Ayaan Saroori
Sustainable development can be described as meeting the current resource demands without causing further destruction,while also conserving for the future generations.Youth also plays a major role in sustainable development and their creative and innovative solutions can help in various aspects to face all environmental challenges.The challenge of sustainable development requires integration of economic development with environmental concerns.In the recent times,we have founded various mineral reserves and other than minerals.Whereas,we are moving stepping towards infrastructural development,which lead to economic development but somewhere lacking and getting down our natural resource in this wave of development.Since one decade we are not focusing on the conservation of resources nor achieving sustainable type of development and not following Sustainable development goals (SDG’s) properly.While,creative minded youth can change this whole scenario with different and modern ideas and it’s not about to use minerals,resources and disturbing the natural.environment but to promote volunteer tree planting drives,recycling programmes etc.
There are two reasons—public policies which are framed for sustainable development are weak or citizens are not following the rules in an impactful manner.However,it may be both the reasons or beyond it,but due to our greediness we are become selfish citizens not caring about the future needs and demands.Have we ever truly considered how our future generations will grow and fulfil their needs without natural resources,best quality of education system,clean water and other necessary empowerments? No,we often haven’t.We are consuming resources meant for the future,assuming they will never run out and for us empowerment is not necessarily.It will be our answer.
Seventeen Sustainable Development goals of the United Nations.
The aim of United nations to achieve decent lives for all by 2030 and for attaining a decent lifestyle before the claimed deadline can be challenging.Even so there are seventeen (17) Sustainable development goals of United Nations with the objective of zero hunger,good health,zero poverty among population,quality education,eradication of gender inequalities,clean water,affordable and clean energy,decent work,development of infrastructure and innovation,reduced inequalities,sustainable projects for cities,adequate use of resources and production,climate action,life below water,life on land,peace,justice with strong institutions and partnership for the goals are some major goals to achieve for the betterment and bright future of population as well Sustainable development.
For eradication of poverty quality education is key to alleviates poverty and greater investment in the same without gender inequality and when women are able delay childbirth and have fewer children empower them to pursue education with advanced degrees.Whereas, due to population growth lead to water crisis and various industries deals with chemicals forming or dyes lead to water pollution which also leads to pollution. According to a source of populationmatters.org, 2.2 billion people lack pure drinking water around the world.At the same time infrastructure development is need of time and more nature( biodiversity) will be destroyed in the process,also it is a major source of greenhouse gases.
Sustainable development measures.
Sustainable development is not just preserving our minerals,other natural resources but to maintain social equity,economic growth and environmental protection to create a balanced approach to development with adequate use of resources to met the present demands.It is necessary in various aspects and we will discuss all the required steps to be taken for achieving sustainable development with the entailing youth;
1.Environmental preservation:Protecting flora and fauna,natural diversity and countering climate changes has become an issue for the Twenty-first century.Sustainable development emphasises preservation of natural resources such as water,forests,minerals and fossils.Moreover,by reducing greenhouse gas emissions,using renewable means of energy or replacing our automobiles with e-vehicles can reduce emission of hazardous gases and can mitigate the effect of climate change.
2.Economic growth:As youth can design new opportunities in the job market with stimulating innovative ideas and by investing in the renewable industries or initiatives we can achieve both economic development and sustainable flourishment.Sustainable development encourages long term establishment of industries as short term industries lead to depletion of resources with less benefits.Sustainable development works as a mechanism for economic stability and also focuses on reducing poverty and inequality with equal education and opportunities.
3.Education and Skills:Youth are key to spread the awareness and knowledge in a community by pursuing education itself relevant to the field as environmental sciences or engineering emphasises all the aspects in explanatory method,they can contribute to sustainable development.Besides this,through social media,campaigns and awareness programmes they can bring attention to critical issues.Along with,some young people volunteer plant trees,cleaning programmes,recycling events to promote sustainability.
4.Innovation and technology:Young people often move towards discoveries and innovations and it should be based on the concept of renewable energy,waste management and sustainable agriculture and eco-friendly products.There new ideas containing creativity can result in environmental solutions.
Case study.
We are going to discuss a case of once largest lake located in Central Asia— Aral lake,which was the world’s largest lake shruks since 1960 due to the diversion of rivers for agricultural irrigation purposes.This environmental imbalance later caused severe ecological,economic and social impact,and also collapse local fishing industry with various health issues for humans and loss of diversity.
Similarly in the recent time we have self-sufficient minerals,fire-wood, coal—somewhere available with high value,and other resources but at the same stance world’s largest tropical rainforest—Amazon rainforests,also known as lungs of the world are being destroyed by the deforestation.According to a report of Penn state college of earth and mineral sciences,there are various leading to clear the new rainforests and also various international lending institutions provide financial support to the country for the construction of dams,mining activities and other infrastructures that directly reduces the area of same forest.
In both the cases we found a common reason behind changing natural biodiversity into vulnerable scenes and that is to fulfil human demands.Worlds largest Aral lake dried up and converted into ecological vulnerability,besides deforestation in the rainforest to meet the present time demands and developmental improvements is totally an act of shamelessness.It depends upon the population hoe they are going to conserve the green gold and resources because government also work for improvement and comfortability and that was for us.So,we can overcome these problems by taking part in policy making and other activism activities as it will cause rather difficulties with the time.Both situations—lake desiccation and deforestation—are interconnected with unsustainable development practices. They require effective environmental management to mitigate damages and involve implementing strategies discussed above to ensure ecological balance and promote sustainable development.
Education is important for developing a sense of sustainable responsibilities and integrating such principals into education systems.As the sustainable education equips individuals with skills,knowledge and values needed to face global challenges and skills are important for the renewable development,Sustainable development,waste management and green technologies.We should work on this ecological cause and if we fail, we should keep trying multiple times.
Ayaan Saroori,a dynamic school student and celebrated author, contributes thought-provoking pieces. Recognized for his impactful book “Drug: A Risk For Teens,” Ayaan is a passionate advocate for addressing youth issues.(ayaansaroori8@gmail.com)
