Key Environmental Problems of Sustainable Development - Example

Sustainable Development Sustainable Development As explained by the Brundtland Commission, sustainable development is satisfying the present generation needs without dissatisfying the need of the future generation (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2005). Key Environmental Problems of Sustainable Development Ecosystem Imbalance An Ecosystem is the interaction of the living environment (plant, animals and humans) with the non living environment (water, air, soil and mineral resources) forming a constant bond with each other in order to sustain. Imbalances in the biotic and abiotic factors such as fire, flood, storms and volcanic eruption may lead to threat to the ecosystem. Human activities may cause disturbances in the ecosystem which leads to extinction of certain organisms (Atlantic International University, 2007). Global Warming The rise in temperature of the earth due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels or increase in the greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, chlorofluorocarbon in the atmosphere due to industrial emission. Global Warming leads to diverse effects such as melting of the glaciers, global climatic change, increase in sea levels, and lack of vegetation. There is a significant rise in average temperature by 1 degree Celsius since 1850. With the increase in the carbon dioxide and other green house gases level scientists predict a rise of temperature by 2 degree to 6 degree Celsius by the middle of 21st century (Atlantic International University, 2007). Population The growth in population leads to social issues, change in climatic conditions due to deforestation and urbanization, insufficiency of food, imbalances in the economy, developmental issues and health issues (LEAD International, 2015). Pollution Emission from factories and vehicles are the major cause of air pollution. Water pollution is caused by contamination of water due to lack of proper pollution regulations in the countries. Hence waste disposal from factories pollutes rivers and lakes. Acid rain, oil spills are also major factors of water pollution. Land pollution caused due to human activities like deforestation, urbanization, and lack of vegetation (Anand, 2013). Acid Rain Acid rain occurs due to emission of fossil fuel gases. Sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides are emitted from factories and vehicles which cause acid deposition in the atmosphere. These gases reacts which sunlight, water vapor and oxidants to form sulphuric and nitric acid and falls on the earth as acid rain or snow. It is a major environmental issue and has affected a lot of countries like North America, Europe, and India. Acid rain damages metals, monuments, stone buildings, crops and also pollutes water which kills marine life (Atlantic International University, 2007). Ozone Depletion Ozone layer in the stratosphere gets depleted due to the extensive use of chemicals like chlorofluorocarbons by companies manufacturing refrigerators, air conditioners, containers, factories manufacturing insulating foams, soaps, aerosol sprays. Ozone layer helps to protect earth from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun which may cause diseases like skin cancer, eye cataract, damage immune system functioning, kill marine organisms like phytoplankton and may intrude in the process of photosynthesis in plants (Anand, 2013). Due to the ozone depletion a lot of countries are taking measures to protect life on earth. Many countries are trying to reduce the use CFCs in manufacturing units but threat still exist since CFCs have the capacity to remain in the atmosphere for 100 years hence would continue to destroy the ozone layer in the near future (Atlantic International University, 2007). Radiation Most countries has banned the testing of nuclear weapons which has an adverse effect on the sustainable development but still a considerable amount of nuclear radiation occurs from power plants which releases radioactive wastes to air and water hence causing pollution. Another reason for emission is nuclear accidents which affects the environment. For example the Chernobyl disaster occurred in 1986. This has caused a massive effect on the population and massive destruction had taken place. Soil erosion There is a significant amount of damage to the vegetation of the world due to soil erosion creating a danger to the food chain system. For example due to soil erosion, crop production is decreasing to a certain amount which is leading to shortage of food supply in the world and its having an adverse effect on meeting up with the needs of the growing population (Atlantic International University, 2007). Pesticides The usage of pesticides in plants and crops is having a greater impact on the environmental health. Though it is not directly getting emitted to the air but is affecting the food chain as it is insoluble and clinging on to plants or having its residue on the soil which is endangering species consuming it. Marine life is getting infected with these pesticides as their skin is absorbing the chemical and in turn the carnivore species consuming it is highly getting affected by it. Market-Based Policies for sustainable development Market based policies are used by governments to keep a check on the environmental pollution. They introduce anti pollution regulation which increases the cost of emission and reduces the cost of the alternatives which helps in reducing the emission level. These incentives encourage companies, manufacturers or individual to follow the rules and regulation of emission for a better environment. Market based policies for sustainable development incorporates levy of taxes and subsidies, and the encouragement of anti pollution techniques for manufacturing (Moarif, 2012). Voluntary activities for sustainable developments Sustainable Transport: contribution by Asian Development Bank, of an amount of USD 175 as loans and grants for the enhancement of transport facilities in emerging economies (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2013). Every Woman Every Child: United States has extended help for the betterment of women and child health care facilities and family planning. Problems of sustainable development in relation to the Jackson’s Concepts of Relative and Absolute decoupling Relative decoupling and absolute decoupling Relative decoupling refers to competence whereas absolute decoupling refers to reduce production due to lower consumption of resources like material and power (Jackson, 2009). Relative decoupling as stated by Jackson (2009, p. 68) is “doing more with less” which means reduction on negative environmental factors to achieve higher economic gain which in turn enable organizations to not only realize greater cost efficiency but to also promote environmental protection activities. Problems with Relative Decoupling (Jevons Paradox) Jevons Paradox explains that absolute decoupling does not robotically follow relative decoupling. A study on Britain’s coal industry in the year 1865 by William S. Jevons explained that competence up-gradation with the invention of steam engines followed effective cost reduction but increased the consumption of coal which would result in effective resource utilization. This concept is also termed as the rebound effect (The Worldwatch Institute, 2015). Jackson’s argument on the need of absolute decoupling Jackson tried to explain that though there is a significant economic gain due to reduction of adverse environmental factors. However Jackson proposed that absolute decoupling did not exist. Negative environmental factors like emission might be controlled through technological improvement and up-gradation but depending solely on it is not a feasible solution as there are other environmental issues that have to be taken into consideration (Fudge, et al., 2013). Potential for technological innovations to address problems of sustainable development The transition from relative to absolute decoupling due to technological innovation Technology innovation lowers operating cost which leads to greater productivity and economic gains. Organizations, individual or economy as a whole can decide on potential investments which would lead to cost effectiveness and resource management. Figure 1: Mapping the range of opportunities for resource productivity gain (Source: McKinsey Global Institute, 2011) A study by McKinsey Global Institute determines that there is a significant cost reduction in resources due to technological innovation. The highlighted bars of the graph in Figure 1 denote that there is an effective cost saving on areas of investments like energy, land, food, water and steel. BY 2030 it is estimated that innovation on technology would leads to a total cost saving of USD 2.9 trillion to USD 3.7 trillion per year based on assumptions. Data shows that there is an increase in internal rate of return by 10% among 90% of the opportunities available for investments to help a country in its economic growth (United Nations Environment Programme, 2014). Technology to save energy at a rate faster than population and income growth Technological up-gradation has resulted in a rise of energy conservation by 50 - 80%. Study shows that emerging countries have been able to reduce their yearly energy consumption from 3.4% to 1.4% in a period of 12 years (United Nations Environment Programme, 2014). Electric cars are one of the greatest inventions in the field of technology which lead to energy conservation. Toyota first came up with the idea of energy saving electric cars by incorporating a small generator and a rechargeable battery to the car’s engine and brakes which gave greater mileage. With the invention of electric cars, hybrid engines would operate on rechargeable batteries which would consume energy from various sources like sun, wind and gases like hydrogen produced automatically in the electricity grid to charge the fuel cells. This would help in fuel consumptions and reduce carbon dioxide emissions even when the cars are parked (Sachs, 2009). Contribution of electric car on emission reduction There are three types of electric cars available in the market which can be differentiated as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and all-electric vehicles (EVs). They produce much lower emission than the normal cars which run on petrol or diesel solely but PHEVs and EVs needs its batteries to be recharged by an external electrical source. Emission is also occurred from production of electricity. Though emission from electric cars is comparatively much less than the conventional cars but emission from power stations producing electricity is quite high. Countries having power plants in areas utilizing low polluting sources for generation of energy may contribute in the protection of the environment in comparison to power plants which utilize higher polluting source like fossil fuels as resource to produce electricity (Alternative Fuels Data Center, 2015). Figure 2: Comparing wheel to wheel green house gas emission (Source: Alternative Fuels Data Center) Emission reduction in comparison to faster population and economic growth Population and economic growth is inversely proportional to emission reduction. Purchasing power of individual and the population has grown to a considerable amount in the 21st century. Hence it is expected that there would be an increase in production to satisfy the growing population needs who have a better standard of living than before. Therefore an adverse effect would occur on the Sustainable development as it would not be possible to reduce industrial wastes and factors leading to pollution. In the year 2013 research has shown that the amount of coal and fossil fuel present globally has the ability to produce 9-13 trillion tones of polluting gases mainly greenhouse gases which alone can result in the rise of the annual temperature by 18 degree centigrade. It has been estimated that the atmosphere already has been polluted by 0.5 trillion tones of emission since the start of the Industrial Revolution which has resulted in a temperature rise of 0.6 degree centigrade globally (Knight, 2013). It can be said that controlling emission cannot be the only reason for lowering the level of pollution. The population growth needs to be reduced to control sustainable development but is not possible to achieve till 2050. Reduction of carbon content already present in the atmosphere is necessary and measures should be taken to reflect most solar radiation into space. Planting of more trees should be encouraged to reduce emission intensity. Technological innovation contributing to solving problems of sustainable development Sustainable development depends on technological innovation rather than minor technological fixes. Therefore it is up to the government to decide on what to choose, a short term cost effectiveness and economic growth or view it with the perspective of a long term value realization. Though measures are being taken to acquire technologies for a cleaner environment, one factor is not enough for a sustainable development. As stated by Cramer and Zegveld that sustainable development would not be feasible if there is a continuous growth in the rate of production (1991). Reference List Alternative Fuels Data Center, 2015. Emissions from Hybrid and Plug-In Electric Vehicles. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 April 2015]. Anand, S.V., 2013. Global Environmental Issues. [pdf] Open Access. Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015]. Atlantic International University, 2007. Sustainable Development and Environmental Issues. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015]. Cramer, J. and Zegveld, W. C. L., 1991. The Future Role of Technology in Environmental Management. Futures, 23(5), pp. 461-462. Fudge, S., Peters, M., Hoffman, S. M. and Wehrmeyer, W., 2013. The Global Challenge of Encouraging Sustainable Living: Opportunities, Barriers, Policy and Practice. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing. Jackson, T., 2009. Prosperity without Growth: Economics for a Finite Planet. New York: Earthscan. Knight, D., 2013. Economic growth, population growth and climate change. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 April 2015]. LEAD International, 2015. 8 reasons why population growth is a huge concern to sustainability. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015]. McKinsey Global Institute, 2011. Resource Revolution. Meeting the world’s energy, materials, food and water needs. New York: McKinsey Global Institute. Moarif, S., 2012. Market-based climate mitigation policies in emerging economies. [pdf] Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015]. Sachs, J., 2009. Electric cars are driving the transition to sustainable technologies. [online] Available at: [Accessed 28 April 2015]. The Worldwatch Institute, 2015. State of the World 2015: Confronting Hidden Threats to Sustainability. Washington: Island Press. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, 2013. Special report of the sd in action newsletter. [pdf] United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015] United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2005. Sustainable development - concept and action. [online] Available at: [Accessed 27 April 2015]. United Nations Environment Programme, 2014. Decoupling 2 Technologies, Opportunities and Policy Options. [pdf] United Nations Environment Programme. Available at: [Accessed 28 April 2015]. Read More