CHAPTER VIII:

Sustainability Issues
Sustainability –
is making decisions that do not have negative
consequences for either current or future
generations. Under this broad definition,
sustainability impacts on a wide range of
ecological and human issues, from the
preservation of natural resources to a
commitment to human and societal wellbeing. 
1) Initiatives –
An initiative is the start of something, with the hope that
it will continue. Government and business
start initiatives all the time. You can also talk
about initiative as a personal quality. A person
with initiative is motivated to do things.
Here are some initiatives that might just helped the sustainability of our world:
 
 AirCarbon: A Sustainable Plastic for the Future
 
AirCarbon was developed by Newlight Technologies, and has already won many awards for its innovative
sustainability. It's made from carbon emissions that would otherwise be released into the air, and can have a
multitude of uses. It's a verified carbon-negative material, meaning every step of its production and use is
fully green and sustainable. Because it is not made from oil like other plastics, it is also a cost-effective
alternative to other synthetic materials.
 
 
 
 The Seabin: Cleaning the Oceans Safely
 
The Seabin was invented by Andrew Turton and Pete Ceglinski, two surfers who wanted to clean up the
world's oceans. The Seabin can gather plastic, detergents, and oil, allowing clean water to filter through its
structure. Inside the bin is a catch bag, which traps any floating pollutants. A submersible water pump sucks
water through the bin, passing it out again once it has been cleaned. It only needs to be emptied once a month
and could make a huge impact on water pollution worldwide.
 CloudFisher: Converting Fog into Drinking Water
Created by Aqualonis, CloudFisher could allow people living in coastal or mountainous
areas to convert fog into safe drinking water. This water can also be used to irrigate
crops or forestry efforts. It's made from a 3D mesh that can withstand high wind
speeds, while still retaining water. It comes in a variety of sizes, to suit individual needs
or the needs of entire villages.
 
 Fairphone: The World's First Ethical Smartphone
Fairphone is a modular smartphone designed with fair work practices and recycling in
mind. To combat the growing waste caused by discharged electronic goods, Fairphone
created a long-lasting smartphone that can be easily repaired. Rather than replacing
the entire phone if part of it breaks, Fairphone allows you to simply replace the broken
module. Everything from the battery to the audio jack can be replaced, meaning fewer
phones will end up in landfills.
2) Engineering-
Is an important field for sustainability and environmental
awareness,those who work in this sector typically design or operate
systems that use energy and resources in a sustainable manner,
contributing to the sustainability of our environment and the human
race as a whole. The main issue about engineering when it comes
to sustainability is that the structures, systems and other things that
is built in earlier years have a tendency or limit to what it can
perform. So they must make either new or alternative ways to help
human race sustain more years to come.
Common engineering focuses:
 Water supply
 Food production
 Housing and shelter
 Sanitation and waste management
 Energy development
 Transportation

Every engineering discipline is engaged in sustainable design, employing numerous

initiatives, especially life cycle analysis (LCA), pollution prevention, design for the
environment (DfE), design for disassembly (DfD), and design for recycling (DfR). These
are replacing or at least changing pollution control paradigms. For example, concept of a
"cap and trade" has been tested and works well for some pollutants. This is a system
where companies are allowed to place a "bubble" over a whole manufacturing complex or
trade pollution credits with other companies in their industry instead of a "stack-by-stack"
and "pipe-by-pipe" approach, i.e. the so-called "command and control" approach. 
3) Agriculture-
The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the
growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and
other products.

The followings are the main challenges in Agriculture:

 
 Resource Depletion: The Costs of Industrial Agriculture –
From mechanized feedlots to automatic irrigation systems to agricultural machinery, North
American agriculture has become increasingly industrialized, placing ever-greater
demands on fossil fuel, water and topsoil resources. Petroleum not only fuels trucks and
mechanized farm equipment, but also serves as a base for synthetic pesticides and
fertilizers, tying the cost of growing food increasingly closer to the price of oil.
 
 Land Management: Degrading and Undervaluing Farmland-
Throughout much of North America, especially in the United States, land
management techniques have been draining the soil of nutritional value.
Monoculture, the practice of continually planting the same solitary crop on one plot
of farmland, removes nutrients from the soil that must be replenished with
additional fertilizers. 
 
 Food Waste: Compromising Food Security 
The United Nations estimates that one-third of the world’s food goes to waste,
either during agricultural production, post-harvest handling and storage, processing,
distribution, or consumption. In North America, a large percentage of this loss
comes from consumers wasting food.
 Demographic Changes: A Disconnected Public
In North American, the last 50 years have brought a major cultural shift
that has removed consumers further and further away from their food
sources. U.S. Census data from 2010 showed around 80% of Americans
living in urban areas. 
 Political Issues: The Business of Food
In the United States, untold amounts of food remained rotting on the vine
due to a shortage of migrant workers. Recent tightening on immigration
policy has drastically cut down on the nation’s imported workforce at a
time when very few Americans have any connection to farming let alone
a desire to work on one.
4) Architecture and housing-
Architecture is the art and science of designing buildings
and other physical structures.
Main sustainability issues, architecture is facing:
 Rapid Urbanization and Industrialization:
The consequences of this can further lead to Population explosion,
Geological deposits of sewage and garbage, Unsustainable patterns of
living & development, Environmental degradation (pollution of air,
water, soil etc, and food web disruption). Thus sustainable urban
development is crucial to improve the lives of urban populations and the
remainder of the planet. Both people and ecosystems impacted upon by
their activities.
 Natural Calamities:
Natural calamities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, flood, famine etc. which
are being further aggravated by mankind add to the list of other ill effects like
atomic explosion, greenhouse effect, ozone depletion etc. Sustainable design
attempts to have an understanding of the natural processes as well as the
environmental impact of the design. Making natural cycles and processes
visible, bring the designed environment back to life.
 Depletion of Non-renewable sources:
Rapid depletion of non-renewable sources is leading to serious issues related to
energy & water conservation etc. Thus the rational use of natural resources and
appropriate management of the building stock can contribute to saving scarce
resources, reducing energy consumption and improving environmental quality.
5) Management- Includes the activities of setting the strategy of
an organization and coordinating the efforts of its employees (or of
volunteers) to accomplish its objectives through the application of
available resources, such as financial, natural, technological, and
human resources.
The key question to be addressed is:” How does an
organization learn to reduce its negative impact on the
environment while getting high output for the economy?”
The answer is still not produced, especially these days where factories play
essential roles in our environment but potentially, slowly destroying our air and
water by its waste and toxic gasses. But humanity has the ability to learn and think
more than other species. We need to learn much more about our planet’s ecosystems
and much more about the impact of our technology on our planet. I believe that
with intelligence, care, creativity and new technology, we can accomplish a form of
economic development that achieves both growth and environmental quality. But it
will be difficult work, and it will not be achieved quickly.
6) Urban and Rural Planning-
Is about improving the quality of life in a locality, including
ecological, cultural, political, institutional, social and economic
components without leaving any burden—e.g., the result of a
reduced natural capital and an excessive local debt—on future
generations. In other words, prosperity and environmental
sustainability of cities and towns are inextricably linked;
therefore, human settlements can only maintain their prosperity
when environmental and social objectives are fully integrated
with economic goals.
Examples of Urban/Rural Planning Issues:
Urban (city)

 Transport: In most cases roads dominate, and the development does not support
public transport, and is unfriendly for walking and cycling.
 
 Environment: water & waste.
 
 Environment: energy usage.
 
 Affordability and accessibility. The social impact of housing costs
 Rural (countryside or provinces)

 A requirement to meet immediate needs for affordable homes, well-paid jobs and
ready access to services.
 
 A requirement to meet additional housing and employment needs for a growing and
ageing population with an increasing desire to live in rural areas.
 
 Rural areas are crucial in growing food and providing eco-services in a world facing
the threat of climate change. Rural policy must support farms in growing food more
efficiently, while also delivering water, drainage and flood control, recyclable energy
and carbon sinks.
 
 Implementing policies successfully will be the greatest challenge. It will require a
joined-up approach and national policies must be strongly rural proofed.
7) Science & Development-
Science is critical to tackle complex challenges for humanity such as climate
change, biodiversity loss, pollution and poverty reduction, as it lays the
foundation for new approaches and solutions.
The sustainability science approach is essential for effective decision-
making with regard to global sustainability, since social, environmental and
cultural systems are closely linked. UNESCO will continue, with its
partners, to continue to support efforts to educate and advocate the
development of this approach. This approach is a powerful reminder of the
complexity of the challenges the world is facing, and the immense
responsibilities this creates for international organizations like UNESCO.
Issues existing from Science and Development:

 Increase in Travel: current technology is so advanced that we travel from one part of the
world to another in a short time. This is great but has a greater risk for human life and the
environment.
 
 Excess power consumption: This electric energy is generated by the use of fossil or nuclear
fuels on a large scale which is a non-renewable resources.
 
 We generate more waste: We contribute a large amount of toxic waste in the name of
technological up-gradation.
 
 Excess use of gadgets: Now a day we can see many people on the roads, trains and even
parks busy on their mobiles or tablets. Due to these wireless technology, radiation
exposure is high leading to silent health problems.
 
 Excess Deforestation: This is detrimental to the normal environment and climate around.
Those countries with a good percentage of forest area are having a friendly environment.