

Earth’s interacting physical, biological and chemical processes

An ecosystem being able to recover quickly after a disturbance

A natural resource that will replenish after depletion during consumption

A natural resource that can not be replenished at the rate of consumption

A gas absorbing infrared radiation in the atmosphere

Alternative energy sources that don’t contribute to greenhouse gas emissions

Goals created by the UN to help build a better planet

Sustainability Methods and Perspectives Copyright © by vanessalevesque is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Sustainability Essay Examples

The importance of environmental sustainability.

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In recent years, the aesthetic industry has received a growing concern for the range of green issues that have continuously impacted the environment, particularly in skincare products due to the harmful chemicals they contain. These ingredients create a range of concerns in regard to the...

Exploring Hydroelectric Power in Terms of Sustainability

Hydroelectricity is the generation and distribution of electricity obtained from the kinetic energy of falling water or any other hydraulic source. In general, hydroelectricity is produced by water falling on a turbine which rotates a shaft that turns an electric generator. According to Strezov, V....

Burger King’s Sustainability Efforts: Barely Trying

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Active street lighting has emerged as an essential factor in strategies for a resource-efficient economy and realization of sustainable growth. In the outdoor area, lights represent approximately 40 % of the total energy consumption at night and have much energy saving potential. However proper usage...

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Introduction

Living by Their Own Words

THE COMING FOOD CRISIS

AREAS OF CONCERN

Land and Water Use

Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change

Social and Cultural Values

DISSENTING OPINIONS

FUTURE GENERATIONS

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