Sustainable Environment

Environmental sustainability is talked about in relation to all aspects of our lives– from creating eco homes and environmentally conscious communities to sourcing sustainable food, renewable energy, low impact furniture and clothing. But what does environmental sustainability actually mean? There are many definitions in use by green groups, business and politicians – some simple and some more complex. The concept of sustainable development was first put forward in the ۱۹۸۷ report ‘Our Common Future’ – prepared for the World Commission on Environment and Development. They recognized the links between inequality, poverty and environmental degradation and were seeking a way forward for a fairer world with less damage to the environment that supports communities. Our Common Future, or the Bruntland Report, as it is also known in reference to its author, established the concept of sustainable development as the way forward for a fairer society, which looks after its resources. The report defined sustainable development as “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” It therefore follows that environmental sustainability is ensuring that in meeting our needs for water, food, shelter as well as engaging in activities that make our lives enjoyable – including leisure activities and entertainment – we don’t cause damage to our environment or deplete resources that we can’t renew. While many individuals and communities have long recognised the damage that can be caused to our environment and that of the plants and animals we share our planet with, it is only relatively recently this has been acknowledged globally. The air we breathe and our rivers and oceans don’t recognize local, national or even continentalboundaries – so we must all take care of them for each other. For example, airpollution episodes in the UK are often made worse by air masses from thecontinent of Europe, litter lasts decades in oceans travelling the globe on oceancurrents and industrial pollution and fertilzers have led to toxic algal blooms inthe rivers and seas including those of China, the US and Europe

Keywords:

Sustainable environment , environment , environment low , sustainable society , Renewable energy