KYAMBOGO UNIVERSTY

FACULTY: SOCIALSCIENCES
TASK:GROUPCOURSEWORK
COURSEUNIT:DEVELOPMENTECONOMICPOLICYANDPLANNING
COURSECODE:AEC3101
YEARTHREE:SEMESTERONE
NAMEOFLECTURER:DRHENRYTUMWEBAZE
BACHELOROFSCIENCEWITHEDUCATION
GROUP
s/n Name Registration signature
1 ALECOELIZABETH 21/U/ESE/09632/PD
2 ABIONGRUTH 21/U/ESE/09454/PD
3 OLUMAMANSUR 21/U/ESE/10868/PD
QUESTION;
Sustainabledevelopment(meaning,objectives,environmentalproble
ms,causesofenvironmentaldegradation,policiesandmeasuringsusta
inabledevelopment)
SUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENT.
Therearemanydefinitionsofsustainabledevelopmentbutthemostpopular
isbyBrundtlandreportwhichdefinesitas“thedevelopmentthatmeetsthene
edsofthepresentgenerationwithoutcompromisingtheabilityofthefutureg
enerationtomeettheirownneeds”.Thatisdevelopmentshouldkeepgoing.
Itemphasizesthecreationofsustainableimprovementsinthequalityoflifet
hroughincreaseinpercapitaincomes,improvementsineducation,healthan
dothersocialeconomicinfrastructuresaswellasthequalityofnaturalenviro
nmentalresources.
Inotherwords,sustainabledevelopmentisthatsituationinwhichdevelopm
entdoesnotchangenegativelyovertimethatis‘developmentthatiseverlasti
ngandcontributestothequalityoflifethroughimprovementsinnaturalenvi
ronmentwhichinturnsupplyutilitytoindividuals,inputstothedevelopmen
tprocessandservicesthatsupportlife’.Therefore,sustainabledevelopment
iscloselylinkedtotheeconomicdevelopmentthoughtheconceptitselfisrec
entoriginwhichwasfirstusedbytheworldconservationstrategyin1980and
firstdefinedbyBrundtlandreportentitled“ourcommonfuture”in1987.The
refore,developmentexpertsaremoreconcernedwithattainingsustainable
developmentinthreeareasineconomicneed,social-
culturalneedsandecological/environmentalneeds.
THEOBJECTIVESOFSUSTAINABLEDEVELOPMENTAREAS
FOLLOWS.
 Promotingenvironmentallysustainablepatternsofconsumptionwhi
chmeanstouselessnaturalresourcesandproducelesswastes.
 Promotingsocialequity,whichmeanstodistributewealthmoreevenl
ysothatpeoplecanlivehealthylife.
  Improvingeconomicefficiency,whichmeanstomakethemostuseof
ourresources,energy,labourandmaterials.
 Preservingculturaldiversitybysupportinglocaleconomiesandenco
uragingdifferentperspectivesonwhatisimportant.
 Protectingtheenvironmentbyusingtherenewablenaturalresourcesi
nsteadofnon-
renewableoneslikefossilfuelsandbycreatingpracticesthatcause.
 Tocontrolpopulationgrowthrateswithassociatedthreatssuchasdefo
restation,swampreclamationsoastocreatemorelandforbothsettlem
entandagriculture.
ENVIRONMENT
Isthesurroundingorconditionsinwhichaperson,animalorplantlivesorope
rates.
ENVIRONMENTISFACEDWITHTHEFOLLOWINGPROBLE
MS.
Globalwarming.Theemissionofgreenhousegasesduetohumanactivityca
usesglobalwarmingwhichinturncausesanincreaseintemperaturethatthen
leadstorisingsealevels,metalofpolaricecaps,floodsanddesertification.
Pollution.Theair,waterandsoilpollutioncausedbytoxicssuchasplastics,h
eavymetalsandnitratescausedbyfactories,combustionoffossilfuels,acidr
ain,oilspillsandindustrialwastes.
Overpopulation.Wearefacingashortageofresourcessuchasfood,water,a
ndfueltosustaintheraisingglobalpopulationparticularlyindevelopingcou
ntries.Intensiveagricultureattemptingtolessentheproblemactuallyleadst
omoredamagethroughtheuseofchemicalfertilizers,pesticidesandinsecti
cides.
Waterdisposal.Anexcessiveamountofwaterisproducedanddumpedinoc
eans.Nuclearwasteisparticularlydangerousaswellasplasticsandelectroni
cwastes.
Oceanacidification.Theincreaseintheproductionofcarbondioxidebyhu
mancausestheoceanaciditytorisewhichhasanegativeeffectonmarinelife.
Lossofbiodiversity.Speciesandhabitantsarebecomingextinctduetohuma
nactivity.Thiscausesanimbalanceinnaturalprocesseslikepollinationand
possesarethreattoeco-
system,coralreefdestructionisparticularlyaffected.
Deforestation.Lossoftressinordertomakespaceforresidentials,industrial
orcommercialprojectsmeansthatlessoxygenisproducedandtemperature
andrainfallareaffected.
Ozonelayerdepletion.Pollutioncausedbychlorofluorocarbons(CFCS)in
theaircreatesaholeintheozonelayerwhichprotectstheearthfromharmful
UVradiations
Acidicrain.Pollutantsintheatmospheresuchassulphurdioxideandnitroge
noxidescauseacidicrainwhichcausenegativeconsequencesforhuman,wi
ldlifeandaquaticspecies.
Publichealthissues.Lackofcleanwaterisoneoftheleadingenvironmentalp
roblemcurrently.Pollutantsintheairalsocauseissuessuchasrespiratorydis
easesandcardiovasculardiseases.
ENVIRONMENTALDEGRADATION.
Environmentaldegradationreferstotheenvironmentdepletionofresource
ssuchasqualityofair,waterandsoil,thedestructionofeco-
systems,habitatdestruction,theextinctionofwildlife,andpollution.Itisdef
inedasanychangeordisturbancetotheenvironmentperceivedtobedeleteri
ousorundesirable.Itoccurswhentheearth’snaturalresourcesaredepleteda
ndtheenvironmentiscomprisedintheformofextinctionofspecies,pollutio
nintheair,waterandsoilandrapidgrowthinpopulation.
Thereareseveraltypesofenvironmentaldegradation;
Landandsoildegradation.Degradationofsoilqualityfrompoorfarmingpra
ctices,excessiveuseoffertilizersandpesticides,leakagefromlandfillsand
manyothers.
Waterdegradation.Pollutionofwaterfromtrashdumpedinoceans,illegald
umping,disposaloflargeamountsofindustrialwastesintonearbyriversorla
kesandmanyothers.
Atmosphericdegradation.Thisincludesairdegradation,particlepollution
andthedepletionoftheozonelayer.
THEFOLLOWINGARETHECAUSESOFENVIRONMENTALD
EGRADATION
Deforestation.Forpurposesofwoodfuelandtimberinmabira,budongomt.
elgonforesthasledtolossofforestswhichhasledtosoilerosionanddegradat
ioninresultstolowandunreliablerainfallinsuchareas.
BushburningbypastoraltribesofHima,IsingiroandKaramojong’sinKaab
onginKotidohasledtolossofvegetationleadingtosoilerosionanddegradat
ion.
Industrializationhasledtowaterandairpollutionespeciallyinindustrialciti
esandtownsofJinja,Kampala,Tororo.Thisimitatesfromindustrialfumesa
ndwasteslikeUgandabreweriesatLuzirapollutingLakeVictorialeadingto
thedeathofaquaticlifeandthusdegradation.
OvergrazingduetooverstockinglikepastoraltribeslikeKaramojong’sink
aabong,kotido,moroto,andkiruhura,sembabuleandmanyothers.Thishasl
edtodegradationexposingthelandtosoilerosionandlossoffertilitythuslan
ddegradation.
Extensiveswampreclamationlikeinnabajjuziwetlandinmasakaforsettle
mentandmpolongomaandlumbuyewetlandforcultivationwhichhasledto
lossbirdsandanimalhabitats,dryingupofstreams,reducedlandproductivit
yandaridconditions.
Monoculturehasledtodepletionofnutrientsandagenerallossofsoilproduc
tivity,coffeeandbananagrowingareasofmukono,masaka,mbaleandteagr
owinginkyamuhungainbushenyi,sugarcanegrowinginlugaziseasonafter
seasonhasalsoledtolanddegradation.
Miningofmineralslikecopperatkilembeinkasesehasledtomineralexhaust
ionandlanddeformationandclayatkajansiinwakisohasdeterioratedswam
psaffectingrainformationandeco-systemthusswampreclamation.
Thecontinuedroadconstructioninvolvesexcavatingthelandscapeleading
tosoilerosionandlandslides,roadslikekampala-kabale,northern-
bypasshavereclaimedswamps,deformedlandandclearedforests.
Poverty.Itisconsideredthatpovertyisbothacauseandeffectofenvironmen
taldegradationwhenindividualslacktheessentialsforsurvivalforinstancet
heycanbefightingfortheirlivesandlackingaccesstocleanwater,suitablesh
elter,enoughclothingormedicines.
Urbanization.Duetotheecologicalchangesandthelackofprospectsforpro
ductiveemploymentinruralareas,poorfamiliesaremovingtocitiesineveri
ncreasingnumbers.
Population.Theconsumptionofnaturalresourcesandtheproductionofwas
tearethemainwaysthepopulationaffectstheenvironment.Itisalsoexposed
tovariousenvironmentalprocesslikebiodiversityloss,airandwaterpolluti
onandincreaseddemandonarableland.
THEFOLLOWINGARETHEPOLICIESOFSUSTAINABLEDEV
ELOPMENT.
1) Reducingpoverty.Theforemostpolicytoreducepovertyistocreatepr
ojectswithgreateremploymentopportunitiesforpoorpeopleshould
bestarted.Investmentsincivicamenitiesforexamplesupplyofdrinki
ngwater,sanitationfacilitiesandmanyotherswillimproveenvironm
entofthecountry.
2) removalofsubsidies.Toreduceenvironmentaldamages,thesubsidie
sgivenforuseofresourcessuchaselectricity,fertilizers,pesticidesdie
selsandmanyothersshouldberemovedbecausetheyleadtotheirwast
efuluseandgenerateenvironmentalproblems.
3) Marketbasedapproaches.Thisisurgentneedforadoptingmarketapp
roachesforprotectionoftheenvironment.Theyaimatappointingtoth
econsumerandindustryaboutthecostofusingnaturalresourcesonthe
environment.Thisapproachisthetestpolicy.Theseinstrumentsarein
theformofenvironmentaltaxeswhichincludespollutionchargesand
usercharges.
4) Economicincentives.Theyareregardedtoprice,quantityandtechnol
ogythatcanalsohelptogreaterextent.Incentivesareusuallygiveninth
 eformofvariablefeestoresourceusersforthequantityofpollutantsina
ir,waterandlanduse.Theyaregivenrebatesiflesswasteorpollutionis
generatedthenthestandardsarelaiddownbythegovernment.
5) Publicawareness.Publicawarenessandparticipationarequiteeffecti
vetoimproveenvironmentalconditions.Formalandinformaleducati
onprogrammesrelatingtoenvironmentmanagementshouldbecond
uctedinpublicparticipationthatcanrenderusefulassistanceinaffores
tation,managementofparks,conservationofwildlife.
6) Participationofglobalenvironmentalefforts.Itisfeltthatparticipatio
ninglobalenvironmentaleffortcanhelptominimizedamagesmadeb
ydegradationontheenvironment,soeffortsshouldbemadetomakeag
reementsonenvironmentalprotection.
7) Tradepolicy.Tradepolicystressesontheestablishmentoflesspolluti
ngindustriesawayfromthecitiesandtheuseofenvironmentalfriendl
yprocessesforpollutingindustriesbyadoptingcleanertechnologies.
THEFOLLOWINGARETHEMEASURESOFSUSTAINAB
LEDEVELOPMENT.
1. Usingappropriatetechnologyisonewhichistotallyadaptable,eco-
friendly,resourceefficientandculturallysuitable.Itmostlyinvolvesl
ocalresourcesandlocallabour,indigenoustechnologiesaremoreusu
al,costeffectiveandsustainable.Natureisoftentakenasamodel,usin
gthenaturalconditionsofthatregionasitscomponents,thisconceptis
knownas“designwithnature”.Thetechnologyshoulduselessofreso
urceandshouldproduceminimumwastes
2. Reduce,reuseandrecycleapproach.The3-
Rapproachadvocatingminimizationofresourceuse,usingthemagai
nandagaininsteadofpassingitontothewastestreamandrecyclingthe
materialsgoesalongawayinachievingthegoalsofsustainability.Itre
ducespressureonourresourcesaswellasreducingwastegenerationa
ndpollution
3. Promotingenvironmentaleducationandawareness.Makingenviron
mentaleducationthecentreofalllearningprocesswillgreatlyhelpint
hethinkingpatternandattitudeofpeopletowardsourearthandenviro
nment.Introducingsubjectrightfromtheschoolstagewillinculcateaf
eelingbelongingnesstoearthinsmallchildren.Earththinkingwillgra
 duallygetincorporatedinourthinkingandactionwhichgreatlyhelpin
transformingourlifestylestosustainableones
4. Resourceutilizationaspercarryingcapacity.anysystemcancertainal
imitednumberoforganismsinalongtermbasiswhichisknownasit’sc
arryingcapacity.Incaseofhumanbeings,thecarryingcapacityconce
ptbecomesallthemorecomplex.Itisbecauseunliketheotheranimals,
humanbeingsnotonlyfoodbutneedsomanyotherthingstomaintaint
hequalityoflife.Sustainabilityofasystemdependslargelyupontheca
rryingcapacityofthesystem,ifthecarryingcapacityofthesystemiscr
ossed(saybyoverexploitationoftheresources),environmentaldegra
dationstartsandcontinuestillitreachesapointofnoreturn
5. Improvingqualityoflifeincludingsocial,culturalandeconomicdime
nsion.Developmentshouldnotfocusonlyononesectionofalreadyaff
ectedpeopleratheritshouldincludesharingofbenefitsbetweentheric
handthepoor.Thetribal,ethnicpeopleandtheirculturalheritageshou
ldalsobeconserved.Strongcommunityparticipationshouldbetherei
npolicyandpractice,populationgrowthshouldbestabilized.