The Time for Change Is Now
stp108 Essay 1 | The time for change is now | John Davis | | Ava Mandal | 29/03/2013 |
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According to the 1987 United Nations Brundltland Commission sustainable development ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to their own needs’ (Appleton 2006). Our current lifestyle and sustainable development are at odds; there are many reoccurring issues that can be related directly to this concept. Humans are constantly changing the natural systems of the planet to provide a comfortable and increasingly urbane lifestyle for a rapid growing population (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005). But what effects do these alterations have on our ability to develop sustainably? For the purpose of this short essay I argue three main problems facing sustainable development. Firstly the essay will argue that our dependency on our natural capital is depleting our natural capital and the life style changes that need to be made to stop this. Thirdly it will debate that consumerism is amongst the most significant causes to the earth’s degradation and in conclusion suggest progress for the future. We need to change our way of life in able to achieve a sustainable society that meets all current and future basic resource needs.
Our dependency on our natural resources is causing a rapid degradation of our ecosystem. To achieve sustainable development we cannot continue to depend on these resources as we have in the past. Humans have become significantly more distant from nature, but we rely completely on the services it provides. (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005). A basic example is that nearly every household living in the city depend solely on the supermarket for their food. (Hopkins, 2000). The earth’s ecosystems have been taken for granted and their ability to sustain future generations can no longer be abused (Miller and Spoolman). Natural capital is declining and will continue until it’s true
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According to the 1987 United Nations Brundltland Commission sustainable development ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to their own needs’ (Appleton 2006). Our current lifestyle and sustainable development are at odds; there are many reoccurring issues that can be related directly to this concept. Humans are constantly changing the natural systems of the planet to provide a comfortable and increasingly urbane lifestyle for a rapid growing population (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005). But what effects do these alterations have on our ability to develop sustainably? For the purpose of this short essay I argue three main problems facing sustainable development. Firstly the essay will argue that our dependency on our natural capital is depleting our natural capital and the life style changes that need to be made to stop this. Thirdly it will debate that consumerism is amongst the most significant causes to the earth’s degradation and in conclusion suggest progress for the future. We need to change our way of life in able to achieve a sustainable society that meets all current and future basic resource needs.
Our dependency on our natural resources is causing a rapid degradation of our ecosystem. To achieve sustainable development we cannot continue to depend on these resources as we have in the past. Humans have become significantly more distant from nature, but we rely completely on the services it provides. (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Board 2005). A basic example is that nearly every household living in the city depend solely on the supermarket for their food. (Hopkins, 2000). The earth’s ecosystems have been taken for granted and their ability to sustain future generations can no longer be abused (Miller and Spoolman). Natural capital is declining and will continue until it’s true