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IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The world’s cities occupy just 3% of the Earth’s land, but account for 60–80% of energy
We now know that sustainable development focuses on saving the planet along with social and economic development consumption and 75% of carbon emissions.
of the society for the present and future generations to come. The importance of sustainable development lies in the
fact that:
• It provides initiation and approaches for development, conservation and protection of natural resources to stop CHALLENGES TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
environmental degradation.
• It makes us aware of sensible consumption of our natural resources by reducing, recycling and reusing our available The SDG has many challenges despite getting support all over the world. Some of the challenges are listed below:
resources. • A large population in most of the countries is unemployed, living in underprivileged conditions, uneducated and
• It gives solutions in terms of clean energy usage at all levels by efficient use of wind, solar, water energy, etc. have a fixed mindset and behaviour which is very difficult to change. Though many NGOs and non-profitable
• It ensures environmentally sustainable economic growth. organisations with the support from government and international bodies are working to educate them and bring
• It provides methods and alternatives to reduce the impact of air, water and soil pollution on our environment. awareness, it has many hurdles and challenges which is not easy and time consuming also.
• It supports equality of income, sex, age, disability, race, religion and opportunity for social and economic development • With the existing issues of climate change, the number of species both on land and water has become extinct and
of the society. many are on verge of their extinction. Under such circumstances striking a balance in the food chain to bring back
• It supports the concept of smart and sustainable cities with developed transport, clean water and sanitation, quality the balance in different forms of the ecosystem is a big responsibility.
education and decent employment to all. • Many countries and companies are still giving priority to their own profits at the cost of overuse and exploitation of
• It uses more environment friendly technologies based on efficient use of resources. the natural resources.
• All the nations across the globe are together in support of implementing these goals in an effective manner. • Many countries want to show their power and prove their best by using their nuclear weapons and encouraging the
destruction of nature and mankind. In these conditions ensuring world peace is a global challenge.
PROBLEMS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT • Many countries are still not serious in taking the initiatives and implementing the policies in favour of SDGs. Due to
this lack of interest, there is a huge world population which is still insensitive towards its need.
There are three major problems related to sustainable development. Let us discuss about them.
Food
Tick ( ) if you know this.
As we are using up more and more land for designing concrete jungles, The purpose of sustainable development is to keep a balance between the economic, environmental and social needs.
we are reducing the land for cultivation of crops. Soil nutrients are also
getting depleted due to pollution from industries, overgrazing of land Sustainable development ensures environmentally sustainable economic growth.
etc. Overpopulation is another threat for the shortage of food all across Sustainable development uses more environment friendly technologies based on efficient use of resources.
the world.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS—AGENDA 2030
Water
The Sustainable Development Goals also known as the Global Goals, are a universal approach for improving our world.
The supply of drinking fresh water from rivers and ponds are limited all These are 17 interconnected universal goals approved in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are expected
over the world. Due to pollution these water bodies are contaminated to be achieved by the year 2030. These are the blueprints to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.
and leaving with very less quantity of water for actual use.
These 17 Sustainable Development Goals are:
• Goal 1 No Poverty: This goal ensures all people, especially the poorest and most vulnerable, have equal rights to
Fuel access natural and economic resources, basic necessary services including land so that all nations are able to end
Forests are cut down for fuel leaving barren land where soil erosion poverty in all its forms everywhere.
will lead to soil degradation and a drastic change in climatic conditions. • Goal 2 Zero Hunger: This goal ensures all people, especially children, have sufficient and nutritious food. This
Increase in the consumption of oil and natural gas has led to the increase requires international cooperation for promoting sustainable agriculture so that together we can end all forms of
in the level of carbon dioxide causing a change in the climatic conditions. hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
We are using a lot of wood from trees for the construction of homes and • Goal 3 Good Health and Wellbeing: This goal ensures a minimum number of deaths and illnesses by giving healthy
furniture. Extreme weather conditions, such as floods, extreme cold, or lifestyles, preventive measures from both communicable and noncommunicable diseases including hazardous
heat, are seen in many places, which affect the people living there. chemicals and air, water and soil pollution so that it promotes healthy lives and well-being for all people at all ages.
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