Scribd
Upload
8 views

CML4

The document discusses the history and evolution of environmental issues and sustainability. It covers the increasing awareness of global environmental problems in the 20th century and establishment of organizations like the IPCC and UNFCCC to address climate change. It also discusses the three pillars of sustainability - environmental, economic, and social - and challenges in balancing environmental protection with development goals.

Uploaded by

jafasoh293
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
8 views

CML4

The document discusses the history and evolution of environmental issues and sustainability. It covers the increasing awareness of global environmental problems in the 20th century and establishment of organizations like the IPCC and UNFCCC to address climate change. It also discusses the three pillars of sustainability - environmental, economic, and social - and challenges in balancing environmental protection with development goals.

Uploaded by

jafasoh293
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

environmental issues. These included natural ecosystems or natural resources and the human environment.

It later extended to all systems that


support life on Earth, including human society.[43]: 31 Reducing these negative impacts on the environment would improve environmental sustainability.[43][44]

Environmental pollution is not a new phenomenon. But it has been only a local or regional concern for most of human history. Awareness
of global environmental issues increased in the 20th century.[43]: 5 [45] The harmful effects and global spread of pesticides like DDT came under scrutiny in
the 1960s.[46] In the 1970s it emerged that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) were depleting the ozone layer. This led to the de facto ban of CFCs with
the Montreal Protocol in 1987.[5]: 146

In the early 20th century, Arrhenius discussed the effect of greenhouse gases on the climate (see also: history of climate change science).[47] Climate
change due to human activity became an academic and political topic several decades later. This led to the establishment of the IPCC in 1988 and
the UNFCCC in 1992.

In 1972, the UN Conference on the Human Environment took place. It was the first UN conference on environmental issues. It stated it was important
to protect and improve the human environment.[48]: 3 It emphasized the need to protect wildlife and natural habitats:[48]: 4
The natural resources of the earth, including the air, water, land, flora and fauna and [...] natural ecosystems must be safeguarded for the benefit of
present and future generations through careful planning or management, as appropriate.

— UN Conference on the Human Environment, [48]: p.4., Principle 2

In 2000, the UN launched eight Millennium Development Goals. The aim was for the global community to achieve them by 2015. Goal 7 was to "ensure
environmental sustainability". But this goal did not mention the concepts of social or economic sustainability.[1]

Specific problems often dominate public discussion of the environmental dimension of sustainability: In the 21st century these problems have
included climate change, biodiversity and pollution. Other global problems are loss of ecosystem services, land degradation, environmental impacts of
animal agriculture and air and water pollution, including marine plastic pollution and ocean acidification.[49][50] Many people worry about human impacts
on the environment. These include impacts on the atmosphere, land, and water resources.[43]: 21

Human activities now have an impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems. This led Paul Crutzen to call the current geological epoch the Anthropocene.
[51]
For example, the impact of human activity on ecosystems can reach tipping points in the climate system.

Economic sustainability[edit]

A circular economy can improve aspects of economic sustainability


(left: the 'take, make, waste' linear approach; right: the circular economy approach).
The economic dimension of sustainability is controversial.[1] This is because the term development within sustainable development can be interpreted in
different ways. Some may take it to mean only economic development and growth. This can promote an economic system that is bad for the
environment.[52][53][54] Others focus more on the trade-offs between environmental conservation and achieving welfare goals for basic needs (food, water,
health, and shelter).[8]

Economic development can indeed reduce hunger or energy poverty. This is especially the case in the least developed countries. That is
why Sustainable Development Goal 8 calls for economic growth to drive social progress and well-being. Its first target is for: "at least 7 per
cent GDP growth per annum in the least developed countries".[55] However, the challenge is to expand economic activities while reducing their
environmental impact.[10]: 8 In other words, humanity will have to find ways how societal progress (potentially by economic development) can be reached
without excess strain on the environment.

The Brundtland report says poverty causes environmental problems. Poverty also results from them. So addressing environmental problems requires
understanding the factors behind world poverty and inequality.[23]: Section I.1.8 The report demands a new development path for sustained human progress. It
highlights that this is a goal for both developing and industrialized nations.[23]: Section I.1.10

UNEP and UNDP launched the Poverty-Environment Initiative in 2005 which has three goals. These are reducing extreme poverty, greenhouse gas
emissions, and net natural asset loss. This guide to structural reform will enable countries to achieve the SDGs.[56][57]: 11 It should also show how to
address the trade-offs between ecological footprint and economic development.[5]: 82

Social sustainability[edit]

Social justice is just one part of social sustainability.


The social dimension of sustainability is not well defined.[58][59][60] One definition states that a society is sustainable in social terms if people do not face
structural obstacles in key areas. These key areas are health, influence, competence, impartiality and meaning-making.[61]

Some scholars place social issues at the very center of discussions.[62] They suggest that all the domains of sustainability are social. These
include ecological, economic, political, and cultural sustainability. These domains all depend on the relationship between the social and the natural.
The ecological domain is defined as human embeddedness in the environment. From this perspective, social sustainability encompasses all human
activities.[63] It goes beyond the intersection of economics, the environment, and the social.[64]

There are many broad strategies for more sustainable social systems. They inc

You might also like