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Farhan Israq Ahmed

1110440030
Env 107
Prepared For Dr. Md.
Jakariya

Overview
This report is basically includes description of sustainable development, the environmental issues that
arise and in the last part is my view on how environmental issues cannot be overlooked while
proceeding with sustainable development and how these two collide.

Introduction to sustainable development
Sustainable development is defined as balancing the fulfillment of human needs with the protection of
the natural environment. A common definition of sustainable development is "development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs." The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts:
environmental protection, economic sustainability, and social justice.
Sustainable development ties together concern for the carrying capacity of natural systems with the
social challenges faced by humanity. As early as the 1970s, "sustainability" was employed to describe an
economy "in equilibrium with basic ecological support systems." Ecologists have pointed to The Limits to
Growth, and presented the alternative of a "steady state economy" in order to address environmental
concerns.
The concept of sustainable development has in the past most often been broken out into three
constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability.
More recently, it has been suggested that a more consistent analytical breakdown is to distinguish four
domains of economic, ecological, political and cultural sustainability.
Sustainable development encompasses a vast array of projects. The thing they all have in common is
that they are designed to help the local and global community for the long term but still meet the needs
of our present generation.
It contains within it two key concepts:
the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which
overriding priority should be given; and
the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the
environment's ability to meet present and future needs."


When planning a sustainable development project, in order to bring things back on track
environmentally, we need to rely more on renewable energy sources like wind power and solar power.
They are considered renewable because they are unlimited and don't pollute, unlike fossil fuels, wood,
etc. However, sustainable development isn't just about the environment. It also provides steps for
action that will create a better future for those of us who live on this planet aside from environmental
issues. When you take a look at the bigger picture, sustainable development objectives include three
interdependent components:
Social issues
Economic issues
Environmental issues

At first you may wonder how these three categories are linked when it comes to sustainable living, but
think about it. Let's take one issue - waste management. This includes both solid waste and sewage but
for now we'll narrow it to solid waste. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that the
average American creates approximately 4.4 pounds of household garbage everyday. That translates to
about 1,600 pounds per person, per year, and doesn't even take into account any waste you may
generate at work. The question is, "What happens to that garbage?"

In most cases, it is picked up at your home and hauled away by a local waste management company. In
some cases the garbage is sorted to see what can be recycled, but eventually, most of the waste ends up
in a landfill or what is commonly referred to as a garbage dump. The problem is that our reliance on
landfills for waste disposal does not look to the future. What will we do socially when we run out of
room in the landfills? How will we afford to deal with it? It doesn't offer a solution socially, economically
or environmentally. It is not a sustainable solution.


Why is sustainable development
important?

Sustainable development is all about peoples fundamental needs and quality of life: its goal is to enable
all people throughout the world to satisfy their basic needs and enjoy a better quality of life, without
compromising the quality of life of future generations.

As we pursue the path to recovery in these tough times, we need, more than ever, to think about
balancing environmental, social and economic needs. Long term economic growth is only possible if we
protect and enhance the environmental resources that underpin it.

Climate change is the greatest challenge we face and we have to continue both to reduce emissions and
to plan and prepare to become more climate resilient. The National Ecosystem Assessment and
international studies like TEEB are showing that it is similarly important that we do more to protect
biodiversity. We also have to use resources more efficiently and reduce waste to ensure sustainable
growth.
Developments and trends
Mobility is our fundamental necessity of 21st century living and brings access to primary services and
leisure. But today, current patterns of provision and consumption of mobility are unsustainable and
cities all over the world suffer from high levels of traffic related congestion, pollution and the
degradation of communities and social dysfunction.

Addressing the issue of climate change is a key topic for all and for transport in particular. At present
CO2 (one of the seven greenhouse gas emissions) from transport are growing despite improvements in
technology and fuels mainly due to the sheer increase of the number of trips made.

For the first time in human history more than 50% of the worlds population now lives in urban areas
(UN-HABITAT 2007). As cities grow their ecological impact increases, and despite the unparalleled
flexibility and freedom a car might bring, a city cannot function without public transport. Public
transport is vital for future development and the sector is making significant efforts to ensure that it is
able to help ensure that citizens today can enjoy a high quality of life in a safe and healthy environment.



Environmental Issues

Built Environment
Creating a sustainable built environment, through design, construction and management, enables all
people to live well, within environmental limits. Built environment should inspire us and make us feel
proud of our local areas and diverse heritage. It should reduce whole life carbon and materials costs
through efficient use of resources (energy, waste, water). It should provide environments that
contribute to our physical and mental health and enhance creativity and productivity. Our built
environment also needs to be flexible and adaptable to future uses, and be resilient to cope with local
effects of climate change.
Natural Resources
Human development and wellbeing is dependent on the health of our natural environment. We use
natural resources to power our economic and social development and rely on numerous 'ecosystem
services' to ensure a continuously healthy planet - from a clean supply of air, water, food and raw
materials, to disease regulation and space for recreation. But we only have one planet, which is not just
here for our benefit, and we are already living beyond our means, using natural resources at a level that
cannot be maintained over time. The way in which we are exploiting these resources is also causing
long-term irreversible damage the critical services they provide are being affected, and the
consequences of this are unknown. We therefore must take seriously our stewardship role, for the sake
of the natural environment itself, and for the wellbeing of future generations.
In order to fulfill this role we must make decisions that recognise and keep us within our 'environmental
limits', one of the five principles of sustainable development. The SDC's working definition of an
environmental limit is:
The critical point(s) at which pressure on a natural resource or system creates unreasonable or
irreversible change to the resource or system itself, to the detriment of the humans and other
organisms to which it provides a service.
Tackling climate change
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing mankind in the coming years. Rising
temperatures, melting glaciers and increasingly frequent droughts and flooding are all evidence that
climate change is really happening. The risks for the whole planet and for future generations are colossal
and we need to take urgent action.
Waste management
Every year, some 2 billion tons of waste - including particularly hazardous waste - are produced in the
Member States, and this figure is rising steadily. Stockpiling waste is not a viable solution and destroying
it is unsatisfactory due to the resulting emissions and highly concentrated, polluting residues. The best
solution is, as always, to prevent the production of such waste, reintroducing it into the product cycle by
recycling its components where there are ecologically and economically viable methods of doing so.



Protection of nature and biodiversity
Increased urbanization and the spread of human infrastructures, over-exploitation of natural resources,
pollution in all its forms, the introduction of exotic species into our ecosystems - these factors are all
highly damaging for biodiversity. As a result, 42% of mammals, 15% of birds and 52% of freshwater fish
across Europe are under threat. In addition, nearly 1000 plant species are at serious risk or on the verge
of disappearing completely. In order to safeguard biodiversity and combat the extinction of animal and
plant species.
Environment: cooperation with third countries
Our land, seas, rivers and air are under attack from factors which do not recognize international borders;
when it comes to protecting the environment, the issues go well beyond the scope of national or
regional considerations. The European Union and its individual Member States actively pursue a pro-
environment policy in the context of successive EU enlargements, in bilateral relations with non-EU
countries or regional groupings, and when negotiating and signing up to international agreements.
THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

The greenhouse effect is a term used to describe the role the atmosphere plays in warming the earths
surface. Short-wave solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the earths
surface. Much of this radiation is then re-emitted at infrared wavelengths, but it is reflected back by
gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, halocarbons, and ozone in the atmosphere. These
are often referred to as greenhouse gases because the atmosphere acts in a similar way to a
greenhouse. In balanced quantities, these gases function to maintain the earths relatively warm
temperature. This is why the earth is warm enough to support life on its surface. However, this heating
effect is at the root of the theories concerning global warming.


Global Warming

Global warming refers an increase in the earths temperature. This increase is due to the use of fossil
fuels (wood, coal, oil, petrol, etc) and other industrial processes which have led to a build-up of
greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons) in the atmosphere.

Since the late 1980s, we known that carbon dioxide (CO2) helps to stop the suns infrared radiation from
escaping into space. However, the question today is whether the increasing levels of CO2 in the
atmosphere over the last century will lead to higher global temperatures.

A significant global warming of the atmosphere would have profound environmental effects. It would
speed the melting of polar ice caps, raise sea levels, change the climate regionally and globally, latter
natural vegetation, and affect crop production. These changes would, in turn, have an enormous impact
on human civilization. Since 1850 there has been an average increase in global temperature of about
1C (1.8F). Some scientists have predicted that rising levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases will
cause temperature to continue to rise, with estimates ranging from 2 to 6 C (4 to 11F) by the middle
of 21st century.

However, other scientists who research climate effects and trends dispute the theories of global
warming, and attribute most recent rise to normal temperature fluctuations. This is one reason why
legislation restricting the emission of greenhouse gases has been slow.
Loss Of Wild Lands

Loss of forests and remaining wild lands, even in those areas once considered relatively safe from
exploitation, is increasing at an alarming rate. Insatiable demands for energy are forcing the
development of arctic regions for oil and gas and threatening the delicate ecological balance of tundra
ecosystems and their wildlife. Tropical forests, especially in Southeast Asia and the Amazon River Basin,
are being destroyed for timber, conversion to crop and grazing lands, pine plantations, and settlements.
This tropical deforestation could result in the extinction of as many as750, 000 species, which would
mean the loss of a multiplicity of products: food, fibres, medical drugs, dyes, gums, and resins. In
addition, the expansion of croplands and grazing areas for domestic livestock in Africa, and illegal trade
in wildlife and wildlife products, could mean the end of Africas large mammals.

Non-Renewable Resources

When we talk about sustainable development, we need to be aware of the concept of renewable and
non-renewable resources. Continued exploitation or destruction of resources that cannot be replaced is
not sustainable.

Carrying Capacity

As environmental resistance builds up, growth rate slows down because birth rate decreases and death
rate increases. Animals may also migrate to other areas. As the population reaches the maximum
number that the environment can support, it is said to have reached its carrying capacity for that
species.

National Resource Degradation

One of the most devastating forms of natural resource degradation is deforestation. Combined with air
and water pollution caused by industrial waste, deforestation compounds the problem of ozone
depletion and global warming. It results in erosion, the loss of topsoil so necessary to agriculture, and
has many other environmental harmful effects.

It is, however, an issue that young people can become involved with directly, and it can be rewarding
because every tree that is planted is a positive action.
Deforestation

15% of the earths land surface was originally covered in tropical rainforests, but at present less than
half of it is left. The depletion of these forests is due to widespread destruction which has been caused
by commercial logging, among other things. The best estimates based on a survey by the Food and
Agricultural Organization (FAO) of United Nations suggested that some 11.4 million hectares of tropical
forests are being felled each year.

Environmental issues of Bangladesh
Deforestation in northern area of Bangladesh caused a great ecological imbalance. There developed a
symptom of desert weather- too hot at day and too cold at night. The sub-surface water level has gone
down. As a result, water for irrigation has gone out of reach.
Lack of Waste Management. Tons of wastes are dumped everyday within the city area. These wastes
release irritant gas and spread over surrounding area by dogs, craws and human beings. These are
sources of many infectious diseases.
Reduction of Soil Fertility. Use of pesticide and chemical fertilizers have negative effect on the fertility of
land. This is also one of the reasons for less production of food grains.
Contamination of River Water. All the tannery wastes are deposited in the Buriganga River. It pollutes
the river water severely causing death of fishes and diseases of people.
Land Erosion by Rivers. This is a serious problem which makes lacs of people homeless and landless
every year. Lacs of acres of land goes under water every year. The victim people start migrating to city
areas for survival, thereby aggravating the slum dwelling problem.


So is it all just about the environment?
Living within our environmental limits is one of the central principles of sustainable development. One
implication of not doing so is climate change.
But the focus of sustainable development is far broader than just the environment. It's also about
ensuring a strong, healthy and just society. This means meeting the diverse needs of all people in
existing and future communities, promoting personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and
creating equal opportunity.
If sustainable development focuses on the future, does that mean we lose out now?

Not necessarily. Sustainable development is about finding better ways of doing things, both for the
future and the present. We might need to change the way we work and live now, but this doesn't mean
our quality of life will be reduced.
How does it affect me?
The way we approach development affects everyone. The impacts of our decisions as a society have
very real consequences for people's lives. Poor planning of communities, for example, reduces the
quality of life for the people who live in them. (Relying on imports rather than growing food locally puts
the UK at risk of food shortages.

Sustainable development provides an approach to making better decisions on the issues that affect all of
our lives. By incorporating health plans into the planning of new communities, for instance, we can
ensure that residents have easy access to healthcare and leisure facilities.

How do we make it happen?
We all have a part to play. Small actions, taken collectively, can add up to real change. However, to
achieve, we believe the Government needs to take the lead. Our job is to help make this happen, and
we do it through a mixture of scrutiny, advice and building organizational capacity for sustainable
development.

REFERENCE
http://tigersandfrontiers.blogspot.com/2010/05/why-health-care-will-be-bigger-growth.html
http://news.impetuswastemanagement.com/waste-management/
http://nimbuseco.com/2013/01/deforestation-and-pollution-facts/
en.wikipedia.org/
http://www.voiceofbangladesh.info/details_all.php?id=68&table_name=essays&writer_id=43
http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/pages/what-is-sustainable-development.html

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