Part 2: Sustainability concepts, sustainable development and its
challenges S3 ECE γ Three components of sustainability
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Social Aspects of sustainability Lessening of poverty
Health and education status of the community
Adequate job opportunities
Protection of rights
Equitable access to resources
Elimination of gender inequality
Redistribution of wealth derived from production
Increase of social performance is a fundamental factor in
the formation of human capital Economic Aspects The expenditure and revenue generation
Steady and sufficient food availability in an economic way
Economic use of raw materials
Economic production patterns
Steady rate of productivity
Steady and sufficient flow of income for individual
households, communities and countries
Greater efficiency of investments should be achieved
Economic inequality should be reduced to attain economic
sustainability Environmental Aspects Prudent exploitation of natural resources so that it can be used for a longer period.
For non-renewable resources, find
substitutes
For renewable resources, give time to
replenish
Minimize the impact on the environment
during Production and consumption of goods waste disposal. 3 Pillars of Sustainability What can we do towards sustainability as a common man?
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Sustainable development Sustainable development means improving the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. Practical approach Stabilize chemical cycles and moderate the pace of global climate change Eliminate threat to global food security using environment-friendly methods Control threats to biodiversity and do steps for increasing biodiversity Complete demographic transition and stabilize world population Provide environmental education
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Sustainable development Central principle behind sustainable development is equity i.e. equal access to resources and opportunities Two types of equities Inter-generational equity We have inherited the planet from our previous generations and have no obligation to pass it on to our future generations Intra-generational equity Equity across communities and nations
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Challenges to sustainable development
Sustainable development is a multidimensional model of
development
Challenges the traditional concept of development and
needs a change in the basic structures of current model
Implies a fundamental change at all levels of social,
economic, political and cultural structures
Fundamental restructuring of the present society
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET Challenges to sustainable development Increase in population 1000s of years to reach 1billion in 1800 2 billion in 1930 3 billion in 1959 4 billion in 1974 5 billion in 1987 6 billion in 1999 7 billion in 2011 8 billion in 2023 Pervasive land degradation Land is the major resource for all activities
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Challenges to sustainable development Water scarcity problems Projection : population living in water short areas will increase by 90% by 2050 Overuse of water resources Contamination of freshwater resources Changes in the terrestrial hydrological cycles Flaws in water resource management Global warming and climate change Projection: global mean temperature increase between 1.4 and 5.80C by 2100 Impacts on global hydrological system, crop production etc. Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET Challenges to sustainable development Increased energy demand Current global commercial energy use is about 9,700 million tons of oil equivalents per year Major contribution from fossil fuels Nuclear power generation has technical issues Renewable technology contribution is only 2% of global commercial energy supply Poverty With increase in population, poverty also increases Malnutrition is a major problem Food and nutrition security is a critical challenge Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET Challenges to sustainable development Unemployment and underemployment Global unemployment is 12.9% in 2017 More than 85 million young people are unemployed!!! Civil disturbances Civil unrest : repeated cycles of violence and conflict Massive displacement of people They are not worried about sustainability, but ‘mere existence’ Natural disasters Large amount of money needs to be channelled to lessen the effects of natural disasters
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Challenges to sustainable development International relations
Strong bond of cooperation among countries is required for
fair redistribution of global wealth, knowledge and opportunities
Resolving conflicting interests
Conflicting interests during the use of natural and common
property resources, land use plans, waste management etc.
Providing framework for cooperation of all stakeholders in
times of conflict may delay the sustainable activities
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Challenges to sustainable development Integration of developmental activities
Multidimensional
Integration of all tasks in planning, resource mobilization
implementation, operation and maintenance, monitoring and continuous evaluation
Integration of traditional and scientific knowledge and funds
Integration of responsibilities of different factors like private,
public sector, local self, state and national governments, regional and international institutions
Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET
Challenges to sustainable development Philosophy of inter-generational equality
Need for a higher level of conscience to respect not only the
right of the present generation to a healthy environment but also the right of future generations to inherit a healthy environment from the present generation
Capital accumulation is not a feature of the sustainable
development
Installing this philosophy in the mind of wealthy and
influential people is a challenge Sustainable Engineering , S3 ECE, RSET