We, humans, have unlimited appetites, but we live on a planet with limited resources.
We
already use more of Earth’s renewable resources – such as forests, clean air, and fresh water – than
nature can restore each year. And when the rate of consumption of a resource is greater than the rate
at which it is replaced, the resource may become exhausted.
Today, Earth’s population stands at around seven billion, and it is still growing fast. By 2050, we
face the possibility of nine billion people living on the planet. As a result, the imbalance between what
nature replenishes and humans consume will probably continue to grow. So how will so many people
live on Earth without exhausting the planet?
The key is sustainability – finding new and efficient ways of conserving more and consuming less
– so that we do not ultimately exhaust our most valuable resources. Here are eight steps to
sustainability from around the world:
1. Sustainable Communities
Sustainable communities are cities and towns that encourage residents to protect their local
environment in ways that also reduce their impact on the larger global environment. Residents
in Mbam, Senegal, for example, use solar ovens to cook food. By using solar energy instead of
cutting down trees for fuel, people are saving forests for future generations. Communities in
other places are using improved public transportation systems to reduce the need for cars. In
Curitiba, Brazil, city buses are frequent, convenient, and efficient – so 70 percent of Curitiba’s
commuters use them. As a result, the city has little traffic congestion and cleaner air.
2. Safer Livestock Production
As meat consumption grows, so do the environmental and health consequences of producing it.
for example, the animal waste that results from livestock production can cause water pollution.
Moreover, livestock production that is close to urban centers can cause dangerous diseases such
as avian flu. Some governments are using financial incentives to address this problem. In
Bangkok, Thailand, poultry production centers that are within 62 miles (100 kilometers) of the
city must pay a special tax. The goal is to encourage livestock producers to move away the city
center.
3. Renewable Energy Resources
The sun’s energy provides a nonpolluting and renewable energy source. Harvesting that energy
is an increasing trend. One method is via the use of photovoltaic cells (PVs), which convert solar
energy to electricity. By the end of 2011, PVs produced 69 gigawatts of power worldwide.
Germany is the world’s top installer of PVs; other major solar energy producers include Spain
and Japan.
Another pollution-free, renewable alternative is wind power. Global wind-power capacity grew
by about 27 percent in just one year – between 2006 and 2007 – and it continues to grow. As of
2011, China led in wind-power production, generating over 62,000 megawatts of wind-produced
energy. The United States and Germany are also major wind-power producers.
4. Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)
People who practice socially responsible investing (SRI) buy shares in companies that engage in
activities that are beneficial to the planet, such as alternative energy production or
environmentally sound waste-management practices. While SRI activity is most common in
Europe and the United States, it is also growing quickly in Canada and Australia, and it is
beginning to emerge in other countries such as South Korea, Brazil, Malaysia, and South Africa.
5. Greener Lightbulbs
The global use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) tripled between 2001 and 2006. CFLs create
light with less heat than traditional lightbulbs. They also use 75 percent less energy and last ten
times longer. The global leader in the use of CFLs is Japan, where 80 percent of all households
use them. CFL use is also increasing in many other countries, including China and Brazil.
6. Certified Forests
Forestry logging – the cutting down of trees – can contribute to water pollution, lead to the
destruction of animal habitats, and have other negative effects on the environment. In an effort
to preserve forests, several countries have begun creating certified forests. When a forest is
certified, the logging is regulated and carried out in a sustainable way. In West Virginia (USA), for
example, loggers in certified forests must receive special training to avoid causing soil erosion.
Roughly seven percent of the world’s forests are certified. Canada has the largest areas, with
almost 300 million acres (120 hectares) of certified forests.
7. Green Employment
About 2.3 million people worldwide work in the renewable energy industry. Germany, Spain, the
United States, and Denmark have led the world in the development of renewable technology
and jobs, but green employment is increasing in other countries, too. India, for example, leads in
the production of wind turbines, and Kenya is a major producer of solar energy.
8. Lower Carbon Emissions
Carbon emissions continue to contribute to changing climate, with atmospheric CO2 levels
estimated to be 37 percent higher than in the pre-industrial era. Some countries are introducing
measures aimed at reversing this trend. Costa Rica, for example, has promised to have zero net
carbon emissions by 2030. Costa Rica already generates over 80 percent of its energy through
renewable sources such as water and cut carbon emissions 20 percent by 2020, and India has
planned a 24 percent reduction by 2020.
