Sustainability road to a better future

Sustainability road to a better future

Mankind is facing the greatest threat of climate emergency which is being termed as “Code red for humanity”. Industrialization, urbanization and increasing population has led to an unprecedented crisis catalysed by overexploitation of natural resources, and their contamination with toxic chemicals and pollutants. There are far-reaching impacts of ever-increasing greenhouse gases on our planet. According to estimates of various agencies like, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) this will result in rise of earth temperature by 02 °C by 2050.

Global warming is giving rise to natural calamities like, flood, drought, melting of glaciers, etc. As per a United Nations report the human-caused rate of extinction of species of both plants and animals at present is hundreds of times higher than the natural rate in the past and as the situation is turning out it can be thousands of times higher in near future. Across the world, people are facing challenge of availability of potable water, pure air to breathe and also ever an alarming problem of land degradation.

“The Global Risks Report 2022” issued by World Economic Forum states that over a 10-year horizon, the health of the planet dominates concerns: environmental risks are perceived to be the five most critical long-term threats to the world as well as the most potentially damaging to people and planet, with “climate action failure”, “extreme weather”, and “biodiversity loss” ranking as the top three most severe risks. Human-induced climate change is causing dangerous and widespread disruption in nature and affecting the lives of billions of people around the world, despite efforts to reduce the risks. People and ecosystems least able to cope are being hardest hit. Non-degradable wastes being generated is increasing every minute and are the cause of contamination of natural resources and also causing harm to the humans. As per a recent report, a mass of plastic waste named as “Great Pacific Garbage Patch” approximately 1.6 million km in size, twice the size of Texas, is floating on the surface of Pacific Ocean.

This alarming situation is the major attention area and it is the need of the hour that Governments and non-government organizations involving individuals, communities, countries, and the globe as a whole, aligns themselves with the basic principles of ‘sustainability’. Human society and economy are thriving on nature, and only harmonious existence will allow Homo sapiens to persist and thrive on this planet.

Sustainability emphasizes the need for society to conserve resources, protect natural ecosystems, minimize pollution and promote social equity. In 1987 the World Commission on Environment and Development, also popularly known as the Brundtland Report, defined development as ‘sustainable’ when it ‘meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. There are three pillars of sustainability - environment, society and economy. Environmental sustainability is the most familiar concept which emphasizes on not overusing natural resources and focus on their sustainable management. Global actions are required to protect natural ecosystems and biodiversity, for ensuring clean water and air. Social sustainability has the objective to ensure that everyone has access to basic necessities like, clean, water, adequate food, healthcare, shelter, and human rights. It also means setting policies to encourage fair policies at the workplace so that there is no exploitation and discrimination. Economic sustainability has been defined as practices that support long-term economic growth without negatively impacting social, environmental, and cultural aspects of the community. Multi-level collaboration is required to achieve sustainability and address interconnected problems by balancing the needs of economic growth and resource conservation equally. We all should take steps to incorporate sustainability into every aspect of our life. Our willingness to think and act differently by putting economic development and the environment on equal footing as central parts of the same equation will help us resolve glaring problems like air pollution, food shortage, and food scarcity.

Entities can have positive impact on society and the economy by improving their sustainability performance. Sustainability Reporting is gaining momentum year on year due to stakeholders’ ever-rising demands for more transparent and better communication regarding their sustainability practices, initiatives, and performance. Much like their global counterparts, Indian corporates too are leaning towards the reporting frameworks to demonstrate their ability to create, preserve and grow value for a diverse stakeholder base.

A sustainable future requires that homo sapiens live within planetary boundaries in harmony with nature. Governments and policymakers should work together to enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by the target date of 2030, leaving no one behind. As individuals, we all should contribute in addressing this global crisis by changing our mindset and habits and adopting sustainable choices in our day-to-day life. A healthy planet will thrive and nurture happy and safe survival for present and future generations.