The Concept of Sustainability - Research Paper Example

? Sustainability Sustainability Introduction The concept of sustainability is not a uniform approach, but it may not be complete if development is not in the picture. Ideally, sustainability and development have a direct correlation where the latter refers the endurance capacity of a subject or a project while development is the process of growing an aspect or advancing the same. The subject of sustainability applies in many areas for all living organisms including animals and human beings, which may include areas the social, political, physical environment, property rights, and economic policies. Moreover, sustainability interacts with economics because of the social and environmental repercussions that may result from an economic activity. The implication of this is that everything on earth depends on the natural environment in order for them to survive either through direct or indirect means. Therefore, sustainability helps in maintaining the conditions that will ensure that humans and nature continue to coexist in productive harmony that will be essential in fulfilling the needful requirements for the present and the future generations. One of the key environmental issues that have continued to attract the sustainability concern is water as many view this as a precious resource. Ideally, water is crucial in the operations of an environment and for supporting the life of a community. Many of the water sustainability efforts rely on the policies that regulate the use of water, and the protection of the water resources. With this, this essay will delve into water sustainability as a relevant issue within the physical environment through a detailed research of the same. Water access as an environmental issue Over the recent years, the climatic changes have not been favorable on water resources, hence influencing the rapid implementation of policies that would preserve water for this generation and the next. Water as a natural resource has been the center of conflict among several communities while those that have access to this commodity may not have clean and consumable water. In urban areas, the population levels have increased in recent times hence creating water access challenges as many of these centers lack proper planning. The over exploitation of natural resources has also spread to water towers hence minimizing the areas that provide water to many of the global populations. In many researches, respondents have intimated that access to fresh water and maintaining a constant supply of the same top the list of issues that are affecting most of the global population. In most of the economically challenged nations, the access to clean water has forever been low because of the privatization of the water resources. The implication of this is that the price of this precious commodity has increased in these areas meaning that a resident in a slum in Manila may be paying high amounts for water access as compared to an individual living in London. According to statistics, at least 1.1 billion of those living in developing nations do not have adequate access to clean water, which has created a direct relationship between poverty and access to water (Shah, 2006). Mostly, the population that lacks access to clean water live in high poverty levels meaning that they have other costs to meet such as those associated with health care spending and labor diversions. On the contrary, water covers at least 70% of the earth’s surface but the supply and access to the same is not as adequate as required by the needs of the population. Moreover, water problems are unique and specific to every region, meaning that the water problems of a farmer in Australia may not be the same as those of villager in Pakistan. The decreasing access to water for consumption draws relevance from the fact that the demand for this commodity is increasing while the supply of the same continues to decrease as the years progress. In the end, there would not be any significant or sustainable development if there were no sustainable water resources (Atkinson, 2004). Further, the expansions witnessed in the industrial and agricultural incline towards the need to have more fresh water to sustain the growing environmental activities. These activities have also impacted the environment and specifically water bodies negatively as there has been a reduction of fossil water and pollution to water bodies that provide the population with water for consumption. Changes in precipitation that result from climate change and increased levels of deforestation have decreased the levels of fresh water that cannot satisfy the ever-rising water needs. Environmentalists argue that the water crisis is one that will go into the future as this resource is the one that guarantees earth its survival and ability to continue supporting life on this planet. In essence, water correlates and influences the lack of other primary issues such as health, economic development, and food supply. As much as over exploitation may be costly to the water resources, it is imperative to note that these levels have continued to rise because of the increase in demand and the ever-growing population hence making water access one of the key areas that sustainability may apply. Water and health Ideally, dirty or unclean water is the leading cause for treatable diseases both in developed and developing nations hence lowering the quality of life and public health standards. Essentially, rain water and the melting of snow all flow into water bodies and resources while collecting toxic substances that may endanger the lives of a significant fraction of the population. Many of these water bodies lack the adequate protection systems that may protect them from picking up disease causing organisms making them susceptible to pollution. The result of the contamination of water bodies may be the closure of beaches, the depletion of habitats, and contamination of water that communities may use for drinking or other domestic uses. Moreover, the growing number of industries has also facilitated the pollution of water bodies that have led to the change in color of these resources. In America, the Clean Water Act is one of the avenues that advocate for clean water solutions for the current generation and for those to come in the future. As per the Environment Protection Agency (2013), the act seeks to establish infrastructure that would regulate the discharging of pollutants into water masses and safeguarding the quality standards of the water surfaces. The establishment of this act was to regulate the impact of industrialization on water resources in order to preserve them for future generations. As part of its sustainability programs, the EPA has implemented wastewater standards for industries to reduce the levels of pollution on water surfaces. Ideally, wastewater is one of the key aspects that contribute immensely towards water pollution in many nations hence making the regulation of this to be part of the water sustainability initiative. Other nations across the world should replicate the core principles embedded in this act in to their policy frameworks in order to have sustainable clean water access for their populations. The obtaining of permits before an industry or a municipality discharges wastewater to surface water resources would be a step towards reducing pollution levels and upholding the public health standards. EPA’s water sustainability plan One of the key responsibilities attached to EPA is that of ensuring that the American population continues to have access to clean water and that the water is safe for their health. Ideally, policies tend to have immense influence on the sustainability process as they serve as the guiding principles on the ways of executing the intended objectives in the future. Further, the water sustainability process requires the partnership of the relevant stakeholders in the implementation and policy development stages of this process. EPA uses a three-plan structure to enforce its sustainability practices with the intention of securing a water secure nation in the years to come. In essence, USA is in the category of the nations that provide water at the least price as compared to many under developed countries. Sustainable water infrastructures, sustainable systems that will in turn foster sustainable communities are the three levels that EPA has concerted its sustainability efforts for the American population. When keenly analyzed, the three levels support each other as the first involves sustaining the water distribution and collection systems for water treatment and other related services. The second level illustrates the sustaining of water sector utilities while the third level encompasses the role of promoting water services to help in furthering the overall objectives of a community. The greatest challenge for water sustainability is the effective regulation and management of water infrastructure hence making this environmental issue a key area of interest for researchers. In the end, sustainable communities develop through sustainable infrastructure of water and other factors that leads to economic stability and ultimate development. Establishing a water secure future In many nations, fresh water is a renewable resource, but this does not translate to water sustainability for future generations. Water can be a changeable resource, but it can also have limited access in a majority of areas around the world hence posing the need of sustaining this resource for future generations. Establishing a water-secure future encompasses economic and social political sustainability rather than solving a single environmental issue because of the interconnectivity attached to these issues. According to Yang (2010), unsustainable water usage in the present and the increasing rates of reproduction are some of the issues that may lead to lack of sustainability in the future for water as a resource. The agricultural sector is one of the economic activities that have been consuming water at high rates across the globe. Further, water consumers also cannot manage these resources effectively because the existing water regulation policies are not impactful enough and that there are minimal water infrastructure investments. China and India have constantly registered fresh water strains for their populations as these two apply intensive human activities using this resource. Presently, the water sustainability frameworks that are in existence are slow as compared to the depletion rate of water resources across developing nations hence creating the need to establish other strategies that would be rapid and significant. Yang (2010) suggests that China, South Africa, India, and Brazil would have the highest demand for water by 2030 if their respective governments do not solve the prevailing water crisis. Analysts and environmental researchers indicate that the global population would be at 9 billion people by the year 2050 hence presenting the immediate need to establish water sustainability strategies that would avert future water crisis. The other way of ensuring that there is water sustainability for future generations is through the tracking of business risk that affect companies such as Coca Cola. For instance, Indian farmers in 2000 protested the over exploitation of water wells that left a majority of the population struggling to access water in the Kerala region. In their defense, Coke intimated that they were not to blame for the decreased water levels as the Indian government did not have a report that that faulted their activities (Shah, 2010). Using this scenario as an example, governments should ensure that they implement policies that would safeguard the interests of the population for both now and for those to come in relation to water. Conclusion Evidently, achieving sustainability for water may not be a uniform approach, but applying them as an immediate action would be the suitable approach. Water sustainability and development have a direct correlation as water serves as the catalysts to economic progress because of its diverse areas of application. However, achieving water sustainability may be challenging because the policies that are in existence may not have a suitable strategy. Therefore, the area of policy development and implementation are the principle areas when intending to achieve a water sustainable future. Water is a vital resource because it has a direct relationship with the standards of living and public health meaning that laxity in ensuring access to clean water would influence unhealthy communities. With this in mind, water sustainability may be a resource in itself as it requires the application of water infrastructural strategies that would foster community sustainability and economic advancement for a nation. In the end , the experiencing of challenges for water sustainability apply both in developed and developing nations, but the difference lies in the policy frameworks developed to protect this resource. References Atkisson, A. (2004). What is the Biggest Sustainability Problem in the World?. World Changing. Retrieved on 30 October, 2013 from http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/001409.html Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Water infrastructure: Moving Toward Sustainability. Retrieved on 30 October, 2013 from http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/sustain/ Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). (2010). Climate Change, Water and risk. Retrieved on 30 October, 2013 from http://www.nrdc.org/water/default.asp Shah, A. (2010). Water and Development. Global Issues. Retrieved on 30 October, 2013 from http://www.globalissues.org/article/601/water-and-development Yang, S. (2010). Creating a Sustainable Water Future. Columbia University: Water Center. Retrieved on 30 October, 2013 from http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2010/03/29/creating-a-sustainable-water-future/ Read More