Introduction
To ensure the continuity of humanity, we have to develop a sustainable world. Sustainability is divided into environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Environmental sustainability is attained through ensuring that the processes that people are involved with use up the natural resources at a rate at which they can be replaced naturally. Economic sustainability involves distributing and allocating the natural resources fairly to ensure economic growth while ensuring that we do not exhaust the resources.
Social sustainability ensures that the well-being of individuals and the environment in which they live in are upheld (Ekins 48). This paper explores ways through which we can develop sustainable world both for ourselves and for future generations.
A sustainable world
I am living in a sustainable world. At home I use sustainable appliances that are energy-efficient. The source of energy for cooking, lighting, heating water and space and supporting other appliances is renewable and emits less harmful gases into the atmosphere. This energy is generated from renewable sources such as solar panels that use nanotechnology, geothermal power, hydroelectricity and wind, ocean energy. These sources provide energy which can be replenished and does little harm to the environment. To save on water, I use sound-wave showers and washing machines
When going to wok every morning and I use sustainable means of transport. I can walk, cycle, drive, or use the car sharing service. My car is electricity powered and does not emit harmful gases into the atmosphere. When I come back home after a long day, I relax and get some entertainment. The entertainment gadgets are eco-friendly, mostly using solar energy. The music and audiovisual systems are all sustainable and energy-efficient.
The cities have grown very big and most people live in them. The world is interconnected fully due to developments in information and communication technologies. Communication is greatly advanced and interaction with people is easy through GPS technology, internet, teleconferencing, and mobile phones. Everyone has access to a computer and the internet in their homes. Human intelligence can be enhanced through implanting computer chips into the brain. Contents of a human brain can be read by uploading them to a computer.
In education, topics that encourage people to work towards maintaining sustainability have been incorporated in the curriculums. There are topics about global warming, globalization, healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, importance of using renewable energy and efficient consumption of energy. The home designs and the materials used in the construction of houses are also sustainable. Sustainable homes are built with renewable raw materials such as bamboo, hemp, natural rubber, linoleum, among others.
Both land and air transports are greatly advanced. People are using sustainable means of transport like cycling, walking, sailing hybrid vehicles, solar and hydrogen powered vehicles. Air transportation is also sustainable. The aviation industry is able to meet the high air transportation demand and has reduced negative effects on the environment. Air transportation is efficient because of adoption of the mechanism where several planes fly together while being directed by one leader.
The planes do not make any noise and emit less carbon dioxide into the environment. The cost of travel is also very low as the airplanes use sustainable and cost-effective fuel such as nuclear energy, liquid methane and liquid hydrogen. The traveling experience is now more personalized, fun and convenient. Road transportation is also safe, cost-effective, and environmental friendly. The vehicles use less energy and fuels from renewable sources such as hydrogen and electricity. There is reduced congestion on the road due to the adoption of the car sharing service.
An example of an innovative eco-friendly model is the car sharing program. Car sharing provides access to vehicles for hire for short periods of time. Cars in this network are located in different locations where clients can easily access them. The clients make reservations and are charged according to the miles that they cover. This program contributes to social, economic and environmental sustainability in various ways. The number of cars is reduced on the road because the clients who use this mode of transport leave their cars at home.
Fewer cars on the road means that the amount of emissions from vehicles such as hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and soot released into the environment are also reduced. Car sharing programs also use smaller cars and with better standards of carbon emissions. Reduction of cars on the roads leads to decongestion and therefore convenience in travel. This program also reduces the number of miles that are driven by vehicles because of the incentive of paying as you drive. This service also saves on energy consumption.
In a future sustainable world, car sharing is the most widely used mode of transport. Almost all people leave their cars at home and adopt this eco-friendly transport service. Therefore there are no traffic hold ups on the roads and people get to their destinations on time. The cars used in this service are eco-friendly. The cars are electricity powered and therefore they do not contribute to environmental degradation.
They do not emit any harmful gases and the engines produce less noise. These vehicles also use less energy and the transportation costs are very low. The vehicles use green electricity sources which are renewable and therefore, the environmental resources can not be depleted. The services are efficient and the cars can be availed at the clients’ doorsteps. The car sharing services are interconnected with other mass means of transport like trains and this has led to increased efficiency in transportation. There is improved safety, less environmental degradation, increased comfort and less consumption of fuel.
These cars are also independent as they can drive themselves. All a client does is to key in details of the destination and the car takes him/ her there. The cars also have installed sensors that locate a parking space and park themselves. In addition, when the vehicle gets scratched, it gets repaired through a self-repairing mechanism. The cars also have sensors to detect heavily congested routes and therefore avoid them. Moreover, the vehicles have the capability to detect the possibility of an accident and therefore, they automatically slow down.
According to McDonough and Braungart, the current product designs are negatively impacting on the environment and therefore, we need to come up with more creative eco-friendly designs to remedy the situation. Products designers need to look at the natural organization and create products that do not affect the environment. Industrialization has led to the creation of products, buildings and other equipment that are detrimental to the ecosystem (McDonough and Braungart 18). The current measures aimed at attaining a sustainable world such as reducing carbon and greenhouse emissions and recycling products can not effectively protect the ecosystem.
Developing products while bearing in mind the environmental safety can help in combating the problem of environmental degradation. We need to develop products that do not leave any waste. Remedies like recycling are not effective since they result in products of lower quality than the original. Such strategies only reduce environmental degradation instead of getting rid of it completely. The processes of manufacturing and environmental preservation do not need to conflict but can complement each other. This can happen if products that are manufactured do not negatively impact on the environment but contribute to its preservation (McDonough and Braungart 6).
The suggestions of McDonough and Braungart are very practical in attaining a sustainable world. This is because their adoption can help to avoid environmental degradation before it occurs, instead of allowing it to happen and then trying to remedy it, as is the case with the current strategies. This strategy can help to develop a sustainable future where the environmental resources are not depleted.
According to Goleman (12), many consumers are ignorant of the environmental impacts of the products that they purchase. Many products contain chemicals that are harmful to us and the environment. Providing information on exactly how every product is made, its contents and the impact of the production process to the environment will enable consumers to make informed choices on the things that they buy. They will avoid buying products that have devastating effects on the environment.
Ensuring that customers are fully aware of the environmental implications of products is very sensible. Implementing this suggestion by Goleman will lead to the development of a sustainable world. This is because the enlightened consumers will refuse to buy products with harmful environmental effects and consequently, the manufacturers will have to adjust their manufacturing methods to produce eco-friendly products. This will lead to reduced environmental degradation and thus, a sustainable world.
Working towards Sustainability
In order to achieve the dream of a sustainable world, I am taking some steps. I am using solar power for cooking, heating and lighting, which is a renewable source of energy so as to ensure that the natural sources are not depleted. I also consume locally grown food to reduce the amount of emissions that are produced by vehicles in transporting the food. I have planted a vegetable garden from where I get my food. Moreover, I eat less meat and more vegetables to reduce my carbon imprint on the environment. I have also adopted sustainable means of transport. I walk, ride a bicycle or use the car sharing services.
This reduces the carbon emissions into the environment and also reduces congestion on the roads. It also saves on fuel consumption (Tolley 138). I also use water sparingly and recycle it. I also water my vegetable garden in the morning or evening when little evaporation takes place. I also harvest rain water and use it in the house. In addition, I reuse materials to reduce the amount of waste as it pollutes the environment.
Conclusion
The natural environment has been seriously degraded and if steps are not taken to remedy the situation, our planet might be unable to support human life. If the environment is completely degraded, it will be unable to sustain humanity, and therefore human beings risk getting extinct. Sources of energy have been depleted and the environment has been polluted. That is why everyone should take a personal initiative to work towards developing a sustainable world. People should adopt sustainable lifestyles in order to save our ecosystem and leave a better world for future generations.
Works Cited
Ekins, Paul. Economic Growth and Environmental Sustainability: The Prospects for Green Growth. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print.
Goleman, Daniel. Ecological Intelligence: The Hidden Impacts of What We Buy. New York: Broadway Books, 2010. Print.
McDonough, William, and Braungart Michael. Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. New York: North Point Press, 2002. Print.
Tolley, Rodney. Sustainable Transport: Planning For Walking and Cycling In Urban Environments. USA: Woodhead Publishing, 2003. Print.