Wednesday, June 27, 2007

What is sustainability

So what exactly is sustainability? Is it just a different way of saying that someone is environmentally conscious, does it have something to do with supporting animal rights activism or is it about using renewable resources etc. The most widely accepted definition for sustainable development comes from Brundtland report (1987). It defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Ever since the publication of the report environmentally friendly practices have been receiving greater public attention because of their impact on the society, leading to some interest among politicians. Of late NGO’s and motivated groups like our own have been working on highlighting the concept of environmentally sustainable practices in every day life.

Being environmentally sustainable does not mean putting an end to scientific and technological progress and going back to 18th lifestyle. Rather, it is about constantly improving existing products, processes and day-to-day activities so as to achieve more with less, without interfering with the natural ecosystem. This would mean eliminating wastage, reducing energy consumption, end of product life management, recycling etc. So sustainability and technology go hand in hand to result in a positive ecological impact.
This is where contributions from our generation will play a crucial role in defining future trends. We must put our forces together in stopping the transition of our country from the sustainable land it always has been, to an unsustainable one. Please stay active and spread the word of sustainability whenever there is a possibility. For example, college functions can sport an environmental theme, any kind of community public event etc. Thank you and hope to hear back.

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