Category: Sustainability

Today, the accounting trade encompasses a vast variety of resources, both to legal bodies and to individuals, in the areas of accounting and finance. Accounting profession is a very crucial profession in the corporate world. The position of professional accountants has become increasingly significant for the organisation, as it is unique at the convergence of all divisions and areas of operations and has the capacity and authority to create guidelines, develop modelling and producing knowledge, and the organisation is stated to be in line with sustainable development principles (Stanescu, 2018). It is also clear that an accountant’s career is no longer confined to bookkeeping with only reporting activity (Chatzoglou, Vraimaki, Komsiou, Polychrou, & Diamantidis, 2011). Instead the position of accounting professionals has been extended to reach.

In spite of all this, the importance of the accounting profession for corporations, individuals and the state as well as for the economy itself is undeniably great. The role of accounting professionals is to ensure that companies and individuals’ technical and economic practises adhere to the relevant regulations and that their clients correctly disclose reports on public revenues. This allows macroeconomic metrics to be accurately calculated and on the other hand, the State receives the due amount of revenue to allow regulatory authorities to render policy effectiveness, and guarantees the smooth running of the economy overall (Miller and Power, 2013).

Globalization, extroverted business policy and social and economic growth continually produce new problems for contemporary accountants, making their work ever more important while at the same time more complex (Guthrie and Parker, 2016). Accountants should be prepared with the changes and adept with those changes. The capacity of accountants to learn and react to such changes depends on factors such as the duration of the transition process and the quality of preparation required.

Globalization has become one of the main concerns these days because of the climate changes. This change has changed the way corporate company to run their businesses. A lot of the company has started to improve the way they operate the business by slowly following the suggesting by the government to implement sustainability in their operation. In the last two decades sustainability has grown in prominence and is a concept that can and should be applied in all areas of our social, economic and environmental lives. It applies to the philosophy of life now and reverence for the past and the future (Stanescu, 2018). However, sustainability is more of a holistic idea that aims to encourage sustained long-term development in all the different types of industrial, natural and social resources available.

With the sustainable often forms part of the goal or plan of an organisation. Sustainability means learning to look at an industry from a different viewpoint as a result of the way an organisation works. The implementation of sustainability has encouraged the accounting profession to adept with this change in order to follow sustainable environment. Accountant play an important role in achieving a sustainable environment. Stanescu (2018), states that as it serves a unique role at the intersection of all areas and departments, professional accounts have the capacity and authority to set guidelines, develop models and produce reporting information which determines whether the company is compliant and involved in the implementation of sustainable development principles.

The accountant’s involvement cannot be disregarded from a realistic point of view. This is because the role of accountant in the company is so crucial for the organization. Manager are prominence to make crucial decision related to the company. Thus, a timely up to date information is needed in order for the manager to make the right decision. This is why the accounting profession is needed in helping the manager to make a right decision. Accountant is a critical position in helping the management to achieve the sustainable environment in the organization because they are expert in the evaluate and finding the right move towards the sustainable environment.

Therefore, accountants are supposed to play an important part, as the practitioners engaged with corporate accounting, first and foremost in enhancing the informational effect of a business on society and environment. Many scholars find proof that accountants know what knowledge is important to the good management of a business (Schaltegger & Zvezdov, 2013). Schaltegger and Zvezdov (2013) also state that Accountants may provide critical support on which management supportive decision-making knowledge can be made. Thus, they play an important role in assessing what kind of primary success measures are useful to guide the achievement of the company’s objectives. Companies are often aware of knowledge that accounting professionals can accommodate and are helpful for their decision-making and monitoring of results.

Business workers have been empowered to aim for the company’s goal to retain cooperation between public service principles and to generate profit. In order to achieve the sustainability accountant firstly need to deciding what information is need to be collected such as what sustainability aspects (e.g. carbon dioxide emissions and carbon performance of products) are considered and need to be measured. After that, accountant need to define the prospect of the information. After it has been agreed on what aspects, this task is to decide on the measures and measurements which are employed to represent this aspect effectively such as calculation of emissions per employee, decreases in carbon impacts and efficiency can be assessed. Accountant also can define the method of data collection in order to help the management in assist the right information regarding on the decision making.

Accountants may be seen as professionals and methodology advocates who lift in an enterprise an awareness of the need and possibility to collect sustainability knowledge. The competent accountant and management should ensure that all forms of resources are properly incorporated, and financial and accounting reports from independent auditors should be confirmed as regards materiality, precision of comparability, and completeness, in order to build long-term value for a business (Stanescu, 2018). Accountant as a whole play a very vital position on developing the sustainability in the organization.

Accounting agencies and other non-governmental bodies, through environmental monitoring analyses and valuable and specific sustainability reporting standards, also play a vital role in promoting and encouraging sustainable growth. The 2016 report on ‘Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development: A Snapshot of the Accountancy Profession’s Contribution’ is developed and released by the international Federation of Accountants (IFAC), in which it illustrates how the accounting and accounting profession engages in achieving 8 of the 17 sustainable development goals identified by the United Nations for 2030. This is clearly stated that accounting profession play a big role in the sustainability development.

Stanescu (2018), state that accountant also can be categorised as a entity that creators of value, providers of value and also reporters of value. By means, creator of value is accountant can take leading positions in the construction and execution of business plans to build sustainable value and providers of values is simply said that in order to build a good market, accountant will have the position to advise and direct the management related to the decision-making process. At the reporting stage, as reporters of value, they exert their authority through transparent contact to owners of the value-added distribution.

However, there are several challenges that accounting profession faced on implementing the sustainability in the organization. One of them is, the retention that came from outside of the organization that doesn’t aware on how the impact of sustainability can drive the environment to the better place. (Schaltegger & Zvezdov, 2013) state that the challenges come often from writers, authors, politicians and other people who do not wish to inhabit the territories of transparency but can still make those competitive speeches that can threaten and undermine the ability of the profession to protect and extend its domain.

IFAC proposes a variety of realistic approaches for accountants to serve as corporate leaders and influence a viable solution one of them is identify the impacts on the environment and connect with the company plan, business model and results, assess the gains of solving social and environmental concerns, Organize internal structures and procedures for measuring and handling matters, linking policy and services to stakeholder value generation and cost containment and waste reduction by effective management. Strong quality knowledge gives consumers trust and is key to sustainable business growth.

As a conclusion, professional accountants are specifically linked to the promotion of corporate sustainability programmes. The accountancy profession should rethink its approach to the accomplishment of sustainability goals and take steps to include the inclusion of sustainability requirements at all decision-making stages, whether strategic, organisational or tactical, as well as market practises (management, budgetary projection, evaluation and reporting). Knowledge regarding sustainability and social accounting information will not only influence a company’s results but also alter the way the authority in the organization allocate their power. Professional accountants’ expertise processes require further analyses, since accountants are responsible for the environmental documentation that is essential knowledge and promoting sustainable growth.

Introduction:

Sustainable development is a term that appeared in the international and local arena in order to find its way amid many contemporary terms such as globalization, clash of civilizations, modernity, postmodernity, human development, structuralism, genomics, informatics, … and other expressions that we must understand in order to find a language of discourse with The world, and it is worth noting, that before the use of the concept of “sustainable development” was circulated in the late eighties of the last century, the prevailing concept was “development” in its traditional sense, and the concept of “development” emerged after the Second World War and the third world societies obtained their political independence

Definition of sustainable development:

It becomes clear to us that sustainable development is, in fact, a “comprehensive concept related to the continuity of the economic, social, institutional and environmental aspects of society,” whereby sustainable development enables society and its individuals and institutions to meet their needs and express their actual existence at the present time while preserving biological diversity, preserving ecosystems and working on the continuity of And the sustainability of the positive relationships between the human system and the vital system so that the rights of future generations to live a decent life are not inferred. This concept of sustainable development also carries the need for the world to face the dangers of environmental degradation, which must be overcome while not giving up the needs of economic development as well as equality and social justice.

It should be noted that despite the comprehensiveness of the concept of sustainable development and its inclusion of economic, social, institutional, environmental, and other aspects, the emphasis on the environmental dimension in the philosophy and content of sustainable development is due to the fact that the establishment of many and varied economic projects strains the environment, whether through the use of depletable natural resources. Or through the waste or pollution of the environment caused by these projects, and then sustainable development takes into account the safety of the environment and gives equal and parallel attention to environmental conditions with economic and social conditions, and environmental protection and the balanced use of natural resources is an integral part of the sustainable development process.

It is also worth noting that the process of integrating economic considerations with environmental considerations in the various decision-making and decision-making processes is the correct way to achieve sustainable development, as the environmental considerations included in a decision do not necessarily represent a contradiction with the economic considerations that this decision aims at. For example, agricultural policies that preserve the quality of agricultural land in order to improve the prospects for agricultural development in the long run and increase the efficiency in the use of energy and materials would serve the environmental goals.

What is the 3 transformation to achieve sustainable development?

Environmental dimension:

Sustainable development aims to achieve many environmental goals, as follows:

Rational use of depleted resources, in the sense of preserving natural assets, so that we leave for future generations a similar environment as there are no alternatives to those depleted resources.

Consider the limited capacity of the environment to absorb waste.

The necessity of accurately determining the quantity that should be used from each of the depleted resources, and depends on determining their true economic value, and determining an appropriate price for them based on that value.

The ideal goal of sustainable development is to reconcile economic development with preserving the environment, considering the rights of future generations to natural resources, especially those that deplete them.

Economic dimension:

Sustainable development aims for “sustainable development” for rich countries to achieve continuous reductions in the levels of energy consumption and natural resources, which reach many times in the rich countries compared to the poor countries. For example, energy consumption from oil, gas, and coal in the United States reaches a higher level than 33 times in India.

Social dimension:

The process of sustainable development includes human development aimed at improving the level of health care and education, as well as the element of participation, as the definitions of sustainable development emphasize that development should be participatory so that people participate in making development decisions that affect their lives, Where the human being is at the center of the definitions presented on sustainable development, and the important element that the definitions of sustainable development refer to – also – is the element of justice or equity and equality, and there are two types of equity: fairness for future generations, whose interests must be taken into account according to the definitions of sustainable development, and the second type is Equity for those who live today who do not have equal opportunities with others in obtaining natural resources and social services, and sustainable development aims to eliminate this stark disparity between the North and the South. Sustainable development also aims – in its social dimension – to provide loans to the informal economic sectors and to improve educational opportunities and health care for women.

Conclusion:

The concept of sustainable development has been used a lot at the present time, and the first to officially refer to it in the report “Our Common Future” issued by the World Commission for Development and Environment in 1987, and this committee was formed by a decision of the United Nations General Assembly in December 1983 headed by “ Brundtland “the Prime Minister of Norway and the membership of (22) personalities from the ruling political and economic elites in the world, with the aim of continuing global economic growth without the need for radical changes in the structure of the global economic system.

In 2015, all the member states of the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, as a collective call for action to end hunger, protect the world, and ensure that all people enjoy prosperity and peace by 2030.

By pledging to leave no one behind, the countries committed themselves to make rapid progress for those farthest behind first. That is why the SDGs are built to get the world to a variety of life-changing ‘zero’ conditions, including zero deprivation, hunger, welfare, and violence against women and girls.

These ambitious targets need to be achieved by everyone. Creativity, know-how, technology, and financial resources from all parts of society are needed to achieve these goals in every context.

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for transforming our world: the first six for people, the next three for the planet, the next six for world prosperity, and the last two for peace and partnership.

1. No Poverty

The goal is to end global poverty by 2030, in all its forms. Economic growth must be inclusive in order to generate equitable employment and promote equality

2. Zero Hunger

The goal is to end hunger, achieve food security, enhance nutrition, and endorse sustainable farming. The food and agriculture sector offers a key solution for development and is central to the eradication of hunger and poverty.

3. Good Health and Well Being

Securing a healthy life and promoting well-being for everyone of all ages is essential for sustainable development.

4. Quality Education

Ensure inclusive and egalitarian quality education and encourage opportunities for lifelong learning for all people and environmental sustainability.

5. Gender Equality

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right but also a necessary foundation for a world that is peaceful, productive, and sustainable. And also emboldens all women and girls.

6. Clean Water and Sanitation

Ensuring access to and healthy management of water and sanitation for all is an important part of the world in which we wish to live.

7. Affordable and Clean Energy

Energy is central to nearly every great challenge and opportunity. And ensure access to affordable, secure, renewable, and modern resources available to everyone is a huge task.

8. Decent Work and Economic Growth

Promoting viable, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and fruitful employment, and decent employment to every person.

9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Infrastructure investments are indispensable to achieving sustainable growth. And building robust infrastructure, promoting long-term economic growth, and encouraging creativity.

10. Reduce Inequalities

Policies should in practice to reduce inequalities, paying attention to the needs and detriments of the marginalized population.

11. Sustainable Cities and Communities

There needs to be a future where cities have employment opportunities for everyone, and access to basic services i.e. electricity, housing, transportation, and more.

12. Responsible Consumption and Production

Ensure sustainable patterns of consumption and production.

13. Climate Action

Take immediate measures to tackle and prevent climate change.

14. Life Below Water

Conserve and use the rivers, seas, and aquatic resources efficiently for sustainable growth.

15. Life On Land

Secure, restore, and encourage sustainable use of land resources, maintain forests sustainably, counter habitat loss and prevent land degradation and avoid biodiversity losses.

16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

Promote a stable and inclusive society for sustainable growth, provide access to justice for all, and create reliable, democratic, and diverse bodies at all scales.

17. Partnerships

Strengthen the means of implementation and reinvigorate the regional corporate sustainability alliance.

The role of the organization in delivering the SDGs is not easy. Although SDGs depend on business contributions to be effective, they do not rely on SDGs for their international success, at least in the short term. There are, of course, business opportunities to partner with SDGs, but they are far from global. As national governments have negotiated and implemented the SDGs, they are in the driver’s seat to introduce the 2030 Agenda, which is a state-centric structure and does not contain goals or evaluation frameworks for the industry.

In short, the SDGs require some form of translation to be meaningful to the business. In order to unravel the role of business and provide an Oxfam perspective, we have identified five different groups for evaluation:

1. Prioritization
2. Integration
3. Take Ambitious Action
4. Responsible for Respect Human Rights and Gender Equality
5. Aggregation and Harmonization of Reporting Information

The SDGs have dominated the discourse of the global business market, in particular multinational corporations (MNCs). The fact that most MNCs are speaking in some form of the SDGs is a welcome sign. Surveys consistently show that corporate recognition and acceptance of SDGs is at an all-time high. Similarly, this phenomenon is confirmed by the growing number of SDGs and industry-related activities and publications. However, there are two significant assumptions to this. First, growing organizational knowledge of SDGs has often not been distributed across all areas of the company but is located within sustainability departments and senior management. Mid-level management is often isolated from SDGs, thereby restricting greater integration, coordination, and creativity of SDGs within core business operations. SDG perception is more prevalent among large North American and European MNCs compared to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and non-Western countries, with some obvious exceptions.

To be more than just window dressing, companies need to integrate SDG participation into their core business and sustainability practices. Most of the businesses we looked at made some progress on integration, notably by integrating, plotting, and aligning their sustainability tactics with the SDGs. Growth however was inconsistent. We evaluated 76 companies, 47 of which confirmed that they support SDGs. Of the 47 companies in our sample that endorsed the SDGs, we found that over 40 percent (21 of 47) only loosely connected their sustainability policy to the SDGs.

The connection was made between the companies in this community by simply referencing the SDGs in the presentation of their sustainability reports or in relation to sustainability areas (e.g. by placing the SDG icon next to sustainability priorities) but without articulating how their approaches are coordinated to help achieve the objectives. These businesses risk turning a blind eye to the SDGs without any significance.

Question: Analysis of one company’s actions to address the SDGs

Coco Cola Company acknowledges it cannot accomplish any of the SDGs alone. Yet as a global company with a large supply chain and scope for customers, we have an important role to play in achieving many of these pioneering objectives. They looked more closely at where they would make meaningful contributions to the SDGs, whether by cooperation with our allies and business colleagues, interaction with suppliers, or in other ways where we have the influence to improve our positive impacts.

As exemplified by concrete collaborations and initiatives, many of which align with the SDGs, Coca-Cola has long supported cross-sector cooperation as a best practice for addressing global challenges.

The sustainability goals of the organization map to all 17 SDGs, with a focus on SDGs that most closely relate to where it believes it can have the most significant impact. Coca-Cola focuses heavily on gender equality (SDG 5), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), good jobs and economic development (SDG 8), responsible use and production (SDG 12), life below water (SDG 14), and partnerships (SDG 17).

SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) supports Coca-Cola’s water management portfolio. The Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), in particular, aims to reach at least 6 million people across Africa by 2020, with increased and reliable access to drinking water. By the end of 2017, RAIN had already delivered clean drinking water to more than 2.8 million people in Africa with more than 140 partners, and sponsored water, sanitation, and hygiene programs (WASH) in more than 2,000 communities across 40 African countries.

Coca-Cola has a long history of climate action (SDG 13), ranging from our leading campaigns throughout the 1990s to our organizational and supply chain efforts to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) exposure in our manufacturing activities in the early 2000s. In 2013 our target of ‘drinking in your mouth’ was set to take a bigger step towards reducing GHG emissions across our entire value chain. And this target has proved to be a worthwhile ambition as we have managed to slash our carbon emissions by 24 percent against a 2010 baseline against our target of a 25 percent reduction by the end of 2020.

In 2014, the United Nations Development Program ( UNDP) and Coca-Cola formed a partnership called ‘New World: Comprehensive Sustainable Human Development Initiatives’ to tackle five priority areas defined as the key to sustainable human development in a 2013 global UN My World Survey: good education, better job prospects, access to clean water and sanitation, and river security. This relationship was further reinforced in 2016 through the Global Water Challenge alliance.

Based on quality education, gender equity, clean water and sanitation, and collaborations with SDGs, the New World Alliance operates in 19 countries across Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa and has helped more than 1.5 million people during its first two years. To date, New World has had the most impact on SDGs Goal 5 and Goal 6 with a strong focus on WASH and women’s empowerment. The program has helped women develop entrepreneurial skills and start up their own businesses, empowered young people to become agents of change, piloted creative approaches for water access and management, and increased sanitation services.

Coca-Cola has also incorporated SDGs Objective 12 (Responsible Use and Production) and Objective 14 (Life Under Water) into the design of its new World Without the Waste project, designed to refashion the company’s approach to wrapping, which includes a target of helping to collect and recycle 100% of its packaging by 2030. The company is investing heavily in its contribution to reducing the world’s waste, but the problem is larger than the commitment of one company. Progress and positive change can only come when global capital, know-how, and skills are mobilized.

Coca-Cola has integrated the SDGs into the annual reporting of its sustainability initiatives following their adoption by the UN General Assembly in 2015. The SDGs are attempts to cross-reference with the company’s global sustainability report and the GRI ranking.

Built to place the planet on a more sustainable course, the SDGs established 169 goals to be achieved by 2030. Although this may seem a long way off, the planet has less than 12 years to go. Coca-Cola will continue to work on progress and use its voice to promote the adoption of the SDGs and the collective action needed to achieve them. The targets are optimistic, but the biggest change is going to happen together.

Introduction

Sustainability is a way of satisfying our wants without causing the potentiality of the upcoming cohort to satisfy their wants. Besides, natural resources social and economic resources are also required. Sustainability is not all about the surrounding. It might also mean social equity and economic growth. When people and the community at large provide for their individual wants to preserve the resources for their children and their children’s children, they are practicing sustainability. In this regard, a lack of sustainability can lead to a commercial or environmental collision. This collision may take part in our times or the times of our children. Torrents, homelessness caused by storms, plagues, and loss of saved pensions are all examples of collisions due to a lack of sustainability. When unfavorable conditions hit causing unsustainability, there exists a lack of caution and design to blame. Poverty and health can also mean sustainability. Poverty is in itself unsustainable. Poor people can convert to crimes, bad health, and loss of resources. A sustainable coexistence is one with minimal access to safe houses, health care, security protection, and good nutrition. A country that does not provide free medical services to its citizens is unsustainable. This is because, if these people are not treated and diseases are contained early, infectious diseases can spread easily.

Sustainability as a notion acknowledges that the environment is a modest resource. Therefore, it is paramount to utilize the surroundings and what it has rationally and secure them for the betterment of the universe, our environment, humankind, and all living creatures.

Even if most individuals relate sustainability with the surroundings, it can be examined in different ways such as economic growth and social management. This way may include but is not limited to the universe-carrying capability, the sustainability of the ecology, jobs, and behavior patterns.

A sustainable society guarantees harmony with the essential environment, preserving the resources for the coming generations to enjoy societal justice and a recommended quality of living standards.

The origin of sustainability

While the opinion of sustainability is more or less a new thought, the activity by and large has its origin in social justice, custody, and social democracy. All of this joins together in one common goal for sustainable development. Sustainability is a universal proposition that contemplates biodiversity, societal and profitable capacity. This is through acknowledging that everyone should be examined at the same time to realize enduring success.

Pillars of sustainability

There are three main pillars of sustainability. This includes the environmental, economic, and social sustainability

Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability takes place when natural resources are maintained. Mono-cropping, and the use of pesticides, and fertilizers are all ways of destroying good soil. When this soil becomes infertile, the production of food is futile. Conservation coherence is supporting the whole environmental systems of the earth and maintaining them equally. Besides, the natural wealth in them is utilized by humans a gauge in a manner that it is possible to restore themselves.

Economic sustainability

Economic sustainability happens when inflation is sluggish, and there is enough money in circulation. Therefore, many individuals will be employed and it is safe to open up a pension fund account. The human group across the world can keep their autonomy and reach the resources that they need, monetarily to meet their wants. Economic structures are intact and affairs are accessible to everybody for example safe natural sources for upkeep.

Social sustainability

Common human rights and essential needs are achievable by everyone who can access sufficient resources to maintain their kin and groups’ health and security. Healthy groups should have leaders who make certain individual, work, and intellectual rights which are valued, and everyone guarded against the menace of discrimination.

Economic sustainability versus environmental sustainability

Economic sustainability is often conjoined with environmental sustainability. For example, COVID-19. The disease has been ravaging the globe for more than a year now. Jobs have been lost as people have been advised to work at home. Businesses have been closed, and orders and directives on cessation of movement have been put in place together with time-to-time curfews. This has affected most of the countries that have a 24-hour economy. All these are used as containment measures. This disease has brought a lot of disorientation to the entire globe that has led to unsustainability. Thanks to the different vaccines that have been developed, therefore sustainability is being brought back slowly.

Examples of sustainability

It is good in our culture to celebrate those who sustain our natural resources such as forests, water, and soil. On the contrary, we celebrate billionaires blindly not knowing whether they depleted our natural resources to be billionaires or not. Some of the best examples of sustainable practices are;

• Wing farming
• Solar manufacturing
• Production of organic food
• Wildlife conservation
• Beekeeping
• Everyday life sustainability

Examples of Non-sustainability

• When a gardener uses poison to eliminate rats, that end up killing all the barn owls who eat rats as their food is the unsustainability
• When fishes are fished out without leaving some for reproduction, this is unsustainability.
• Contamination of clean water with factory wastes is the unsustainability
• Releasing sewage lines to the river when it rains is the unsustainability
• Lack of toilets or latrines for people to use bushes instead is the unsustainability
• Cutting all the trees to burn charcoal, without planting more in place is unsustainability.
• Lack of fetching rainwater during heavy rains for use in the future is unsustainability.
• Improper disposal of biodegradable wastes is unsustainable as it will pollute the environment.
• Lack of crop pollination due to lack of bees

Sustainable resources

Resources are deemed sustainable if they are utilized in a manner that does not deplete either long or short-term.

Individuals have a role to play to have a sustainable life. Some examples of sustainable behaviors in our daily life include;

• Small living place

Invest in just a small enough house for your family. There is no need of having a very big house with five rooms when you are only four in that house.

• Live near your place of work

Transportation can affect climate. Lowering the times and number of travels will ensure a sustainable world. The use of a private car is unsustainable as it cost you more money. This in return causes air pollution

• Family planning

Fewer children maintain planet sustainability and ensure the sustainability of the family. More children mean higher housing and utility bills.

• Cycling

Cycling for shorter distances other than driving is good for your health as a form of exercise. Cycling does not emit more carbon dioxide than cars. They also occupy a smaller space as compared to cars.

• Use of hybrid or all-electric car

Guzzlers are unsustainable cars. They ruin our air. Hybrid cars get good gas mileage.

• Conserve and reduce utility use

Regulate your thermostat for conservation purposes. Do the same to your refrigerators.

• Use solar instead of electricity

Solar panels are a bit expensive. But once you install them, it is a lifetime investment that can serve you for over 20 years. This will minimize your utility bills in an era where there exist electricity fluctuations.

• Eat low on the food chain

Consider eating more plant food and minimizing red meat. Plant food has the recommended proteins for your daily intake hence meat is optional.

• Eat Local

Consider eating what you have produced on your farm instead of imported food. This is because the process of transportation has a chance of fossil fuel burning. Transportation of food is a major cause of climate change. The process of transporting food is unsustainable. It pollutes the air.

• Buy seasonal food at farmer’s markets

Buy customer-supported agriculture. You order while the food is still in the garden

• Visit socially liable restaurants

Most hotels boast about using local produce as their ingredients. Other hotels have their farms where they produce what they put on their table. This way you are guaranteed fresh food that has not gone through packaging.

• Minimize food waste

Food waste contributes to climate change. This will reduce starvation. If you have extra, share it with those who do not have it. Buy just enough not in excess.

• Reduce plastic use

Some countries have banned plastics completely. This is because they pollute oceans or other water bodies. If an animal like a turtle eats plastic, it causes its death. Carry a cloth shopping bag when going shopping. Avoid buying a bag whenever you go shopping. Carry a shopping bag from home.

Importance of sustainability

The driving force behind sustainability is usually compounded, private, and varied. Most of the individual’s sustainability originates from the thought of what they will pass on to the coming generation.

Sustainability is one of the major drivers of quality of life. It ensures the security of our habitat and maintains natural resources for the next generation. In the corporate environment, sustainability is linked to an institution’s holistic approach. This is considering everything, from the manufacturing process to supply and consumer services. Focusing on the green is important to the institution as well as the environment. Some of the common importance of sustainability include;

Guarantees a future

Regardless of who you are and where you reside, we all have a moral responsibility to one another, future generations, and other creatures to preserve the earth. Our current choices and acts have a direct effect on the generations to come. Practice sustainability to make ethical choices that lead to a secure and habitable future for all of us. Depleting the resources of the earth depletes the generation to come. For instance, overfishing will deplete the fish supply as well as the related creature in the food chain.

Minimized use of energy

Sustainable practices cause a drastic reduction in energy costs. Some initiatives such as the use of energy saver bulbs reduce the costs of power. The use of solar and wind power together with energy-saving equipment saves on the monthly power costs. Decreasing energy use is a useful thing for enterprises. It aids the inefficiency of the enterprise at large.

Healthy dwelling place

Good and safe water and air quality benefit the community. Sustainable acts assist in making an actual gap in society. Commitment to sustainability will cut toxins production into the environment hence safety. Sustainability brings a safe, clean, and healthy living state.

Societal impact

Energizing the care of natural wealth strongly penetrates both your organization’s standards and brand and the staff and their kin. Making sustainability paramount in your enterprise bridges a crucial debate to the front line of trading. The social impact can go beyond for the benefit of the future generation.

Becoming sustainable

You can be sustainable by executing easy choices that can give you a stable enjoyable life. Some of the changes can range from selecting something like sustainable billing options. E-billing simplifies life and is better and more convenient. In addition, the use of sustainable products like those that are recyclable rather than a brand that is used once and added to the landfills is recommended. Transportation adjustments are also another thing that you can practice to become sustainable. Avoiding automobiles as much as you can is crucial in transport adjustments. Consider an electric car or the use of a bike. Consequently, selecting sustainable food and beverages would also impact sustainability. Shop at a local grocery that sells fresh produce from the garden. Choosing reusable products is another good habit to adopt. Use reusable storage containers that will reduce waste. Reduction of plastic product use will also make you sustainable. This will save aquatic animals from poisoning or even death. Plastics cannot rot and therefore they end up in landfills if it is not used by a brand that is devoted to sustainability. Finally, recycling is so simple to practice.

Conclusion

Sustainability is a mindset. It is caring for the globe. It is sympathy for the generation that will inherit the mess we create. It involves a random act of day-to-day kindness. It is thinking about how our lives could be. Do good without expecting some recognition or praise.

In 2015, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by all 193 United Nations member states. It consists of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs can provide a common parameter to work on sustainable development. Organizations can base their sustainability strategies on the SDGs.

However many are still struggling with connecting their contribution to the SDGs in some way or the other. First comes the huge number – each SDG has a set of sub-goals, across all 17 SDG’s there are a total of 169 sub-goals and hundreds of indications. The sheer number of goals to achieve is sure to throw off many. But if we look deeper, the SDGs and targets stimulate action in the following critically important areas: poverty, hunger, education, health and well-being, education, gender equality, water and sanitation, economic growth and decent work, infrastructure, industry and innovation, reducing inequalities, energy, sustainable cities, consumption and production, climate action, ecosystems, peace and justice, and partnership.

Now comes the major question, why? Why is it important to the world that a company works on the SDG’s? Why is it important to the company? Why is it important to the owner?

We can see that each of the 169 sub-goals targets a major social issue. Instead of looking at CSR and sustainability as a whole, if we break it down into smaller sub-goals, it gives more focus area to each of the issues and can reduce redundancy. How? At the start of a financial year, each organization allots a certain budget to CSR and plans to carry out the projects against some verticals, such as health, education, rural development, etc. But down the line it may so happen more focus is given to one vertical than the other, and the balance gets upturned. Or some projects conducted may not be able to touch the social issue actually aimed for. Here is where the SDGs come into play. If the CSR projects are defined by the 169 sub-goals, it helps in focusing more on each and every social issue, rather than conducting CSR in an uncontrolled manner.

So, if an organization wants to resolve hunger, all the projects which target to reduce hunger, such as Mid-Day Meal in schools, etc., will play a part in completing the #2 SDG: ZERO HUNGER. In the same manner, each and every project will play a part in completing one or more of the SDGs. This, in turn, streamlines the CSR expenditures by reducing projects/activities that do not align with the SDGs and only approving the ones that can be tagged to at least one of the SDGs. A corporation is spending its fund, time, and manpower on CSR, if the projects are not streamlined, it, in turn, will not be able to reach the impact aimed for, and all the effort goes to vain.

Nowadays, applications and software are being developed with the provision to tag each project to the 17 SDGs, and with the completion of each of the projects, it will, in turn, auto tracking the fulfillment of each SDG.

The UN has defined these 17 SDGs and the 169 sub-goals after much deliberation and discussion to cover all the social issues that require to be addressed. SDGs and the sub-goals break down CSR and can help us to streamline our efforts to carry out sustainable business in a more effective manner. If we embrace the Sustainability Development Goals, it will return more value than imagined.

Sustainable living and development are defined as the ability to prosper as an economy without negatively impacting the earth and its resources. This topic is very important to me as I am living in South Africa, the 30th most polluted country in the world. This is also a relevant topic because as I grow up, it will be my generation that has to think innovatively to reduce the dangerous effect our development will have on the earth, the way the generation before us failed to do. This essay will be the investigation of the short and long-term positive effects of the use of renewable energy sources over non-renewable resources on the planet and individuals.

The earth’s natural resources such as fossil fuels, natural gas, and coal are nonrenewable (i.e it is a source that is not replenished at the same rate that it is consumed and will most likely be quickly exhausted). These non-renewable energy resources are often toxic and harmful to the environment; damaging the ozone layer, polluting the air and water, wildlife and us humans. Greenhouse gasses, Carbon Monoxide and, many others are contributing to the destruction of our planet.19 000 people die every day due to the pollution from fossil fuels alone. However, 90% of the energy consumed by the world is from non-renewable resources. Even though many companies, organisations, and factories are well aware of the repercussions that nonrenewable energy entails, they still use them for production. For example, a man in Nigeria may want to heat his water for cleaning. He wants to buy a water heater and the electric heater is much cheaper than the solar heater and he will not have to install the electric heater on his roof. this is one of the many examples as to why people would rather buy electronics using non-renewable energy rather than their renewable counterparts. The higher the prices, the uncertainty and the low availability are some of many factors.

The first case study will be based in Nicaguara. Around 2005, this country had 25% of its electricity came from renewable sources. Ten years later, this figure tripled and by 2015, 80% of the country’s electricity comes from renewable sources. After the devastation of Storm Nate in 2017(a result of global warming), this was a resounding call to the government and to many environmental organisations to reduce the damage they were doing on the earth by implementing taxes exemptions for renewable resources, making companies more incentivized to invest in them. Now, Nicaguara only contributes 0.03% of global emissions. Nicaguara utilised their available resources such as high wind speeds, their active volcanoes, and solar energy. This case study shows how it is possible for a country to implement laws and policies that support the use of renewable energy and as a whole, better the living situation for individuals for generations to come. Petroleum only makes up 5% of its total import. This is also overall better for their economy, as they are spending less on buying crude oil.

The next case study is based in Malaysia. Malaysia’s energy is almost 95% dependent on non-renewable energy sources with only 2 percent of renewable energy. The import of petroleum is one of their largest imports at over 10%. Malaysia emits 2.06 tons of carbon monoxide which damages the ozone layer and pollutes the environment. There are 139 Million dollars invested in Malaysian stock, however, more can be attracted with the introduction of greener technology. It takes a simple change in the law to attract more investors and help the economy, the environments and the people. With a large percentage of 30% of the employed population in the industry sector, the damaging factories and machinery as well as cars emitting CO, these factors contribute to the ecological destruction.

South Africa is rated 30th in the world in terms of pollution. Coal is the main energy source which makes up for 92% of the electricity and it is running out. The benefits of using renewable energy in South Africa instead of depending on coal are that it creates entrepreneurial,service and industrial jobs for the 27.2% unemployed in South Africa. It will also invite foreigners to invest in South African businesses. This helps the economy and popularises South Africa in a positive light. Most of the issue with depending on non-renewable energy sources comes from the lack of funding and support from the government. This results in emission rates from factories and machinery.

The issue of environmental damage saddens me greatly. I was taught growing up to leave a space better than you enter it. However, we are doing the exact opposite. Instead of finding ways to help our earth and replenish the resources generations before have used, we are continually using these resources, that we know are going to be depleted To know that the growing hole in the ozone layer will result in greater climate change devastations such as tornados and floods killing more people which could have been avoided by making smarter choices. That is why I am excited to enter the working world and create a better place for living with people who are also passionate and are more pressured to do so. If this situation gets worse, we will simply run out of these resources faster than usual(which is predicted to happen by 2088) and that would either force us to make a difference or it will have destroyed the earth so badly, the ozone layer will be so damaged that humans and all living organisms will die due to too much exposure to UV and Gamma rays from the sun. If the situation gets better, many countries’ economy would benefit from the use of renewable and sustainable energy sources. Countries would harvest the electricity from nature such as wind, solar, wave and infrared waves. This would also result in more jobs that require discovery and research on how to improve the sources (i.e efficiency). If the situation stays the same, we will still inch towards the complete depletion of the earth’s resources while damaging the earth.

A possible decision to help countries favor renewable energy is to heavily tax the use of non-renewable energy sources in factories and vehicles. This way businesses will not want to make a loss and would be more inclined to use renewable energy. Another possible choice and easiest to implement is to remove all tax from machinery that uses renewable energy. This allows for free trade and learning from others to create even better machinery. This is the most logical reason as it does not take too much money from the government and it makes it more affordable to use renewable energy. The last option could be for governments to support and fund the businesses that use the more renewable energy sources and should educate the public as well.

This research has personally stretched my mind. I have always been passionate about helping the environment and reducing our dangerous impact. Researching this has taught me how countries like Nicaguara are becoming more ecologically clean and have had to make drastic changes to get to where are now. That large change made a significant impact on the country. With that kind of courage to change, our generation can help secure a sustainable life for many generations.

Most answers to the sustainability challenges of today are easily given; however, these resolutions often do not satisfy all of the major perspectives that have a final say regarding this topic. Generally, sustainability requires consideration of a total of four key aspects; (1) environmental, (2) social, (3) cultural, and (4) economic. With these four sustainability pillars in mind, only then can effective solutions be reached in relation to sustainability problems. The purpose of this paper is to review the relationship between these four pillars and the topic of sustainability.

The first fundamental and simultaneously the most well-known aspect of sustainability is the environmental pillar. This attitude recognises the call for improvement and preservation of the natural ecosystems that sustain all life on Earth. It contains the structure and function of biophysical systems and the interplay between them and humankind; the aspect calls for guardianship of our planet and its biosphere.

The second point of view touches on the social ideology of intergenerational equity and intra-generational equity which should come with the aim of a sustainable planet; in such a way that all current and future generations are able to live in an equal environment. It considers both psychological and physical well-being and strives for a union of communities established through a fair dispersion of natural resources.

Thirdly, in a world where there is no shortage of different cultures; differing world views exist in abundance. This third cultural aspect acknowledges the need to cherish and share beliefs and ethics that represent these diverse world views, and the political need for all individuals to share their views freely and to be included in the making of important decisions regarding the environment.

Lastly, the economic pillar is based on the interactions of people with nature, such as turning natural resources into personal possessions or services that satisfy their own needs. It emphasises that our global consumerism tendencies must stay within our world its global carrying capacity, while also maintaining or even improving people their quality of life.

This paper shows that it is the combination of these environmental, social, cultural and economic perspectives that gives us an overview of how complex an issue it is to bring solutions to the table that would satisfy all four of these aspects. However, the only way to regulate sustainability challenges is through using all four of these pillars to build a stable and achievable sustainable world. This is why it is of great importance to focus on building all of these pillars equally; for if one pillar falls short the entire solution becomes unstable.

The issue of sustainability is a relatively new development in human history. Before the industrial revolution, resources were ample, and the idea of pollution was nearly nonexistent. However, once manufacturing was developed the need for raw materials increased exponentially. At first this was not such a huge problem, but over time the resources depleted. Fast forward to the present and you will realize that the need for sustainability is immense. Unlike companies of the past, those of the modern day are much more cognizant of this. A prime example of this is the Ford Motor Company.

As a fortune 100 company along with being one of the leaders in vehicle production, Ford has great influence. This company has used its colossal influence as “A Force For Good”. Ford ensures that all the materials used to build their vehicles were “sourced responsibly”. This promotes sustainable harvesting of crucial natural resources and shows effort to preserve the availability of them for future generations. The foresight of this company along with the action taken by it has landed them on the “Top 100 Conflict Minerals Influence Leaders” list for a third year in a row (FSR). The list recognizes the companies that are committed to using materials which were produced reliably and legitimately.

Another major point of sustainability in the modern day is pollution. Climate change has been documented with increased global temperatures. The reason why this is happening is due to the production of greenhouse gases. When gases like carbon dioxide and methane are released into the atmosphere, they begin to insulate the Earth’s surface. The impact of the increased temperatures will begin to be felt across the world if this continues. Major producers of carbon dioxide are cars that are powered by combustion engines.

The Ford Motor Company has realized this and put together a plan to reduce the carbon footprint of their products. They have already reduced the carbon dioxide output of their new vehicles, but they have more in store. The Eco-boost engines that they make produce less pollution when compared to previous models. The efficiency of these engines is fully embraced by the company. They can be found in various vehicle models, ranging from the Mustang to the F-150. Ford has also invested $11 billion into producing electric vehicles. They have also pledged to produce 40 different models of hybrids or fully electric cars by 2022 (FSR).

The Ford Motor Company is also a founding member of IONITY, a joint effort between multiple big car manufacturers. Their plan is to have built 400 electric car charging locations across Europe by 2020 (media.ford.com). Ford declared in 2010 that it would reduce the company’s greenhouse emissions due to manufacturing by “30 percent per vehicle by 2025”. The company ended up completing this goal by 2017 (media.ford.com), which is a sign of major progress. The reduction in emissions was equivalent to “728,000 passenger vehicles driven for one year” (media.ford.com). This shows that they are devoted to reducing emissions for the sake of those who will inherit the Earth.

Recycling is another major process used to maintain sustainability. The ability to take something that has been previously manufactured and turn it into something different reduces waste. Ford has embraced this with its production of the Escape and Focus. Both of these models are 80% recyclable. Considering that these are two of the cheapest, and most widespread vehicles built by the company, this will have a huge impact once they inevitably end up in a scrap yard. Ford also uses “sustainable fabrics” in all of its vehicles (www.smartcitiesdive.com). Not even the paint fumes at the Michigan plant go to waste. The gases are recycled and used as fuel for production. Ford’s manufacturing plants use geothermal cooling systems. This is a completely sustainable process. It also reduces the amount of power the plants would need for alternative cooling systems.

Ford does not only look to sustain raw materials, though. They are also determined to conserve the most important natural resource, fresh water. Even though fresh water isn’t a problem for us in the United States, Ford has plants in much poorer and less fortunate countries. These places include Mexico, India, and South Africa. Water is needed to produce paint, and these plants need a lot of it. This is a problem in these areas due to the lack of available water. After using the amount of water, they had originally deemed necessary, Ford saw the damage it was doing to the local environment. In response to the subject, the company drastically reduced its water use. Ford has reduced its “operational water use” by 62.5% since the year 2000. This saved 10.4 billion gallons of water (FSR).

In 2017, Ford continued its dedication to this plan and reduced the water use by another 2%. Ford has established itself as a global leader in both innovation and sustainability. The company has done this by constantly evolving, setting goals that benefit the future of our planet, and by going above and beyond to complete those goals. Their management of the materials that they use, increased recyclability of their products, and reduction of water usage has put them head and shoulders above most. The care they have for the Earth and the next generation that will receive it is truly remarkable. By running their company with responsibility and integrity as focal points, Ford truly has become a “Force For Good”.

What is sustainable development? According to the International Institute for Sustainable Development, it involves “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” The definition is nearly as broad and all-encompassing as it sounds, covering everything from infrastructure to climate to water and energy usage to economics to equality and social justice.

But just because the goals of sustainable development sound lofty and beneficial that doesn’t mean it’s automatically an admirable pursuit. Sustainable development can be costly and may lead to job loss in some areas, so it isn’t without downsides. Explore the advantages and disadvantages of sustainable development to learn more about how the concept could help or hinder our progress as a society.

Sustainable Development Goals

In September 2015, all member states of the United Nations endorsed The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. You’ll often see it referred to simply as Agenda 2030. Agenda 2030 created 17 goals with a targeted timeline extending to the year 2030. The ultimate goal of these smaller goals is to create a global partnership in recognition of the belief that eliminating poverty and deprivation around the world is possible only by improving health and education, reducing inequality, spurring economic growth, tackling climate change and preserving oceans and forests. Here are some of the 17 goals of Agenda 2030:

• To end poverty in all its forms everywhere
• To end hunger, improve food security, improve nutrition and support sustainable agriculture
• To ensure clean water is available to everyone
• To ensure sustainable and affordable energy is available to everyone
• To promote full and productive employment in decent work
• To promote resilient infrastructure and innovative industrialization
• To make production-consumption patterns sustainable
• To act urgently to combat climate change and its effects
• To make partnerships for implementing these goals more possible and effective

What do all those goals mean, exactly? Rather than trying to tackle them all, understanding how they work in the real world makes more sense if you focus specifically on each one. For example, what would sustainable development in terms of “resilient infrastructure” look like when it comes to building construction?

What Makes a Building Green & Sustainable?

The World Green Building Council defines green buildings as those designed, constructed or operated in a way that “reduces or eliminates negative impacts, and…create[s] positive impacts on our climate and natural environment.” According to the council, there are eight factors that make buildings — including houses, offices, schools, hospitals, government headquarters, factories and shopping malls — “green”:

• Green buildings use energy and water efficiently.
• Green buildings use renewable energy like solar power.
• Green buildings have systems for reducing pollution and waste while enabling re-use and recycling.
• Sustainable buildings have good indoor air quality.
• Sustainable buildings use non-toxic, ethical and sustainable materials.
• Designers and contractors involved in the installation of green buildings take the natural environment into account in their design, construction and operation.
• Designers and contractors building sustainable buildings prioritize the quality of life of the buildings’ occupants.
• Green and sustainable buildings adapt to the environment around them as it changes.

Non-Sustainable Materials List

So, say you’re a contractor who’s been inspired to help the United Nations achieve Agenda 2030 in designing and constructing resilient infrastructure by building green and sustainable homes. To ensure your homes are green and sustainable, you’re determined to use “non-toxic, ethical and sustainable materials,” as prioritized by the World Green Building Council. What types of materials should you avoid using in your housing project?

Concrete is made of cement, sand and aggregates — all environmentally friendly materials. The problem, though, is that extracting those materials and actually manufacturing concrete is incredibly energy-intensive. A sustainable alternative to concrete? Construction with the 100% organic material mycelium. Or Ferrock, a product made from waste steel dust and silica.

Roofing shingles are manufactured through an energy-intensive process. While traditional shingles made of clay, slate, concrete or plastic substances effectively protect a building from wind, rain and sun, producing them is, overall, destructive to the environment. Using solar tile/shingle hybrid products can simultaneously protect structures and produce renewable energy.

Chemical-based insulation products frequently contain potentially hazardous substances such as isocyanate and formaldehyde. One environmentally friendly type of alternative produced through reuse and recycling is paper insulation products that use recycled paper and cardboard with borax and calcium carbonate added to the mix. Wool insulation sheared from sheep is another renewable alternative.

What about wood? Wood is a more sustainable building product than concrete or steel, but that doesn’t mean all kinds of wood are ideal from the perspective of green and sustainable construction. The destruction of forests to fuel wood-based construction contributes to the loss of biodiversity and other serious problems. The solution may not be to stop using wood, but to choose a better wood product — or grass product — than is often used now. Bamboo is an ideal alternative to wood. It looks like wood and can be used like wood in many construction applications, but it regenerates incredibly quickly compared to many trees. In some places, bamboo grows several feet every day.

Disadvantages of Environmental Sustainability

The advantages of green and sustainable development are clear. But is there a downside? Turning our backs on the environmentally destructive practices of old while prioritizing sustainable alternatives can have some negative implications, there’s no denying it. The issue, of course, is to find a sustainable balance between the advantages and disadvantages of sustainable approaches to development. Below are some of the disadvantages of environmental sustainability:

• Environmentally sustainable products and materials can be more expensive, meaning construction costs will increase.
• Many of the most environmentally harmful industries — resource extraction and energy-intensive manufacturing, for example — are also the largest employers and economic contributors. Transitioning away from those resource-extraction and energy-intensive practices will mean disruption in employment and economic production for families and economies.
• Governments that have sought to lead transitions toward green and sustainable development have traditionally done so through legal regulation. Increased regulation can contribute to delays and increased costs.

Limitations of Sustainable Development

The opportunity to transition from tried-and-true construction methods and energy-intensive economic drivers is a privilege closely held by communities, countries and economies with the financial, leadership, scientific and other resources to look for and pursue alternatives. But what about communities, countries and economies where tried-and-true but energy-intensive approaches are the only realistic options?

The gap between the privilege to pursue a sustainable lifestyle and the availability of innovative and expensive sustainable options is not the only downside of a focus on sustainable development, but it is a real one. The organization International Young Naturefriends identifies these and related limitations affecting developing countries in the following way:

• Developing countries often don’t have the financial resources to plan and implement sustainable projects.
• War-torn or famine-stricken countries may be forced to face other priorities first, even if the lack of sustainable development may have contributed to those circumstances in the first place.
• Many unstable governments are unwilling to manage or incapable of managing the tension between ready profit and the long-term costs of shifting toward sustainable development, even when those long-term investments might pay off in the future.

Sustainable development. Two big words that capture even bigger goals and priorities — and plenty of tension within them. Finding the balance between immediate needs and the sustainable satisfaction of those immediate needs in a way that improves rather than impairs our natural world is essential. To pretend that won’t be hard would be irresponsible. To give up in the face of that difficulty would be even worse.

Sustainability is the avoidance of natural resource depletion to maintain biodiversity and ecological balance. It factors how people can protect the natural world surrounding them from destruction and damages. Over the years, civilization has been detrimental to the environment. This is because it utilizes plenty of resources, which are not renewable and viable. Developments at the present should focus on meeting needs without compromising future generations’ access to raw materials. Three pillars that contribute to sustainable development are economic development, environmental protection, and social development.

Main body

The goal of sustainable development is to create a balance between the social, environmental, and economic needs of a person or community. A clean, healthy, and safe environment is important for everybody. This can be achieved through the reduction of poverty, pollution, unemployment, and poor housing. Activities that can spearhead the quest for sustainability include the planting of more trees, protection of resources and diversity, growing food organically, protecting the climate by using green energy, and the use of farm fodder for livestock.

To achieve sustainability, I will need to stop using firewood for cooking and embrace other environmentally friendly fuels. In addition, the utilization of the bicycle instead of a car as my common mode of transport is important. This is because it helps in reducing carbon footprint in the atmosphere (Jurjević et al., 2019). As a consumer, I should also be well informed about the process used in the manufacturing industry. Products from companies with non-sustainable measures should be avoided.

Carbon footprint issue

The carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide gas released to the environment as a result of the community or a person’s activity. If everyone in the world has a carbon footprint, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere will increase. Consequently, this can lead to global climate change because of the increase in the earth’s temperature.

Technology to keep humanity’s environmental impact constant

In developed countries, bold environmental steps have been undertaken to protect the environment. For instance, the US cities have unveiled climate targets, sustainability road maps, and clean energy plans that will create a sustainable atmosphere in the future. In addition, small cities have already taken measures to reduce their environmental impacts through the implementation of sound policies and programs.

Industrialization is currently taking place in third-world countries as they strive to achieve European and American prosperity levels. This development is characterized by high pressure on natural resources and increased greenhouse gas emissions. This implies that developing nations require a relatively higher magnitude of change to achieve sustainability. For instance, billions of people in underdeveloped nations use fuel that has carbon intensity to cook and light up their homes. This is because they have no clean source of energy such as electricity and solar panels. Thus, a lack of sustainable power implies that much needs to be done to improve technology.

Conclusion

The use of few resources is key to accomplishing ecological balance. Thus, reusing resources and adopting developing technology is critical for improving the global environmental situation. For instance, emails instead of writing letters to pass information are commendable. In third-world countries, adopting sustainable agriculture will conserve resources for the future generation. In cities, sustainable production and consumption patterns should be embraced to hinder climate change. Generally, the reduction of population growth and pollution are critical to a sustainable future.