Sustainability of the Environment

Whether from a scientific source or a regular dictionary, sustainability is defined as the provision of the necessities of life. Living in the Environment says that sustainability in the scientific community refers to the earth's capability of its "natural systems and human cultural systems and economies" adapting to the forever-changing environment. Even though sustainability is absolutely crucial to the survival of humanity, humans have over extended their right to take advantage of the land's resources, putting all organisms at risk.

"The News: International" published an article about the "Living Planet Report," a study on how the current human population is affecting the earth. The results of the study estimated that humanity is using 20% more of earth's natural resources than the planet can produce. Discounting land that is not used for resources, approximately 1/4 of the Earth is able to help sustain humanity giving each of the earth's 6.4 billion people 1.78 acres of land, but many of earth's inhabitants use much more land than is allotted to them. While the average Western European appears to indulge by using 5 hectares each, the average North American ranks at the top of the list with 9.6 hectares apiece. The human race is overusing the earth’s resources to the point of catastrophe, and while they continue to deplete their bounty, they are also destroying it.

Pollution has long been an issue that humanity has been aware of. While many individuals are helping the environment, it really is not getting any better mainly because the efforts of the individual are not being supported by the government. In the United States alone there are approximately 120 million cars on the road, making the nation the biggest generator of carbon dioxide in the world, however in 2001 the Bush administration made withdrawing from the Kyoto Protocol one of their first acts in office reports "The News: International." The Kyoto Protocol was an environmental treaty signed by many of the world’s leaders who agreed to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. How is the individual supposed to save the world if the providers are not willing to help? While a lot of wrong is being done to the environment, worsening the overall situation, there is some effort being put into its rescuing.

Many people are helping to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by carpooling, walking, and taking public transportation, and while the individuals are hard at work, some authorities of the human race are also taking action. The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) is working with “specific actors and institutions” to help further understand their part in environmental protection and the retardation of the degradation of resources. They are also composing comprehensive studies to learn what the not-so-obvious causes of the decay of the environment are and to advocate a more conscious population to develop a more sustainable society. Another organization known as the Environmentally Socially Sustainable Development (ESSD) works with developing countries to help them become more developed countries with “stable, sustainable, and equitable economic growth.” Hopefully, these organizations will make enough changes in the world so that humanity can repair some of the damage it has done.

A sustainable existence for humanity’s future generations is at serious risk. With the help of all who made it problem, the effects can be pacified somewhat and eventually the advancing damage can be reversed, but it is up to the human race to take the blame for what they have done and to have the motivation and willingness to fix their mistakes.