SUSTAINABILITY

The EPA defines sustainability as "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." as of right now we are putting our present and future generations in harm. We are doing this by buring fossil fuels at a rapid ad dangerous rate. This burning of fosil fuels is resultin in the extremely high releases of Carbon dioxide. The access amounts of Carbon Dioxide in the air is affecing the earths sustainabilty, for the present and the future.

"The Earths Climate is a fundamntal part of our life support system." (sustreport.org). Earths climate forms how we live on this planet, but how we live is changing earths climate. Human activities are releasing to many green house gasses into the air. This high release of green house gasses is causing the earths atmosphere to heat up. The atmospheres heating up makes the earth more prone to weather extremes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, and wild fires. This warmer weather also interferes with natures ecological system. With the earths weather extremes the wild life is being interfered with. Habitats are being shifted due to the warming temperatures. This heat is also melting the polar ice caps, which could cause the earth to flood, and the melting of these ice caps is destroying a mojor source of fresh water. Or, the melting of these ice caps will flood the earth and the human race will be no more. The excess burning of fossil fueld and heating of the earths atmosphere is putting our present and future in great danger,

Glolbal warming can be slowed down, if drastic changes occur in the way we currently live. A switch to cleaner energy would drasticly cut down on the release of green house gasses. Solar power, wind power, and water power are three of natures most powerfull forces. We could use these forces to power our planet, an we could do it without damaging our planet. In recent years we have become much more conciouss of our planets rapid increase in temperature and releases of greenhouse gasses. Though we may be moving in the right direction in sustaining a healthy atmosphere and cleaner living, much more needs to be done.

Ryan May

http://www.sustreport.org/issues/climate_ch.html

http://knowledge.allianz.com/en/globalissues/climate_change/global_warming_basics/global_warming_definition.html

Sustainability - Quint B

Sustainability is the earth’s capacity to survive and evolve based on ever-changing environmental conditions. These conditions can be altered by many different processes. Quite possibly the most important and damaging process is that of human evolution and advancement. However, despite the fact that humans cause some of the most harm to the earth and its ability to sustain itself, they also have to power to fix and change the problems they create and ways of life, respectively.

One such problem created by humans is desertification. “Desertification is the degradation of land in arid and dry sub-humid areas, resulting primarily from man-made activities and influenced by climatic variations.” (“Desertification”, Wikipedia). Areas affected by desertification are usually in areas where there is poor soil health. This is brought around by overgrazing of livestock, overuse of fields for farming resulting in nutrient exhaustion, and also the overall lack of flora which “anchors” the soil in place. Without anchors, soil is eroded easily and sand dunes eventually form; a tell-tale sign of desertification.

There are ways to fix, and maybe even reverse the process of desertification though. If people are educated about the effects of farming methods, such as slash-and-burn farming and not using field rotation, and how to better treat their land as well as increase their overall yield by implementing different techniques such as field rotation, for instance. Another way to counter the effects of desertification is by planting trees, shrubs, grasses, etc. to help anchor the remaining soil as well as to help replenish the lack nutrients in the soil.

Citations:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desertification

Allie T.

Sustainability and Coral Reefs

Sustainability and Coral Reefs

Sustainability

Sustainability is the method of harvesting or using a resource so that the resource is not hurt or permanently damaged.

An example of how sustainability is used amongst the human race involves coral reefs. Coral reefs supply millions with food and other resources. This particular ecosystem is facing greater rates of disturbances because of our actions. Too much disturbances reduces the productivity, diversity and resilience of the coral reef ecosystem. Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean's area, although they supply millions of people with food, employment opportunities, and other sources. We need to sustain coral reefs, as well as other ecosystems, to supply more and more resources to support our gr owning members. These members are, however being threatened with destruction. "Coral Reefs are becoming unproductive just when we need them the most," remarked Steve Palumbi, marine biologists at Stanford University. This seems to be a severe problem that needs to be addressed immediately by all of us.

To sustain means to try and keep things running as long as possible; hopefully forever. The key to creating a more sustainable world is balance. Balancing how much we take out of our ecosystems may greatly increase sustainability. If we take more than an ecosystem can supply, damages may often occur.

There are three keys that contribute to sustainability:

1. Productivity- The growth rate of the living part of an ecosystem. It determines how fast we can use an ecosystem's resources. We can maintain a sustainable ecosystem by balancing the rate we take resources with the rate they are made.

2. Diversity- Diversity affects the amount of resources we can use from an ecosystem. It influences health, resilience and productivity. Taking too much from an ecosystem decreases diversity and sustainability.

3. Resilience- Resilience is the ability of an ecosystem to resist or recover from disturbances. How ecosystems cope with damage from hurricanes, burnt by fires, or devoured by predators.

sustainability

Sustainability is the ideal of living in a way that is beneficial to the environment. sustainability starts with the realization that as John F Kennedy once stated "The supreme reality of our time... is the vulnerability of this planet."sustainability requires that one recognizes that fact and then moves to help rectify the problems caused by both natural pollutants and human activity. Environmental scientists spend their lives working in the field of sustainability to ensure the continued survival of life on earth.

Many problems have been created in the recent centuries due to human expansion without an understanding of sustainability. These problems include pollution such as smog in the air and improper waste disposal on land and in water. however sustainability doesn't just cover reducing pollution other problems that are cause a lack of sustainability include overuse of natural resources such as deforestation and overfishing which both result in a state of environmental degradation. the long term effect of environmental degradation would potentially result in human extinction.

To properly maintain environmental sustainability limits or regulations are passed to allow nature to recover. The ideas behind these regulations is that if nature can recover faster then resources are used then we will be in a state of environmental renewal that not only will insure the sustainability of life but also nature will begin to fix other environmental issues as well. however it is still important to cut back on pollution because even with environmental renewal only so much can be done by natural solutions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development#Environmental_sustainability

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.

Sustainability

In the broad sense of the word, sustainability is the capacity to endure. When defining sustainability in the ecology meaning, it deals with how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time. The potential for long-term improvements in well-being, which in turn depend on the well being of the natural world & the responsible use of natural resources. Sustainability applies to life on Earth. It consists of three pillars: environment, society, and economy.



One issue is air pollution. Humans impact greatly on this problem. An example of this is air pollution in cities. Toxic chemicals like nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds, and particular matter that produce photochemical smog and acid rain, and the chlorofluorocarbons that degrade the ozone layer.

A solution to this problem is hybrid cars. Electric cars would cut down on the exhaust put into the air. Exhaust from cars is a major contribute to air pollution. Instead of gas stations, there could be places to charge cars. Also, another way of keeping electric cars going is for them to have an internal combustion engine & an electric motor. Not using gas for cars not only benefits the air, but it also benefits the economy by us not depending on foreign oil as much. It might take awhile for this solution to be put into action, but until then, people could carpool to work. If you carpool with four other people for example, that's four less cars on the road contributing to air pollution. In the long run, this really does make a difference. Imagine if everyone carpooled. Converting to cleaner fuels also would help out this issue. Cleaner fuels that are made include: bioethanol and biodiesel. Buying electrostatic precipitators help out air pollution in the home. These are electric filters that take out dust and other particles from the air that are not healthy. This benefits the environment, but it also helps out people with medical issues such as athma.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_cars

Sustainability

Living sustainably is how our world lives today, but it could all change in only a few years. We live off of what our earth and land provide for us and if we continue to destroy natural resources, our privilege of being able to live sustainably could be ruined. I feel that exponential growth is one of the biggest factors affecting the earth today. Exponential growth is the over population of the world. Humans consume enormous amounts of food, raw materials, and gas thus creating large amounts of pollution and waste (Miller, LITE). People are not realizing how much they are wasting earth's precious natural resources and in consequence it is taking a toll on the environment everyday. Although many are wasting gas (fuel for cars), some are creating plans to fix the many problems in the world today. Some include Obama and Biden. Obama and Biden have created an energy saving plan for America. Not only does the plan help stuggling families, but it also confrontes our dependence on foreign oil, challenges facing the climate, economy, environment, and start a clean energy future for America. Their plan includes; Providing short‐term relief to American families facing pain at the pump, help create five million new jobs by strategically investing $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future, within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined, put 1 million Plug‐In Hybrid cars –cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon –on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure they are built here in America, ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by2025, implement an economy‐wide cap‐and‐trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050. Obama and Biden are creating strategies for America to het better in every aspect. With following through with this plan, America will soon be better economically, with less pollution, and etc.
Its hard for just one person to protect the sustainability of the environment. The Whole world needs to take action and help give back to the land that we couldn't do without. Simple things such as picking up trash, un plugging outlets, fast showers, turn off running water when not in use, and being open minded to plans that will in the end better our earth will all add up when it comes down to it.


http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf