Running Head: INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Innovation and Sustainability Name Professor Course Date

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Introduction Human beings regularly come up with ways of producing and consuming material resources. Global population growth is the main reason for innovation and sustainability. High population growth leads to increased consumption; therefore, production must increase. Human beings need to invent methods, which are within ecological limits, to conserve the environment. Natural resources are vital to human beings; therefore, sustainable methods should be employed to avoid depletion. The indication accorded explains that production and consumption habits may relate to material sources, and various institutions have made efforts made to uphold global population. One of the most common material sources, which assist production, is land. Food is a basic need for all human beings; consequently, rapid population growth demands high production of food (Beaujot & Kerr, 2007). People in the countryside invest in large farms to increase their food production; moreover, they need to acquire enough land for animals to live luxuriously. The animals need to eat nutritious food and live in favorable conditions so that they can give plenty of produce such as milk, eggs and meat. Farmers also need to cultivate their farms using high quality methods to increase crop yield, for example, maize is processed to produce corn flour and cornflakes. Another production method is when human beings work to earn money that serves as a medium of exchange. This method is commonly known as capitalism. Individuals engage in activities, which enable them to get money; consequently, they use the money to buy products. These individuals differ from those in the farms because the former have to pay for the products, while the latter get the products directly (Beaujot & Kerr, 2007). Individuals who work to get money need to pay for products and services.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Consumption habits also emerge because of overproduction and underproduction. Economic rise leads to changes in lifestyle and increase, in technology; moreover, the need for products and services also increases. An increase in demand leads to overproduction; consequently, the amount of waste also increases. Beaujot & Kerr (2007) explain that waste products are recycled to avoid depletion of products; on the other hand, when waste products are more than they can be recycled, they cause climate change. The second consumption habit is common in underdeveloped countries. Individuals in these areas strive to get basic needs; as a result, people do not think of innovative ways of living. Lack of innovation discourages utility of resources. Efforts should be made to sustain the global population so that nonrenewable resources are not depleted. Farmers need to use organic methods to produce quality yields; consequently, their farms will be able to give excellent yields for a longer time. They should avoid use of harmful chemicals that may decrease crop yield. Industries should be constructed to increase employment that results in populations acquiring products and services. Consumption habits also affect sustainability of the global population (Beaujot & Kerr, 2007). Couples need to plan their families to reduce material needs because children from developed countries require more as compared to those in the underdeveloped countries. Small families require less material resources than large families; therefore, there will be less risk of depletion of nonrenewable resources, which is brought by overproduction.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Conclusion Global population affects population and consumption habits. This is because the balance in consumption is affected through uneven distribution of resources. Overproduction leads to depletion of nonrenewable resource and change in climate. Reduced consumption discourages innovation since demand is low. The balance of the natural ecology is dependent on the measure to support and sustain the balance in the available resources. Governments and parties should initiate policies to be adopted that contain the mismanagement of resources and unbalanced population sizes.

INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY

Reference Beaujot, R. & Kerr, D. (2007). Population Growth and Sustainability: Canadian Considerations. Environments Journal Volume 35(2): 85-96.