sustainable society
... fossil fuel is necessary to stabilise Earth’s climate at its present level of disruption. From a global perspective the environment has continued to degrade during the past decade, and significant problems remain deeply embedded in the socio-economic fabric of nations in all regions. In order to be physically sustainable a society’s rates of use of renewable resources must not exceed their rates of regeneration. Its rates of non-renewable resources do not exceed the rate at which sustainable renewable substitutes are developed. Its rate of pollution emission does not exceed the assimilative capacity of he environment. In order to achieve sustainable development, economic growth and material consumption cannot continue in a limitless way. There are a variety of new ways of living that could assist humanity in attaining sustainable development. Firstly, a new attitude called material minimalism where ‘life is simpler but happier. We consume less and things are made do they last longer and are easily repaired’. Where people own and use material resources that are needed for a pleasant and dignified life, but they reject the idea that the major meaning in life is gained through material possessions. Thus, industrialising nations would be changing their consumption patterns that are currently depleting resources. A second way of thinking, holistic thinking, means that ‘everything is connected to everything else’. It encourages people to recognise the connections between their physical, emotional, intellectual, moral and spiritual dimensions. To think of the complex ways they are linked with other people in the world. And to think about the complex relationship between their way of life and the well-being of the natural world ‘The human population, now six billion, is increasing by an average of 236 000 people a day…the equivalent to another Switzerland every thirty days, a new China every ten years’. The questions implicit in population and development are fundamental. Can the world feed twice as many people? Can productive employment be found for everyone? Can sufficient health, housing and social services be provided for the billions more people expected to crowd into the world’s cities? The world’s population is expected to grow by about 2.2 billion people between now and the year 2020. There is no doubt that feeding these extra mouths represents the principal challenge currently facing the global system of agricultural production and trade. It is predicted that during the 21st century global agricultural production may grow at an ave...