Sustainability & Environmental

Studies
Unit 1 - Introduction to Environment & Sustainability
Vinayak R. Gaikwad
Assistant Professor
School of Smart and Sustainability Studies
Symbiosis Skills and Professional University, Pune
Credits
Unit 1 - Topics
Introduction
• The term environment means surroundings and is generally used as an abstract concept.
• The surroundings may be natural, man-made, physical, chemical or biotic.
• The growth, behavior and life history of an organism, are therefore, influenced by the environment
in which they live.
• The preferred environment of an organism is usually referred to as habitat. The term, habitat
denotes a more specific meaning of the surrounding than environment.
• On our planet earth, we find two major types of habitats, terrestrial (174 million per square km)
and aquatic (40 million per square km) with different environmental complexes.
• The 'environment' is defined as "outer physical and biological system in which man and other
organisms live as a whole, albeit a complicated one with many interacting components".
Environment meaning
• Environment can be defined as a sum total of all the living and non-living elements and their
effects that influence human life. While all living or biotic elements are animals, plants, forests,
fisheries, and birds, non-living or abiotic elements include water, land, sunlight, rocks, and air.
Environment functions
(1) Provides the supply of resources
• The environment offers resources for production.
• It includes both renewable and non-renewable resources.
• Examples: Wood for furniture, soil, land, etc.
(2) Sustains life
• The environment includes the sun, soil, water, and air, which are essential for human life.
• It sustains life by providing genetic and biodiversity.
(3) Assimilates waste
• Production and consumption activities generate waste.
• This occurs mostly in the form of garbage.
• The environment helps in getting rid of the garbage.
(4) Enhances the quality of life
• The environment enhances the quality of life.
• Human beings enjoy the beauty of nature that includes rivers, mountains, deserts, etc.
• These add to the quality of life.
Environment is not merely the atmosphere
• Environment is not merely the atmosphere and other physical factors surrounding us, but is the
complex of all factors which not only affect "one organism, one time, but all organisms all the
time".
• In a larger sense, environment constitutes the various physical, mental, social, spiritual,
educational, economic and intellectual aspects of whole humanity.
• When kept healthy and inspiring, it promotes the progress and development. It is a boon to
mankind.
• The understanding of the subject needs an adequate knowledge of geography, climatology,
pedology, microbiology, bio-chemistry, physiology, biophysics, biometry, sociology, economics,
etc.
• The environmental problems with which now we are concerned embrace diverse aspects ranging
from the economic, social, and psychological problems of human settlements to the management
and use of natural habitats.
Sustainability
• Sustainability means meeting our own needs without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs.
• Sustainability is about meeting the world's needs of today and tomorrow by creating systems that allow us
to live well and within the limits of our planet.
• Sustainability is about meeting the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
• It’s a holistic approach that considers the social, environmental and economic impacts of actions and
decisions taken today.
Pillars of sustainability
Social Sustainability
• Social sustainability includes environmental justice, human health, resource security, and education,
among other important social elements of society. Under the three pillars concept, efforts to promote
social sustainability should also aim to foster economic and environmental benefits.
• For businesses, efforts to generate social sustainability could include focusing company efforts on
employee retention instead of economic priorities. For example, investments in the well-being of
employees are likely to generate economic benefits for the company by increasing employee
motivation.
• Efforts to increase social sustainability can also benefit the environment. For example, people's diet
choices can have a substantial impact on both human health and the health of the environment,
therefore advocacy for healthier eating can benefit the environment, too
Social Sustainability
• Social sustainability aims to preserve social capital by investing and creating services that
constitute the framework of our society.
• The concept accommodates a larger view of the world in relation to communities, cultures and
globalization.
• It means to preserve future generations and to acknowledge that what we do can have an impact
on others and on the world.
• Social sustainability focuses on maintaining and improving social quality with concepts such as
cohesion, reciprocity and honesty and the importance of relationships amongst people.
• It can be encouraged and supported by laws, information and shared ideas of equality and rights.
Social Sustainability
• Social sustainability involves a focus on the well-being of people and communities.
• It’s about promoting equity, human rights, access to education and health care, and decent
work.
• Social sustainability aims to create inclusive societies, reduce inequality, and ensure long-term
well-being for all people while preserving social cohesion and justice.

To achieve social sustainability, it is necessary to overcome:

• Poverty and socioeconomic inequality.

• Discrimination, prejudice and social exclusion.
• Lack of access to resources.
• Insecurity and conflict, locally, regionally and globally.
• Poor governance, which includes phenomena such as corruption and institutional inefficiency.
Economic Sustainability
• Economic sustainability aims to maintain the capital intact. If social sustainability focuses on
improving social equality, economic sustainability aims to improve the standard of living. In the
context of business, it refers to the efficient use of assets to maintain company profitability over
time.
• Efforts to be more environmentally sustainable can also benefit the economic sustainability of an
organization. For example, recycling valuable materials, such as electronic waste and textile
waste, can lower operating costs and reduce the intensity of resource extraction required to
sustain businesses.
• Economic sustainability includes job creation, profitability, and proper accounting of ecosystem
services for optimal cost-benefit analysis. When it comes to the job market, research shows high
rates of employment benefit both the economy and the people's social well-being
Economic Sustainability
• It also refers to the efficient use of company assets to ensure company profitability over time.
• Economic sustainability is the approach whereby economic activities are conducted in such a way
as to preserve and promote long-term economic well-being. In practice, it aims to create a
balance between economic growth, resource efficiency, social equity and financial stability.
Factors influencing economic sustainability
Factors influencing economic sustainability include:
• The responsible management of resources.
• The capacity for efficiency and innovation of economic systems and enterprises.
• Financial stability at the macro level.
• States' level of social innovation, that is, each country's commitment to promoting policies, programs and
initiatives that address crucial social issues such as poverty, gender equality, access to education and health
care, environmental sustainability, and other social issues.
• International cooperation and partnerships between public administration and private enterprises.
• The level of equity and social inclusion.
• Corporate responsibility.
Environmental sustainability
• Environmental sustainability aims to improve human welfare through the protection of natural
capital (e.g. land, air, water, minerals etc.).
• Initiatives and programs are defined environmentally sustainable when they ensure that the
needs of the population are met without the risk of compromising the needs of future
generations.
• Environmental sustainability is the ability to preserve and protect the natural environment over
time through appropriate practices and policies, meeting present needs without compromising
the availability of resources in the future.
• Environmental sustainability focuses on the well-being of the environment. This pillar includes
water quality, air quality, and reduction of environmental stressors, such as greenhouse gas
emissions.
Factors influencing environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability is influenced by several factors that can have a significant impact on
the ecological balance and the planet's ability to sustain life.
Some of the main ones include:
• air, water and soil pollution;
• climate change, caused by the excessive amount of greenhouse gases released into the
atmosphere due to human activities;
• The loss of biodiversity;
• The overexploitation of natural resources;
• Economic models that involve unsustainable consumption.
What goals should we aim to achieve?
• To achieve environmental sustainability, a number of key goals must be achieved, including:
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, especially in crucial sectors such as power generation, industry, agriculture
and transportation.
• Increasing the production and use of energy from renewable sources and implementing policies to conserve
biodiversity by addressing its causes.
• Adopting sustainable practices in agriculture and the food chain, such as precision agriculture strategies, optimizing
and increasing soil quality and productivity through a series of targeted interventions using
technology, regenerative agriculture and agrivoltaics, non-soil cultivation methods such as hydroponic or aeroponic
systems, and reducing food waste.
• Raising awareness and engaging communities on the issue of environmental sustainability.
• Promoting the circular economy.
Scope and Importance
• Environmental problems are always interrelated. Often solution to one problem actually creates another problem.
• The major environmental problems can be divided into following categories:
1. Over-population : It amplifies all other environmental problems.
2. Pollution : It makes vital resources less useful and reduces the quality of life.
3. Depletion of resources: It makes things that are vital to human existence more expensive.
4. Global changes : They result from human activities and may permanently alter the Earth in unpredictable ways;
5. War: This causes all other environmental problems. - Modern warfare which threatens the survival of the human species.
Scope and Importance
• At present the world is very crowded, more polluted, ecologically fragile and vulnerable
to disruption. Despite greater material output, the World's people will be poorer in many
ways than they are today. Regional water shortage will become more severe.
• Significant losses of world forests will continue over the next 20 years as demand for
forest products and fuel wood increases.
• The world's forests are currently disappearing at the rate of 20 million hectares per year,
with most of the loss occurring in the humid tropical forests of Africa, Asia and South
America.
• Serious deterioration of agricultural soils will occur worldwide, due to erosion, loss of
organic matter, desertification, salinization and water logging.
Scope and Importance
• Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and ozone depleting chemicals are expected to
increase at rates that could alter the world's climate and upper atmosphere significantly by 2050.
• Acid rain from increased combustion of fossil fuels threatens and causes damage to lakes, soils and
crops. Radioactive and other hazardous materials create health and safety problems in increasing
numbers of countries.
• Extinctions of plant and animal species will increase dramatically. More than 20 percent of all
species on earth will be irretrievably lost from their habitats and thus vanish, especially from
tropical forests.
Necessity for Environmental Awareness and Education
• Environmental Science is an inter-disciplinary awareness and education science encompassing the principles
of basic sciences like physics, chemistry, biology, geology and applied sciences like engineering, agriculture
and other similar disciplines.
• It also gives input to social sciences such as sociology, economics, law, political science and philosophy.
• It can be include two main aspects as follows.
a) Theoretical aspects dealing with the identification of environmental problems.
b) Applied aspects dealing with development of solutions to the environmental problems identified above.
• It has now been globally identified that to maintain the quality of life, there is a an urgent need to protect the
environment. This is initiated by creating awareness among the people so that it becomes a part of their life
style.
Necessity for Environmental Awareness and Education
• As the Earth's natural resources are rapidly dwindling and our environment is being increasingly degraded by
human activities, it is evident that something needs to be done.
• It is the prevention of environmental degradation that must become a part of all our lives. Protecting our
environment is economically more viable than cleaning it up once it is damaged.
• Individually, we can play a major role in environment management. We can reduce wastage of natural
resources and we can act as watchdogs that inform the government about sources that lead to pollution and
degradation of the environment.
• This can only be made possible through public awareness. Mass media such as newspapers, radio and
television strongly influence public opinion. If each of us feels strongly about the environment, the press and
media will add to our efforts.
• Each of us is responsible for spreading this message to as many people as possible.
What is Sustainable Development
"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present, without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“
❖ Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both for the future and the present.
We might need to change the way we work and live now, but this doesn't mean our quality of life will be
reduced.
❖ A sustainable development approach can bring many benefits in the short to medium term,
for example: Health & Transport - Instead of driving, switching to walking or cycling for short journeys will
save you money, improve your health and is often just as quick and convenient.
Sustainable Development Goals
• To promote the kind of development that minimizes environmental problems.
• To meet the needs of the existing generation without compromising with the quality of the environment for
future generations.
 Achieving Sustainable Development
Sustainable development can be achieved if we follow the following points:
• It can be achieved by restricting human activities.
• Technological development should be input effective and not input utilising.
• The rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of salvation.
• For renewable resources, the rate of consumption should not surpass the rate of production of
renewable substitutes.
• All types of pollution should be minimized.
• It can be achieved by sensible use of natural resources.
Sustainable Development Goals
• The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 global goals established by the United
Nations (UN) to address various social, economic, and environmental challenges.
• These goals were officially adopted by all UN Member States in September 2015 as part of the
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
History
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):
• Before the SDGs, the global community was guided by the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), a set of eight goals adopted in 2000 with a target achievement date of 2015. The MDGs
aimed to address issues such as poverty, hunger, disease, illiteracy, environmental degradation,
and discrimination against women.
• While the MDGs achieved some significant successes, they were often criticized for their limited
scope and for not addressing the root causes of poverty and inequality comprehensively.
Rio+20 Conference:
• The Rio+20 Conference, held in 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, was a critical event that laid the groundwork for the
SDGs. Officially known as the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20 aimed to
renew political commitment to sustainable development and assess progress towards internationally agreed
goals.
• One of the key outcomes of Rio+20 was the agreement to develop a set of universally applicable Sustainable
Development Goals, building upon the success of the MDGs but expanding their scope to cover a broader
range of issues and include all countries, not just developing ones.
Development Process
Open Working Group (OWG):
• In 2013, the UN General Assembly established an Open Working Group (OWG) to develop a
proposal for the SDGs. The OWG was comprised of representatives from 70 countries who
worked collaboratively to identify priorities and formulate goals.
• The OWG conducted extensive consultations with stakeholders, including governments, civil
society, the private sector, and academia, to ensure that the goals would be comprehensive,
inclusive, and reflective of global priorities.
Adoption and Structure
Adoption of the 2030 Agenda
• In September 2015, during the UN Sustainable Development Summit, world leaders adopted the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development, which included the 17 SDGs and 169 associated targets. The Agenda
emphasizes the importance of "leaving no one behind" and calls for collaborative efforts to achieve
sustainable development in a balanced and integrated manner.
• The development of the SDGs was characterized by an unprecedented level of inclusiveness and
transparency. The UN launched a global survey, "My World," to gather input from millions of people
worldwide on their priorities for the new goals.
• Numerous thematic and regional consultations were held, and input was sought from various sectors,
including youth, women, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized groups, to ensure that the goals were
people-centric and addressed the needs of all.
The 17 Goals (SDG’s)
• The 17 SDGs cover a wide range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, gender
equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic
growth, industry and infrastructure, reducing inequalities, sustainable cities, responsible
consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace and justice, and
partnerships for the goals.
Key Features of the SDGs
• Universality:
Unlike the MDGs, which primarily focused on developing countries, the SDGs are universal and
apply to all countries, recognizing that sustainable development is a shared responsibility and that
every country has work to do.
• Integration:
The SDGs are integrated and indivisible, meaning that progress in one area often depends on
progress in others. For example, improving education can lead to better health outcomes and
economic growth.
• Inclusivity:
The SDGs emphasize the importance of inclusion and equality, aiming to ensure that no one is left
behind, including marginalized and vulnerable populations.
• Measurability:
Each goal has specific targets and indicators to measure progress. The UN and various agencies
monitor and report on progress towards achieving the SDGs, providing data and analysis to guide
policy and decision-making.
Addressing Feasibility, Opportunities, Challenges,
and Limitations in Achieving Sustainability
• Achieving sustainability, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
involves addressing a complex web of interrelated social, economic, and environmental issues.
Here's a detailed exploration of the feasibility, opportunities, challenges, and limitations
associated with this endeavour:
Feasibility
1. Policy and Governance:
• Strong Political Will: Effective governance and strong political commitment are crucial for
integrating sustainability into national policies and strategies.
• Regulatory Frameworks: Establishing robust regulatory frameworks to enforce sustainable
practices can enhance feasibility.
• Institutional Capacity: Building institutional capacity for planning, implementing, and monitoring
sustainability initiatives is essential.
2. Technological Advancements:
• Innovation and Research: Advancements in technology and research can provide new solutions to
sustainability challenges.
• Renewable Energy: Adoption of renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro can reduce
dependence on fossil fuels and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Sustainable Agriculture: Precision farming, biotechnology, and sustainable agricultural practices
can increase food production while minimizing environmental impact.
Feasibility
3. Economic Viability:
• Green Economy: Transitioning to a green economy can create jobs, stimulate economic growth,
and promote sustainable development.
• Investment: Mobilizing financial resources through public and private investments, international
aid, and innovative financing mechanisms is vital.
• Cost-Benefit Analysis: Implementing cost-effective sustainability measures can demonstrate the
economic benefits of sustainable practices.
Opportunities
1. Economic Growth:
• Job Creation: Green industries, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture can create new employment
opportunities.
• Market Opportunities: Businesses can tap into new markets by developing sustainable products and
services.
2. Social Benefits:
• Health and Well-being: Improved air and water quality, access to clean energy, and better living conditions
contribute to public health and well-being.
• Education and Awareness: Promoting sustainability education and awareness can empower individuals and
communities to adopt sustainable practices.
3. Environmental Protection:
• Biodiversity Conservation: Sustainable land use and conservation efforts can protect biodiversity and
ecosystems.
• Climate Resilience: Enhancing climate resilience through sustainable infrastructure and disaster risk
reduction measures can mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Challenges
1. Resource Constraints:
• Financial Resources: Limited financial resources and competing priorities can hinder the
implementation of sustainability initiatives.
• Technological Gaps: Access to advanced technologies and technical expertise may be lacking in
some regions, especially in developing countries.
2. Social and Cultural Barriers:
• Behavioral Change: Achieving sustainability requires significant changes in consumption patterns,
lifestyles, and behaviors, which can be challenging to implement.
• Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring that sustainability efforts are inclusive and benefit all segments of
society, including marginalized and vulnerable populations, is essential.
3. Political and Institutional Challenges:
• Policy Coherence: Achieving policy coherence across different sectors and levels of government is
crucial for effective sustainability.
• Corruption and Governance: Weak governance, corruption, and lack of accountability can
undermine sustainability efforts.
Limitations
1. Data and Monitoring:
• Data Availability: Lack of reliable data and information can impede the planning, implementation,
and monitoring of sustainability initiatives.
• Measurement Challenges: Measuring progress towards sustainability goals can be complex,
requiring accurate indicators and methodologies.
2. Global Dependencies:
• International Cooperation: Achieving sustainability often requires international cooperation and
coordination, which can be challenging due to differing national interests and priorities.
• Trade-offs: There may be trade-offs between different sustainability goals, such as economic
growth versus environmental protection, which need to be carefully managed.
3. Environmental Limits:
• Planetary Boundaries: There are biophysical limits to how much human activity the Earth can
sustain, such as limits to resource extraction and waste absorption.
• Climate Change: The impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather events, rising sea
levels, and loss of biodiversity, pose significant limitations to sustainability efforts.
Strategies for Overcoming Challenges and
Limitations
1. Integrated Approaches:
• Cross-sectoral Collaboration: Promoting collaboration across different sectors (e.g., energy, agriculture, transport)
to achieve integrated and holistic solutions.
• Systems Thinking: Applying systems thinking to understand the interconnections and feedback loops within social,
economic, and environmental systems.
2. Capacity Building:
• Education and Training: Investing in education and training to build the skills and knowledge needed for sustainable
development.
• Institutional Strengthening: Strengthening institutions to improve governance, transparency, and accountability.
3. Innovation and Technology:
• Research and Development: Supporting research and development to drive innovation in sustainable technologies
and practices.
• Technology Transfer: Facilitating the transfer of sustainable technologies and best practices from developed to
developing countries.
Strategies for Overcoming Challenges and
Limitations
4. Stakeholder Engagement:
• Public Participation: Engaging citizens, communities, and civil society organizations in the
decision-making process to ensure that sustainability efforts are inclusive and participatory.
• Private Sector Involvement: Encouraging the private sector to adopt sustainable business
practices and invest in sustainability initiatives.
5. International Cooperation:
• Global Partnerships: Building global partnerships and alliances to address transboundary
sustainability challenges and mobilize resources.
• Multilateral Agreements: Strengthening multilateral agreements and frameworks, such as the
Paris Agreement on climate change, to promote collective action.
 Conclusion
Achieving sustainability is a complex and multifaceted challenge that requires coordinated efforts at
the local, national, and global levels. By addressing the feasibility, opportunities, challenges, and
limitations through integrated approaches, capacity building, innovation, stakeholder engagement,
and international cooperation, the global community can make significant progress towards a
sustainable future.