CHAPTER VIII: Sustainability Issues

Sustainability –
is making decisions that do not have negative consequences for either current or future
generations. Under this broad definition, sustainability impacts on a wide range of ecological
and human issues, from the preservation of natural resources to a commitment to human and
societal wellbeing. 

1) Initiatives –
An initiative is the start of something, with the hope that it will continue. Government and
business start initiatives all the time. You can also talk about initiative as a personal quality. A
person with initiative is motivated to do things.

Here are some initiatives that might just helped the sustainability of our world:

 AirCarbon: A Sustainable Plastic for the Future

AirCarbon was developed by Newlight Technologies, and has already won many awards for its
innovative sustainability. It's made from carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the air,
and can have a multitude of uses. It's a verified carbon-negative material, meaning every step of its
production and use is fully green and sustainable. Because it is not made from oil like other plastics, it is
also a cost-effective alternative to other synthetic materials.

 The Seabin: Cleaning the Oceans Safely

The Seabin was invented by Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski, two surfers who wanted to clean up the
world's oceans. The Seabin can gather plastic, detergents, and oil, allowing clean water to filter through
its structure. Inside the bin is a catch bag, which traps any floating pollutants. A submersible water pump
sucks water through the bin, passing it out again once it has been cleaned. It only needs to be emptied
once a month and could make a huge impact on water pollution worldwide.

 CloudFisher: Converting Fog into Drinking Water

Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal or mountainous areas to convert

fog into safe drinking water. This water can also be used to irrigate crops or forestry efforts. It's made
from a 3D mesh that can withstand high wind speeds, while still retaining water. It comes in a variety of
sizes, to suit individual needs or the needs of entire villages.
  Fairphone: The World's First Ethical Smartphone

Fairphone is a modular smartphone designed with fair work practices and recycling in mind. To combat
the growing waste caused by discharged electronic goods, Fairphone created a long-lasting smartphone
that can be easily repaired. Rather than replacing the entire phone if part of it breaks, Fairphone allows
you to simply replace the broken module. Everything from the battery to the audio jack can be replaced,
meaning fewer phones will end up in landfills.

2) Engineering-
Is an important field for sustainability and environmental awareness,those who work in this
sector typically design or operate systems that use energy and resources in a sustainable manner,
contributing to the sustainability of our environment and the human race as a whole. The main
issue about engineering when it comes to sustainability is that the structures, systems and other
things that is built in earlier years have a tendency or limit to what it can perform. So they must
make either new or alternative ways to help human race sustain more years to come.

Common engineering focuses:

 Water supply
 Food production
 Housing and shelter
 Sanitation and waste management
 Energy development
 Transportation

Every engineering discipline is engaged in sustainable design, employing numerous initiatives,

especially life cycle analysis (LCA), pollution prevention, design for the environment (DfE),
design for disassembly (DfD), and design for recycling (DfR). These are replacing or at least
changing pollution control paradigms. For example, concept of a "cap and trade" has been tested
and works well for some pollutants. This is a system where companies are allowed to place a
"bubble" over a whole manufacturing complex or trade pollution credits with other companies in
their industry instead of a "stack-by-stack" and "pipe-by-pipe" approach, i.e. the so-called
"command and control" approach. 
3) Agriculture-
The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and
the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

The followings are the main challenges in Agriculture:

 Resource Depletion: The Costs of Industrial Agriculture –

From mechanized feedlots to automatic irrigation systems to agricultural machinery,
NorthAmerican agriculture has become increasingly industrialized, placing ever-greater
demands on fossil fuel, water and topsoil resources. Petroleum not only fuels trucks and
mechanized farm equipment, but also serves as a base for synthetic pesticides and fertilizers,
tying the cost of growing food increasingly closer to the price of oil.

 Land Management: Degrading and Undervaluing Farmland-

Throughout much of North America, especially in the United States, land management
techniques have been draining the soil of nutritional value. Monoculture, the practice of
continually planting the same solitary crop on one plot of farmland, removes nutrients from the
soil that must be replenished with additional fertilizers. 

 Food Waste: Compromising Food Security 

The United Nations estimates that one-third of the world’s food goes to waste, either during
agricultural production, post-harvest handling and storage, processing, distribution, or
consumption. In North America, a large percentage of this loss comes from consumers wasting
food.

 Demographic Changes: A Disconnected Public

In North American, the last 50 years have brought a major cultural shift that has removed
consumers further and further away from their food sources. U.S. Census data from 2010 showed
around 80% of Americans living in urban areas. 

 Political Issues: The Business of Food

In the United States, untold amounts of food remained rotting on the vine due to a shortage of
migrant workers. Recent tightening on immigration policy has drastically cut down on the
nation’s imported workforce at a time when very few Americans have any connection to farming
let alone a desire to work on one.
4) Architecture and housing-

Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings and other physical structures.

Main sustainability issues, architecture is facing:

 Rapid Urbanization and Industrialization:

The consequences of this can further lead to Population explosion, Geological deposits of
sewage and garbage, Unsustainable patterns of living & development, Environmental
degradation (pollution of air, water, soil etc, and food web disruption). Thus sustainable
urban development is crucial to improve the lives of urban populations and the remainder
of the planet. Both people and ecosystems impacted upon by their activities.

 Natural Calamities:

Natural calamities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, flood, famine etc. which are
being further aggravated by mankind add to the list of other ill effects like atomic
explosion, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion etc. Sustainable design attempts to have an
understanding of the natural processes as well as the environmental impact of the design.
Making natural cycles and processes visible, bring the designed environment back to life.

 Depletion of Non-renewable sources:

Rapid depletion of non-renewable sources is leading to serious issues related to energy &
water conservation etc. Thus the rational use of natural resources and appropriate
management of the building stock can contribute to saving scarce resources, reducing
energy consumption and improving environmental quality.
5) Management- Includes the activities of setting the strategy of an organization and
coordinating the efforts of its employees (or of volunteers) to accomplish its objectives through the
application of available resources, such as financial, natural, technological, and human resources.

The key question to be addressed is:” How does an organization learn to reduce its negative
impact on the environment while getting high output for the economy?”

The answer is still not produced, especially these days where factories play essential roles in our
environment but potentially, slowly destroying our air and water by its waste and toxic gasses.
But humanity has the ability to learn and think more than other species. We need to learn much
more about our planet’s ecosystems and much more about the impact of our technology on our
planet. I believe that with intelligence, care, creativity and new technology, we can accomplish a
form of economic development that achieves both growth and environmental quality. But it will
be difficult work, and it will not be achieved quickly.

6) Urban and Rural Planning-

Is about improving the quality of life in a locality, including ecological, cultural, political,
institutional, social and economic components without leaving any burden—e.g., the result of a
reduced natural capital and an excessive local debt—on future generations. In other words,
prosperity and environmental sustainability of cities and towns are inextricably linked; therefore,
human settlements can only maintain their prosperity when environmental and social objectives
are fully integrated with economic goals.

Examples of Urban/Rural Planning Issues:

Urban (city)

 Transport: In most cases roads dominate, and the development does not support public
transport, and is unfriendly for walking and cycling.

 Environment: water & waste.

 Environment: energy usage.

 Affordability and accessibility. The social impact of housing costs

 Rural (countryside or provinces)

 A requirement to meet immediate needs for affordable homes, well-paid jobs and ready
access to services.

 A requirement to meet additional housing and employment needs for a growing and
ageing population with an increasing desire to live in rural areas.

 Rural areas are crucial in growing food and providing eco-services in a world facing the
threat of climate change. Rural policy must support farms in growing food more
efficiently, while also delivering water, drainage and flood control, recyclable energy and
carbon sinks.

 Implementing policies successfully will be the greatest challenge. It will require a joined-
up approach and national policies must be strongly rural proofed.

7) Science & Development-

Science is critical to tackle complex challenges for humanity such as climate change,
biodiversity loss, pollution and poverty reduction, as it lays the foundation for new approaches
and solutions.

The sustainability science approach is essential for effective decision-making with regard to
global sustainability, since social, environmental and cultural systems are closely linked.
UNESCO will continue, with its partners, to continue to support efforts to educate and advocate
the development of this approach. This approach is a powerful reminder of the complexity of the
challenges the world is facing, and the immense responsibilities this creates for international
organizations like UNESCO.
Issues existing from Science and Development:

 Increase in Travel: current technology is so advanced that we travel from one part of the
world to another in a short time. This is great but has a greater risk for human life and the
environment.

 Excess power consumption: This electric energy is generated by the use of fossil or
nuclear fuels on a large scale which is a non-renewable resources.

 We generate more waste: We contribute a large amount of toxic waste in the name of
technological up-gradation.

 Excess use of gadgets: Now a day we can see many people on the roads, trains and even
parks busy on their mobiles or tablets. Due to these wireless technology, radiation
exposure is high leading to silent health problems.

 Excess Deforestation: This is detrimental to the normal environment and climate around.
Those countries with a good percentage of forest area are having a friendly environment.

Resources:

http://ijens.org/Vol_12_I_01/124601-9595-IJCEE-IJENS.pdf

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/sustainability-future-management

http://communities.techstars.com/usa/camarillo/blog/content/community/challenges-facing-
agriculture?lang=en

https://www.studyinternational.com/news/engineering-a-sustainable-future/

https://app.croneri.co.uk/feature-articles/future-challenges-rural-planning

https://www.appropedia.org/Issues_in_urban_planning

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development

https://en.unesco.org/news/how-science-can-help-create-sustainable-world

https://www.mindcontroversy.com/effects-of-technology-in-environment/