Principles of Sustainable Development - Assignment Example

1. Examine the principles of sustainable development Sustainable development refers to the kind of development that completely caters for the needs of all the current generations while ensuring that the future generation’s ability to cater for all of their needs is not at any manner compromised.1 Development in itself entails the process of social, economic and environmental development the reason being that development revolves around these three factors.2 This also means that the principles of development are defined in the three components and the balance of them all means sustainable development can be achieved.3 In addition, the measure of the three factors as the indicators shows the level of sustainability.4 The problems in the three systems are usually related and that means their solutions too are related. Economic perspective A sustainably economic system refers to the situation whereby there is a continuous production of goods as well as services. This is to ensure there is no external imbalance leading to damages in terms of industrial and agricultural production.5 In addition, this is to ensure that all the external debts and the government is managed well.6 There are a number of factors that are used to measure sustainability through this principle like food, housing, clothing, health, education and transport. Efficient and effective resource allocation means that there had been some form of sustainable development that has been achieved.7 Environmental perspective A system that is environmentally sustained must be able to maintain a very stable base of its resources. Its renewable resources must not be over exploited and the non-renewable resources should also not be depleted. It entails maintenance of ecosystems, biodiversity and the atmospheric stability as well as economic resources. The ecology is a very important aspect as far as the issue of sustainable development is concerned.8 This means that there must be a limit on the population growth as well as the consumption rate.9 These two factors are very important because if their rate is high yet the environment is maintained then there can never be a sustainable development. Therefore, there should be a great deal of ecosystem resilience.10 Social perspective A system that is social sustainable is in a position to attain a state of distributional equity, gender equality, political participation and accountability, as well as equal social services like education and health.11 Apart from the provision and the balance in the provision and availability of basic needs, there should also be a point whereby the social needs of the individuals must be taken care of. All the social factors are very instrumental in dealing with the poverty eradication.12 Therefore, equal distribution of the social factors enables the country or governments achieve and maintain a sustainable development.13 2. Critically review the impact of production, trade and biotechnology on diversity Production refers to the process of making services and goods mainly for the purposes of selling. It may involve the industrial or large-scale production as well as small-scale production of the same. Trade refers to the process of selling or buying good as well as services.14 Biotechnology refers to the production in the industries using biological processes. Diversity means variety. Diversity has been because of the biotechnology, production and trade. The three are therefore very mush instrumental in any diversity to occur. Production, which is the making of services and is very instrumental. This is because in any form of production, there are changes that are occurring. This is whereby new ways of production are being invented.15 This is due to the rate at which technology is changing. A very good example is the technology of producing food. There have been new ways emerging on how to produce different types of milk products; this is whereby there has been diversity even in the type of milk one can buy to drink. One can get sour milk, fresh milk, yogurt and many other products like cheese.16 Therefore, the process of production has clearly brought about a great deal of diversity.17 Trade has also brought about diversity. This is because through the exchange of the goods and services there has been an opportunity for many people to experience diversity. Services and goods are produced in different places.18 This means that not all places produce the same type of goods. Therefore, through trade people are able to get what they do not have.19 It should be noted that , this is the essence of export and import so that a nation can share what it has and in exchange what it does not have. A very good example is whereby a country that is known for the production of coffee exports it and then imports crude oil for the vehicles and other uses, by doing that they welcome the aspect of diversity.20 Biotechnology on the other hand is very instrumental in bringing about diversity and in a very positive way. This is because people have been able to find solutions to some long term and deadly problems. A very good example is the invention of vaccines to treat some very long-term illnesses like diabetes, which through biotechnology has, enables the production of insulin and other vaccines.21 Therefore, biotechnology, trade and production are much related and together they have all brought about diversity. 3. The concept of citizenship and individual responsibility in the promotion of sustainable development Citizenship as well as individual responsibility goes hand in hand. This is because a citizen refers to a person who is legally known by the government to belong to that particular country.22 Individual responsibility refers to a state in which a person takes full accountability of his or her actions.23 If an individual is a citizen in a particular country, then it means he or she will be responsible at a personal level to his or her actions as far as the efforts of the nation to achieve sustainability are concerned.24 Some of the actions as a citizen like the use of non-environmental pollution methods of doing things show some sense of individual responsibility.25 Such an action is very instrumental in the process of achieving environmental sustainability. This means that there is a great need for any nation to educate the citizens on the issue pertaining their responsibility as far as the issue of sustainable development is concerned.26 This is whereby all the citizen are supposed to be educated on the needs for environmental, social as well as economic sustainability. In addition to that, they should be educated at their own personal capacity.27 This means that the school going students, employs, farmers, and all other occupations people should be informed on the importance and their responsibility in ensuring there is sustainable development. Some aspects like relations that are only based on the aspect of tolerance and respect interfere with sustainability.28 This is because of the fact that if there is not equality that is practiced, then the country cannot experience sustainable development. Citizens therefore are expected at an individual level to exercise some form of great responsibility towards caring for the environment and the ecology. It is their responsibility to ensure that wherever they are they take care of the surrounding as well as create some healthy relationship with others. All of these are geared towards the achievement of great sustainable development. Even though it is the right of the citizens to live in a clean environment, it is also their responsibility to ensure that environment is clean and inhabitable. 4. The impact of the changes towards sustainability, including recent policies and legislation devised to encourage this change Change is inevitable. This means that for human beings to thrive in this kind of dynamic world changes must be done.29 However, it should be noted that any process of change entails laying down the reasons for the change, the accountability for the change and finally the results for that particular change.30 The above processes gives a plan for the reasons and the expectations for the change. Change can also be in the form of unexpected happening. This is whereby, changes like of the climate greatly affects the issue of sustainability.31 Climate change is one of the most knows in which much of the problems the world is experiencing are derived. This is because due to climate change, some of the Polar Regions have had their ice melting.32 As a result, there has been rise in the sea level a situation that has cause a lot of calamities in the coastal regions. In addition to that, there has also been a situation whereby climatic changes have been experienced like a situation of some of the areas being so dry and experiencing less rainfall.33 This in turn has affected the process of food production. Further, this has led to a situation whereby the world has had crises in food production hence affecting the efforts of achieving sustainable development. Another great change that is affecting sustainability is the issue of technology. Technology is changing and so in one way or another it is impacting sustainability.34 A change like the invention of new ways of research and health treatment has been very instrumental in sustainable development. This is because sustainable development can not be achieved with unhealthy population and so it has impacted it positively.35 There are also some policies as well as legislations which have been devised and are greatly encouraging change towards the achievement of sustainable development.36 Some of the policies, agreements and legislations like the Kyoto protocol, Montreal convention, Basel convention and many others address the issues of climate, environment and pollution.37 All of which are factors that are very key as far as the issue of sustainability is concerned. Their implementation, enforcement and compliance is what brings about the change. When pollution is done away, the emission of green house gases and the environment is finally taken care of, then physical evidence of the changes can be experienced in terms of sustainability. 5. Demonstrate a detailed understanding of the principles and practice of pollution control Pollution refers to the process of introducing particulate matter, chemicals and biological matters in the environment, which causes some discomfort or harm to the living things or human beings. Pollution is therefore a very dangerous act to the environment as well as the living thing.38 Earlier, pollution has been dealt with in the form of cleaning up after the act of pollution has been done. However, with the adverse effects that pollution has already caused, better means of dealing with pollution has been invented.39 This is whereby; pollution is being dealt with at the source. In other words, there has been invention of ways of preventing pollution. This is whereby depending on the type of pollution that is to be caused, different ways of pollution strategic management have been invented.40 These ways of preventing pollution have in turn led to a process of environmental protection. Since pollution is mainly cause by the human activities, then one of the principles towards achieving prevention of pollution is by educating the human beings.41 Human beings must be equipped with skills and knowledge on how to deal with pollution. The role of education is in equipping them with creative and innovate ideas of dealing with pollution. The following are the principles and practices that are involved in process of pollution control.42 The principle of recycling is very important. This is whereby some of the product like polythene and wood can be recycled for future use.43 Use of the products that are likely to cause minimal pollution or less waste during their use, manufacturing and disposal. The process of production can also be altered to minimize toxic chemicals use. This means avoiding some steps44 Energy consumption must be reduced through taking necessary steps. Better housekeeping ways to be implemented to minimize the leaks as well as releases that are fugitive during the process of manufacturing. 6. Issues involved in the management of wastes Waste management refers to the process of practicing better ways of disposing the waste. There are many types of waste product. This means that their way of their disposal depends on the type of waste that is being dealt with. Therefore, one of the issues that revolves around waste management is the type of waste. In addition, the means in which the waste is being generated is another very important aspect of waste management. This is because some waste are emitted through a solid, liquid or gaseous state.45 As a result, the ways of managing them differs. Another very important issue is the cost of management. Some of the waste due to their toxic nature requires a lot of money and technological advancement to be able to manage them.46 This means that the process may be very expensive even more than the cost of the product production. Due to that, many people may opt to dispose the waste in their untreated state. Another very important issue as far as the management of waste is concerned in the factor of laws and regulations that pertains to the waste disposal. There are some agreements like the Basel convention, which dictates the ways in which the waste must be managed. All of the above issues are some of the hindrances of waste management. References Ann, M Treating Environmental Toxins. InfoBase publishing, London, 2009. Baker, S Sustainable Development. Routledge, Routledge, 2006. Doppelt, B Leading Change toward Sustainability: A Change Management Guide towards Business. Greenleaf Publishing, Greenwich, 2003. Dorion, C Pollution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2009. Essex, S Rural Change and Sustainability: Agriculture the Environment and Communities. CABI, London, 2005. Fuchs, G Biotechnology in Comparative Perspective. Routledge, Routledge, 2003. Gifford, H Pollution. Prentice hall, Canada, 2006. Harriet, B & Michele, M Cities, and Climate Change: Urban Sustainability and Global Environment. Routledge: Routledge, 2005. Harrison, R Pollution: Causes, Effects and Control. Royal Society of Chemistry, Canada, 2001. Lemman, M Waste Management. UNSW Press, Sydney. Peter, W Diversity: the Invention of the Concept. Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2003. Rao, P Sustainable Development: Economics and Policy. Wiley-Blackwell: New York, 2000. Robbin, C & Stephen, D Institutional Change for Sustainable Development. Edward Elgar Publishing, England, 2004. Ryner, C, Waste Management and Resource Recovery. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1995, p. 524. Smith, J Biotechnolsogy. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2004. Trehan, K Biotechnology. New Age International, Toronto, 1990. Vaughn, J Waste Management: A Reference Handbook. Oxford University Press: Oxford, 2008. William, R The Sustainability Handbook: the Complete Management Guide to Achieve Economic and Environmental Responsibility. Earthscan, New York, 2007. Read More