Sustainability Questions

Sustainability Questions

Sustainability is the ability to maintain a certain status or process in existing systems. The most frequent use of the term “sustainability” is connected to biological or human systems in the context of ecology. The ability of an ecosystem to function and maintain productivity for a prolonged period is also sustainability.

Living a sustainable lifestyle is one way to help. In this series pages we will go into what sustainability has to with ecology, recycling, water, and more. We will also reveal what some companies (like Petsmart and Disney) are doing to make a difference by operating their businesses in a sustainable way.

The 3 Fundamental Questions

The definition of sustainability varies from individual to individual, place to place, and situation to situation. However, the main crux remains that existence with excellence in any sphere. The three fundamental questions about sustainability are below.

Sustainability Questions / Why sustainability is crucial?

The current situation on Earth is such that topics like climate change, economic slowdown and poverty are ever haunting the existence of living beings on this planet. The answer to all these problems lies in the word “Sustainability”. Sustainability is the key in all aspects of life, be it business or environment.

The increasing population has resulted in increased demands. These in turn have led to problems like rising environmental pollution, global warming, unemployment and impoverishment. Thus, there is grave need to change our current activities. Our common future can only be achieved with a better understanding of our common concerns and shared responsibilities.

Sustainability Questions / When is sustainability required?

Sustainability is the burning need of the hour. Studies reveal that the planet has warmed 1.5 degrees F over the last 100 years, and that two-thirds of that change occurred over the last 30 years. Climate models indicate that Earth will warm another 4 to 10 degrees F by the end of the 21st century.

The population on our planet has more than doubled in recent years, and the human population will grow from 6.1 billion to 9 billion by 2050. Currently, within the entire global population, almost 50% live on less than $2 per day, 41% lack access to basic sanitation, 17% are unable to read, 13% suffer from malnutrition, and 2% have a college education. These all issues strongly emphasize the need for sustainability.

Sustainability Questions / How can we achieve sustainability?

Moving towards sustainable development presents tremendous challenges. Economy, society, and environment are basic parts of any community. Sustainability can be only achieved by striking a right balance between these three parts.

Making wise use of available resources and harnessing the energy of natural resources is the solution to attain environmental sustainability. Basic education is also a precondition for sustainable development. But in the end, every person carries – according to his awareness – the responsibility for the consequences of his decisions.