Stewart

Tobbi Stewart

English 103-005

Mrs. Lamos

November 6th, 2011

Research Paper

Sustainability: The Weight of the World on Your Shoulders

Sustainability Introduced

What is this concept of sustainability and all the talk that accompanies such

an emerging current event? This generally is the reaction of the public worldwide in

response to questions concerning sustainability. The sustainability issue is

confusing to most people, and from this confusion misconceptions are born and

undulated out of control. So now, let’s look at sustainable development, and

suddenly contradictions are aroused that concern the perceived meaning of

development. When people think of development, they tend think of “purposeful

changes intended to improve the quality of human life.” The contradictions come

from the combination of the two words, “sustainable” and “development,” because

these changes often “degrade the natural environment as to threaten the very

improvements that were intended” (Withgott and Brennan). Any common college

dictionary defines sustainability as “the ability to maintain at a constant level or

rate,” or you could say it is the total capacity to endure with relation to space and

time. When we introduce the domain of ecology, the definition can be broadened to

conservation and ecological balance by avoiding complete depletion of natural

resources.

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As if it weren’t quite clear enough as of yet, the issue of sustainability (or for

that matter sustainable development) is largely complex and easily one of the most

debatable topics of our generation. Whether the

topic is widely accepted or not, the challenges

facing “Mother Earth” and human habitation are

undeniably present; for the Earth is being plagued

with a carrying capacity crisis, which is simply her

ability to support habitation. The very matter at

hand and the vast extent of the problem will not

permit simple short-term solutions. Solutions like

this only apply increased pressures onto the entire

system.

To better understand the multitude of scale and dimension, three major

components must be introduced into the equation of sustainability; these are

healthy environment, social justice, and economic growth components (see fig.1).

Gro Harlem Brundtland, who served as the Prime Minister of Norway for several

terms, brought these three components together as the major parameters to

sustainable development. Brundtland was asked to chair the World Commission on

Environment and Development, better known as the Brundtland Commission, to

establish a broad political concept of sustainable development. In 1987, her

commission published “Our Common Future,” a report that had extensively

investigated the very concerns of the need for global awareness. With the statement

“sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present

Figure 1: Component of Sustainable Development

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without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,”

Brundtland set in motion a movement of action towards the improvement of the

three major components to equal one “Sustainable Society” (See fig.1). The standard

was then set to frontier a sustainable movement towards stewardship of out planet.

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This notion of sustainable development is far from refining social

perceptions of the “what kind” of crisis are human beings facing living on Earth. It

would appear as though only scientists and researchers investigating the challenges

of Earth’s carrying capacity could really comprehend the issues of the need to

become a sustainable society. A perception shared by many researchers, including

(Sayer and Campbell) in their book titled The Science of Sustainable Development.

Generally speaking, the author’s state it plain and simple in the chapter Getting into

the System; “Science must improve the ability of the farmers, fishermen, and

foresters to sustain a flow of the diverse products and services that they depend

upon”. No better interpretation is warranted. Earth is far from not be able to

provide its inhabitants the necessary resources essential to life, provided mankind

embraces a new attitude towards stewardship. Many of the problems mankind faces

are human-induced, relating directly to how they have interacted with the

environment, consuming and disposing of resources as waste, as well as developing

and destroying fragile eco-systems so vital to the ecological services by which it

provides. In the defense of sustainable development, and the state of our world as

we can presently address, it would be far greater to be proactive and educate the

populations on how to lessen their individual ecological footprint than to have to

react to a series of irreversible environmental problems that may threaten the very

existence of mankind.

The adverse effects of human habitation on Earth have been gaining more

speed within our generations’ lifetime than ever before. This can be quantifiably

proven with the many schools of research and scientific disciplines that investigate

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these growing issues. One major problem being echoed out loud is the issue of

global warming, or climate change. These two are somewhat interchangeable, but

consequently different in factors that influence and manipulate them both to

change. Neither is theory of phenomenon, but a measurable factor witnessed every

day by merely observing the constant and inconsistent weather patterns. This is

why some researchers propose ideas such as “The Grand Challenges”, which issue

important answerable questions within a decade’s time. These answerable

statements include “Improvement of usefulness of forecast of future environmental

conditions and their consequences for people”, and “Determine how to anticipate,

avoid, and manage disruptive global environmental change” (Reid). This is

testament, at least from several standpoints that scientists and researchers

acknowledge that global climate changes do exist and solutions must be found.

This is just one area of concern, the consequences run so much deeper. Human

habitation hasn’t always been responsible for the climate change until more

recently; with the advent of technologies and the use of fossil fuels, the pressure on

the carrying capacity ramped up exponentially.

A World In Crisis: Human Impacts

There are three main areas that embody the Earth’s ability to sustain life and

remain habitable for a very diverse set of organisms. These three areas relate to

environmental dimensions that are the most essential elements to life; without just

one of them, the biodiversity of the planet could very well parish. These essential

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dimensions are the atmosphere, bodies of water, and the use of the land. Each

dimension currently faces a profusion of problems that threaten to withdraw the

very power and purpose they hold on the Earth. Within each of these dimensions

lies a complex set of challenges to correct or reverse damage that may take away

from the efficient use of these valuable services (See fig.2). The protection of these

environemntal dimensions would be our first line of defence in becoming proactive.

As we look at the atmosphere, we tend to see beautiful hues of blue, mixed

with puffy white clouds that seem to be endless. This environmental service

provides every human being

with the capacity to breath

oxygen, absorbs solar

radiation, protects the

Earth from meteorites,

keeps essential water and

nutrient cycles moving, and

moderates climate

(Withgott and Brennan).

Although great strides have been made by many powerful countries to protect the

environment, there are still considerable issues that loom high above. These issues

mainly concern primary pollutants into the atmosphere such as carbon monoxide,

sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide to name a few (See fig. 2). Not all the outdoor

air pollutants are man-made; some are natural in nature such as volcanic eruptions,

forest fires, and dust storms. One of the major contributors’ that has been linked to

Figure 2: Graphic depiction of human impacts on Earth

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the global warming effect is the burning of fossil fuels (Withgott and Brennan).

Essentially, becoming more proactive in our energy uses, including the use of

alternate energies with lower or no emissions, could provide one solution to the

challenges of global warming.

Let us move the focus now to water, probably the most essential

environmental service available, although a strong argument can be made for air.

Water covers up to 71% of the Earth’s surface and is the vital resource unique to our

planet. Up to 97.5% of the water content of Earth is locked up in oceans, and 2.5%

devoted to fresh water systems. Of that 2.5%, 79% of water is locked up in ice caps

and glaciers, 20% is groundwater, and a mere 1% is considered surface fresh water.

Of that 1%, water can be broken down to lakes, soil moisture, atmospheric vapor,

and rivers. Water supplies every household with plumbing, water supplies all

disciplines of agriculture, and water supplies just about every industrial operation

on the planet (Withgott and Brennan). That’s a lot of water supply to be had; but

consider that most of the supply is coming from potable water (commonly

understood as clean, filtered, or treated water). And of that potable water, 99.9% is

coming from the 1% available surface fresh water. Considering that this 1% of

surface fresh water is unevenly distributed amongst the Earth, how can the issues of

depletion and pollution (both point and non-point sources) continue without some

sort of justification to an end (See fig. 2)? The answer may lie within each individual

on the planet to be more aware of his or her own water use and become a proactive

member of the solution to conserve that small 1% of available fresh water.

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Lastly, to consider the scope of the whole picture completely and understand

how all three environmental dimensions impact each other, we need to understand

land use, more specifically soil and agriculture. Soil is one of the most complex

systems here on Earth, teaming both with inert materials and biological activity. The

components that make up soil combine not only air and water, but also minerals and

biota, which blend to create profiles of horizons differing in a regional aspect

(Withgott and Brennan). Soil is the absolute key to food production and agriculture.

As a matter of fact, as mankind distanced themselves from hunter-gatherer lifestyles

to land cultivators, it was the soil exploration that early farmers found to be the

inviting factor for plant growth. It was this very discovery that helped the

population of mankind to begin a steady increase of growth. The ability to cultivate

land, grow and provide a steady amount of food was ideally the start of civilized

populations. But many centuries later, the land is degrading and slipping into a non-

usable state. Productive soil is slowly disappearing and the need to provide food is

exponentially rising. Erosion and pollution of soil are two of the main factors; here

within lie several factors why soil is being degraded (See fig. 2). Factors such as

chemical pollution, compaction, forest removal, overgrazing, drought, salinization,

climate change, depletion of water sources are all contributing to the loss of soils

(Withgott and Brennan). How can these problems be overcome in time to feed a

world population soon to reach 7 billion? The best way to answer this very alerting

question again lies in the proactive mind frame of all land users. The challenge to be

better stewards of land use will echo from coast to coast on every continent, begging

us to educate and spread awareness.

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With 7 billion mouths to feed, and an estimated 9 billion by the year 2050,

where does this leave the carrying capacity of Earth in the equation? How can we

sustain populations of this size with degradation of valuable soils for agriculture,

diminishing water supplies both in quantity and quality, and rapid consumption of

finite resources? Population growth has a very direct impact on the environment in

both an “ecological” sense and a consumption of “eco-system services” sense. To

make matters worse, most of the population spikes are coming from developing

countries, where poverty tends to worsen the depletion of eco-services. Within the

growth of population arises another abscessing concern, the rise of urbanization. “If

global urbanization continues the way it has, these problems will likely accelerate

explosively as humans become progressively more urban” (Wu). Would global

urbanization increase consumption within a localized eco-system, or would the rise

put pressure on the regional or even the global scale of consumption? It would be

easy to assume that the answer would be “yes”, considering the increase in global

population; however, the awareness and action of becoming proactive could help

balance the scales of both growing problems.

The scope of the problem struggles immensely because of the rate at which

growing populations are consuming natural resources. Most, if not all, are made

directly available by balanced and diversified eco-systems that in return provide life

sustaining ecological services. Those consumables include water, food, energy, and

materials essential to life, with waste as the by-product of consumption. This waste

comes in many forms, most not very beneficial to keeping an eco-system healthy

and functioning properly. What most of society sees as maintaining lifestyles, really

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equates as the driving force of human impacts to the environment. If we could just

see the links that we have with nature, some of the issues may not be as bad as they

have become. As echoed by (Diaz), eco-systems services are the vital links between

the two. (Diaz) also goes on to explain that not all eco-systems are the same and

require the same biodiversity, but they all have a common altering factor, social

actors. It is these choices of lifestyles and spending patterns, in combination with

social agendas of the actors that govern the rate at which consumption takes place.

Each consumable has its beneficial qualities, along with its negatively impacting

consequence from misuse or overuse (See fig.2). This could very well be the single

most important factor to change, or become a proactive goal.

Water for instance, which is closely tied to food production, can easily be

polluted and become unsustainable, leading us to draw supplies from underground

aquifers and major fresh waterways. The benefit is the ability to draw upon fresh

water systems for supply (presently speaking), the drawback being the depletion of

future water supplies and the reduction of the global water cycle. This alone can

affect the fragile balance of important eco-systems. For instance, a local eco-system

that offers its eco-services to a newly developing urban area could use up to 60% of

the eco-systems fresh water sources, and in return, contaminate the water system

by sewer and waste products (Wu). And this is just a glimpse into the problem.

Then there is the use of renewable and non-renewable energy sources. With

energy concerns and consumption on the forefront of conservation efforts, the need

to explore alternative sources is the hotbed of most sustainable initiatives. The new

alternatives would be considered the benefit, but the depletion of fossil fuels and the

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damage that has already been caused from their usage are the negative impacts. It’s

at this point we can become confused about the way we impact the problem.

Finally, we have materials, the types that are being used to produce and

manufacture goods and services for further consumption. The negative impact is

what’s known as dematerialization, which is the conversation of materials in a

linear path. Material consumption comprises the largest portion of generated

wasted and disposal. Waste and disposal provide no benefit at all to any system

unless the waste is returned into the consumption cycle by closing the linear path

into a recycle loop. The concept of a recycling loop along with the idea of reduce,

reuse, and the creation of “industrial metabolism” would be great components to

creating alternative energy sources (Withgott and Brennan). Isn’t that what our

planet needs more of, large efforts to be proactive with our waste products to

preserve the future of living on Earth? Weighing out the benefits and negative

impacts of consumption, the recently erected field of research that concerns

themselves with sustainability issues have created methods of measuring the

failures and successes of sustainable development.

Sustainability: A Standard to Measure Eco-Services

The measurement of sustainability denotes multiple methods in which

quantitative data can determine the necessary means of sustainable management

needed in any given ecosystem, whether it is a diverse rainforest, or densely

populated urban area. These domains of measurements are best known as

indicators for change. There is a range of this scale, which presents indication when

change needs to occur, and to what extent change needs to be applied to a certain

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set of concerns (See fig. 3). If the methods by which we measure sustainability are

made public and used to raise awareness, this could be our best tool to be proactive.

The main concern weighs heavily on the carrying capacity.

One very fundamental concept that is key to understanding the importance

for the need to act sustainably is the carrying capacity of Earth, which simply can be

defined as the capacity of the Earth to provide resources essential to the “quality of

life”, with limits upon a certain amount of inhabitants. This measurement is greatly

influenced by population growth and the levels in which the populations consume

resources. There are other ways to view carrying capacity, such as “tipping points”,

which is well defined by (Reid). The concept is to “confine the impacts of

unavoidable excursions of the system into dangerous ranges, we will have to

enhance resilience to change.” A very common goal is not to exceed “one planet”

Figure 3: Measuring Sustainable Development

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consumption. The carrying capacity can be greatly influenced by the amount of

biodiversity within a given eco-system. Maybe great focus should be put on this

concept as a visible marker to mankind to be more alert and ready to find solutions.

The importance of biodiversity of any given ecosystem is equally relative to

the functionality of the ecosystems resilience and biocapacity, by which it impacts

the provisions of ecosystem services, essential to supporting life. As stated in an

extensive research project linking nature to the wellbeing on the quality of human

life, “The crucial role of biodiversity in the links between ecosystems and societies

has been repeatedly highlighted both as source of wellbeing and as a target of

human actions, but not all aspects of biodiversity are equally important to different

ecosystem services” (Diaz). What this highlights is the vital need to preserve the

biodiversity of all eco-systems, as they apply to every aspect of the functional use of

human need. As the preservation efforts grow, the eco-system services return to a

balanced system and provide stability in our effort to be sustainable.

Economical and Social Dimensions of Sustainability

Most likely the most important consideration on the actions that must be

performed to remain within the carrying capacity of the Earth is the consideration

of the economical dimensions of social and cultural agendas. One such dimension is

decoupling an economy, this allows for adequate growth of economical production

without detrimental pressures bestowed upon an environment that may negatively

impact the ecosystem. This concept is a working model of reducing resource

intensity that is driven by key improvement platforms. This platform allows for

stable growth, without total degradation of essential ecosystems, or assuming that

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nature is a commodity to trade. To further demonstrate the links to nature, the

Global Land Project proposed the “framework of operating at a finer level of

resolution through the links between different components of the social system

(social actor strategies) and the ecological system (FD components)” (Diaz).

Nature is vastly becoming known as a

commodity, assuming the same meaning as it

would in economics. When the commodity

becomes less available or scarce, the price

becomes higher and less attainable. Thus nature is

being thought of as an economic externality. This

driving force is largely responsible for the

misconception of endless available resources. The

supply and demand chain now determines how resources are managed and used,

which is providing a negative effect on resource use; when this happens, social

barriers begin to provide even more negative impacts. Perhaps this is where the

general population loses their perceptions of becoming proactive and saying “how

can I change what is happening to the planet.”

The social element of sustainability is going to be the biggest challenge when

it comes to adopting the changes needed for the future carrying capacity of the

Earth. The concept of stewardship of our land will be the majority embraced. This

element is essential because it’s the key factor to manipulating human development.

Social norms and behaviors, along with cultural practices are all at stake, which

could ultimately determine the overall outcomes of entire civilizations. It is up to

Figure 4: Sustainable Visual of Human Wellbeing in Relation to Economical and Social Dimension

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these social systems to pave a new road to change for the better of mankind; it is up

to everyone to find a way to be a proactive proponent.

Within the perimeters of peace, security, and justice, the social system

exposes some very serious stresses upon the wellbeing of humans within their

environments with the provisions of ecosystem services. One of the most important

stresses put on an eco-system is poverty. The element of poverty alone adds a

tremendous amount of environmental pressures due to demand on localized

resources. According to the Brundtland Commission report “Our Common Future,”

“poverty is a major cause and effect of global environmental problems. It is

therefore futile to attempt to deal with environmental problems without a broader

perspective that encompasses the factors underlying world poverty and

international inequality” (Brundtland). Reducing poverty can be alleviated, but this

is on a much grander scale then our own proactivity will balance. The intervention

of government with real sensible solutions is highly important; but we all know how

difficult that can be with the political agenda’s taking priority.

The realm of the social element leaves much to speculate concerning public

opinion about the issues of environmental problems and carrying capacity. What

does the public think about sustainability, global warming, and climate change?

According to a 15-year study on “Public Views on Climate Change,” there is

“widespread awareness and concern about environmental issues and climate

change” but is generally not as “important as social and personal issues.” The study

also exposed a “limited understanding” of climate change. This study was conducted

in the United States and in several European countries, and basically found that

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perceptions did not vary much (Lorenzoni and Pidgeon). When the facts of such a

broad study indicate the importance bestowed upon worldwide problems “as less

important than social and personal issues,” we can almost absolutely understand

the capacity by which we should be embracing a proactive mindset. We should be

challenging each other to be more proactive towards heading off the problems

before it’s too late.

Concluding with Potential Solutions

The research conducted for this paper has presented many facts and reasons

for the state of our planet under the three major components that justify a global

agenda geared towards sustainability. The evidence presented has laid out a

foundation of sustainable dimensions that lend

themselves to a better understanding about

what is truly happening to our planet and how

it affects human habitation; also how humans

are connected to nature, and nature is tied to

the impacts of human consumption and waste.

This paper was written to educate the reader

on the very issue of sustainability and meant to provoke the thought of a world

without the provisions of ecological services, but a challenge had been issued

concerning the proactive nature of human problem solving. Currently, there are

many associations and organizations taking action and creating solutions to the

problems our world faces now and well into our future. There are multiple

disciplines coming together to explore and research scientific measures needed to

Figure 5: Ecological Footprint Graphic

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overcome these problems. Proposals such as alternative human settlements, eco-

friendly packaging, population control measures and incentives, resource

management, economic incentives and opportunities, and the green movement are

but a few viable solutions. So why should a challenge be issued to become proactive

if we have solutions in place and actively being researched?

The challenge to be proactive focuses more on the individual

environmentalist and not so much on the social education of an entire population.

Three areas that can assist an individual to become more proactive with the impact

they bring to an eco-system are ones individual ecological footprint, recognition of

global issues, self-education, and integrated research. Of course, two of these

solutions lend themselves to finding global solutions, but when scaled back to fit the

do-it-yourselfer, these solutions provide a platform to plant the seed in others. The

first solution, ecological footprint, is fairly easy to understand. Simply put, it is a

measure of how fast we consume resources and generate waste compared to how

fast the environment can absorb these waste and renew the resources used. There

are many websites that have an EF calculator and information concerning the

outcome of your score (See fig. 5 for graphic representation of an ecological

footprint). With an arsenal of tools as described above, how could we fail at

obtaining control of our own destinies as stewards of our planet? Each solution

exemplifies the essence of becoming proactive in the sustainable movement.

The remaining solutions: recognition/education and integrated research, can

both begin at an individual level, thus bringing the knowledge of how to educate

others to the forefront, and giving flight to a movement of change towards our

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personal impacts affecting our environments. The integrative approach brings

together multiple modes of action to research the “how” instead of the “what”

approach to research. It introduces old schools of thought brought to the arena to

function as one unit. These major features are ideas such as integrating interactions,

adaptive management, knowledge management, multiple-scale, measuring impact

for learning, action research, collaboration, livelihood perspectives, facilitation tools,

partnerships, and many more features that tie the common goal of doing business in

a sustainable way (Sayer and Campbell). The shear potential this model creates can

be a very powerful tool for innovative research techniques leading to very creative

solutions that can be accepted worldwide.

The other solution brings this paper to a conclusion, for it is fundamentally

the most basic tool used to create awareness and bring problem solving methods to

the table. In order to make the public more aware and prepare to embrace a new

concept, the burden must lie on the way we educate us and recognize there are real-

time problems with much bigger ones looming on the horizon. The challenges are

far greater than can be rational expected at this point, and its getting closer in time

to realize what measures are needed to prevent the inhabitants of the Earth from

disappearing one day. The system of educating each other has brought our human

civilization to its current technological stance and a scientific understanding of our

planet. It would be far too arrogant to relieve us of the duty of becoming better-

educated stewards of the planet. It is a proactive issue, one that challenges each and

every one of us, from an ecological standpoint, to bear the weight of responsibility

and take ownership of our mistakes. It is time to make a difference and work

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together to help our planet regain her health and become a proactive member of

sustainability.

Works Cited

Brundtland, Gro Harlem. Report of the World Commission on Environment and

Development: "our Common Future." New York: United Nations, 1987. Print.

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Diaz, Sandra. "Linking Functional Diversity and Social Actor Strategies in a

Framework for Interdisciplinary Analysis of Nature’s Benefits to Society."

Sustainable Science. Rpt. in Sustainable Science, (2011) Web.

Lorenzoni, Irene, and Nick F. Pidgeon. "Public Views on Climate Change: European

and USA Perspectives." Climatic Change 77.1-2 (2006): 73-95. Print.

Sayer, Jeffrey, and B. M. Campbell. The Science of Sustainable Development: Local

Livelihoods and the Global Environment. Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge UP,

2004. Print.

Withgott, Jay, and Scott Brennan. Essential Environment: the Science behind the

Stories. San Francisco: Pearson, 2009. Print.

Wu, J. "Making the Case for Landscape Ecology: An Effective Approach to Urban

Sustainability." Landscape Journal 27.1 (2008): 41-50. Print.

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Photos Used and Sources Cited

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http://computingforsustainability.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/industrialbubble_geoffbrown.jpg

http://computingforsustainability.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/tree-large.jpg

http://nslw.org/images/ecostep_large.png

http://www.eatwelldogood.com/images/sustainability_diagram5.jpg

http://www.usbg.gov/sustainability/

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