SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT, AN OVERVIEW
Rupesh Dahal (Student
of Social Science, TU, Kathmandu)
Sustainable development
is a multi-dimensional concept. Primarily, it contains economic activity involving nature,
processing of nature for production and consumption, social and economic use of
production, reuse and recycle and bio-degradation of products so that cycle of development
becomes sustainable. The fulfillment of many development objectives rests on the quality
of the environment we live in. It is clear that good food, clean air and safe drinking
water greatly contribute to the quality of life. Human being cannot live without
environment. But, environment can live without human beings. Human beings, animals and
plants are related to each other and to their environment. The environment is the basis of
all life and all production. Uncontrolled population growth has, however, brought
increasing pressure on the Earth’s life-supporting resources. Human activities are
the causes of pollution of rivers, seas and air we breathe. Over consumption of resources
is placing welfare of the mass of the people at risk. In the developed countries, massive
industrial and urban expansion damaged the environment. In the developing countries like
Nepal, poverty of people pushed them into marginal lands and compelled them to exploit
forest, fisheries and land to maintain their livelihoods. Over-cultivation of land
continues to erode vegetative cover and became a source of deforestation, flood and
desertification. Reckless disposal of chemical and other waste is polluting drinking
water, air and the land causing several diseases.
Each year, over 20
billion tones of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere. The burning of forests
(170,000 square kilometers per year) and fossil fuels (coal and oil) release carbon
dioxide. This causes greenhouse effect. The release of sulfur dioxide produces acid rain
that kills plants and fish. Both these substances contribute to global warming, water
temperatures and climate change. Scientists have predicted that over the next 100 years,
the Earth will be warm by 1.5 to 6.3 degrees Fahrenheit and sea levels will rise by 6 to
38 inches. These changes would bring famine, diseases, storms and the depletion of
mountain glaciers. Rapid climate change is raising the sea levels and threatening the
future of many low-lying coastal states like Bangladesh and the Maldives. The forests that
normally absorb carbon dioxide, stabilize the climate, control flood and prevent soil
erosion have also been diminishing. The loss of forests caused an enormous loss of
bio-diversity—plant and animal species and created food insecurity. Bio-diversity is
crucial for agriculture. Wild plants are genetic source of immunity to disease, drought
and salinization. In the last 26 years alone, the earth has lost one-third of its natural
wealth, especially forests, wetlands, seas and natural species.
Until 30 years ago, no
one knew that chlorine/florin and bromine were destroying the ozone layer and has already
created a hole above the Antarctic region. Scientists claim that the depletion of ozsone
layer prevented the stratosphere from acting like a human shield against ultraviolet
radiation at the earth’s face. This has caused skin cancer, eye cataracts, reduced
immunity, lower crops yield and adverse effect on the marine life. The ozone layer checks
the ultraviolet rays from the sun that harm living species while eco-system helps to
purify the water and air. Some of environmental problems, for example, acid rain, global
warming, rise of sea levels, depletion of ozone layer, climate change, etc ignore national
borders and become a matter of global concern. Nearer at our home, the foothills of
Himalayas have exceeded the carrying capacity of the surrounding area, causing erosion of
the land’s capacity to support life. Global environmental problems require global
response while national ones, such as loss of bio-diversity, deforestation, pollution etc
can be addressed by proper management of public and private economies.
Survival needs of poor
to avoid hunger and a minimum of well being are not the sole cause of environmental
degradation. The greed for more and more money and ignorance drive human beings to endless
growth of production processes and exhaust natural resources to meet the demands of local
and global markets. Careless exploitation of nature to meet market demands at the cost of
nature’s renewing capacity is at the root of the crisis of sustainability. There is a
link between environmental degradation and poverty. As poor are deprived of other means of
livelihoods, their only choice is to exploit environmentally fragile lands, forests and
rivers. Once we recognize pro-active environmental protection in which pricing system is
included in the actual use of resources and adopt an approach that takes into account
social and environmental costs of economic growth, we would be nearer to sustainability. |
