Unit 5
GREEN SKILLS
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As the human race progressed, we neglected the vitality of nature in our lives. In pursuit to fulfil our
unending wants we started exploiting the nature that has resulted in what we see today, the
scarcity. There is scarcity of clean water to drink, scarcity of pure air to breathe, scarcity of
unadulterated food, rising issue of global warming, depletion of ozone layer.
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Everyone in the world today is talking about the measures to curb these rising problems. There are
World Summits being organised to find a solution to these global problems. And the solution to
these problems is only one – SUSTAINABILITY.
‘The ability to be maintained at a steady level’ is SUSTAINABILITY.
- Collins English Dictionary
Sustainability focuses on how human beings can live in peace and harmony with nature without
creating ecological disturbance. The aim is that we visualize the long term impact of our actions on
environment and take corrosive measures to maintain balance between our demands and the
supply of natural resources.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The concept of sustainable development received its first
major international recognition in 1972 at the UN
Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm.
Sustainable development is the “Development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs”.
- Brundtland Report – Our Common Future,
published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment
and Development (WCED)
Sustainable development focuses on long term, integrated approach to develop a healthy, social
and economically viable society. The aim is to inculcate the value of self-resistance amongst the
people to save natural resources for everyone to utilize judiciously and still ensuring its availability
for future generations.
4 R’S AND 1 U OF SUSTAINABILITY
In our daily life we can contribute to create a Sustainable Society by following 4Rs’ and 1U of
Sustainability. These are REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE and UPCYCLE.
REFUSE - Not to use products that may not harm the environment.
REDUCE - To minimize the use of the products that may cause harm to the environment.
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REUSE - To reuse products as far as possible, in order to reduce the waste generation.
RECYCLE - After reusing the product, we must try to recycle it as far as possible.
UPCYCLE - Any product that is not usable can be upcycled with creativity and innovation. It gives
a new look to the old product and makes it look desirable.
IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
In the 21st Century the importance of adopting sustainable
techniques for sustainable development is of grave
importance.
1. Judicious use of resources is of prime importance since the
exploitation of resources is causing its depletion. We need to
curb our usage to ensure that resources like air, water, forests
are available to future generation. This would also mean that
the resources are in their pure form.
2. Not only for the next generation but even for the existing
generation, the quality of basic resources is deteriorating
leading to major health concerns such as Cancer, Bronchitis etc. Ensuring sustainability will help
curb these problems.
3. Rising demands is leading to economic disparity. The rich is becoming richer while the poor is
becoming poorer. The uneven distribution of available resources across different economic fronts
is leading to discrimination, giving rise to crime and creating
social imbalance. To ensure proper balance Sustainability
is important.
4. Environmental problems like Climate Change, Emission
of Green House gases are alarming. If everyone draws a
line for themselves, we will be able to combat these issues
with the help of Sustainable Development.
5. Adoption of Sustainable Development in our daily life and at our work place will also promote
economic growth. Young entrepreneurs with minimum investment can produce better output.
Introduction of Solar Power Plants, Waste Water Treatment Plants, Electric Vehicles etc. will not
only help in protecting Environment but shall also contribute in Saving money and resources. The
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economy that reduces environmental risks and strikes ecological balance is termed as Green
Economy.
DRIVING FORCE TO PROMOTE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
The following may be considered as the
driving force to promote Sustainable
Development:
i. Protecting and living in harmony with the
Nature
ii. Considering all human being as
equal
iii. Promoting good governance
iv. Using Science & Technology
responsibly
v. Creating healthy, social and
economically viable society
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
To ensure that Sustainable Development is ensured in our communities and world at large United
Nations Member States in 2015 adopted 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) as a universal
call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and
prosperity by 2030. These are:
1. poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Well Being
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry Innovation and Infrastructure
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10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institution
17. Partnership for the Goals
PROBLEMS RELATED TO SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
To achieve Sustainability for next generation, the whole
world needs to come as one. This is the biggest
challenge in realising this goal because of the following
reasons:
1. A large population in major parts of the world is living
an underprivileged life and is excluded. For them earning a meal each day is a challenge. Under
such circumstances, expecting an alteration in their mind set or behaviour is not easy.
2. A huge population in world’s economy is unemployed. Any means of earning whether
sustainable or not is their ray of hope.
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3. With the existing issues of climate change, number of species has extinct and many are on verge
of their extinction. Under such circumstances striking a balance in the food chain is a big
responsibility.
4. The market all over the world is trying to capture as many resources as possible to maximize
their profit. In pursuit of maximising the profit they overuse and exploit the resources.
5. In the time of nuclear race, where every developing country is trying its hand to become
developed nation, ensuring world peace is a global challenge.
6. It is the responsibility of every country to ensure having a full proof policy towards Sustainable
Development. While the challenge remains that many are simply leaving loose ends in the
execution of policies.
7. Last but most important, while it is the responsibility and accountability of every individual to
promote Sustainable Development, there is a huge world population which is simply insensitive
towards its need.
QUESTIONS
1 mark QUESTIONS
1. There are ________ SDGs given by the United Nations.
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2. SDGs stand for _________
Sustainable Development Goals
3. Give any one practice / sustainable process that is being used to help preserve the
environment.
organic farming/ vermicomposting
4. When and where Sustainable Development Goals were launched?
United Nations Sustainable Development Summit in New York in September 2015.
5. What is Sustainable Development?
Sustainable development is the development that satisfies the needs of the
present without compromising the capacity of future generations.
6. What do you mean by Sustainable Development Goals?
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a universal call of action to end
poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
7. Give any 2 R’s of sustainability.
These are REFUSE, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE. (Any two)
8. Enlist different problems related to Sustainable Development.
Food and nutrition security, safe drinking water, energy security, and waste
management.
9. Why is upcycling used extensively in sustainable development?
Any product that is not usable can be upcycled with creativity and innovation to
give a new look to an old product, this helps in sustainable development.
10. What is meant by REFUSE in context of creating sustainable environment?
REFUSE implies refusing use of those products which may cause harm to
environment.
DESCRIPTIVE (2 MARKS)
1. Enumerate any two initiatives through which we can reduce inequalities in our
society
• Helpful to one another.
• Friendly with everyone.
• Including everyone while working or playing.
• Helping others by including everyone whether they are small or big, girl or
boy, belonging to any class or caste.
2. Explain ‘Affordable and Clean Energy’.
• Using solar power i.e., power generated using the sun does not cause
pollution as it does not require burning of non-renewable fuels, such as
coal.
• Use of biogas is also an eco-friendly alternative to natural gas.
3. ‘Reduced Inequalities’ is one of the Sustainable development goals set by the UN.
Give any two ways to reduce inequalities.
Two easy to reduce inequalities are : -
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• Be helpful to one another.
• be friendly with everyone
4. What are the problems related to sustainable development? Discus any two.
• Food: Large areas of rich, fertile land needed to grow crops, which is
becoming less as we are using up more and more land for other purposes –
cities, roads, airports, industries, etc. Soil nutrients are also getting depleted
and lots of chemicals are spoiling the soil due to use of chemical fertilizers.
• Water: We use fresh water from rivers and ponds for drinking and cleaning
but dump garbage into them. The rivers and ponds are getting polluted.
This way after several years, we will have no clean water for our use.
• Fuel: We are using a lot of wood from trees as fuels and for construction of
homes and furniture. As more and more trees are being cut, it is affecting
the climate of the place. Extreme weather conditions, such as floods,
extreme cold or heat, are seen in many places, which affect the people
living there.
5. Briefly explain importance of sustainable development.
• It will ensure that resources like air, water, forests are saved to future
generation.
• Problems like Climate Change, Emission of Green House gases can be
taken care of with the help of Sustainable Development.
• Adoption of Sustainable Development in our daily life and at our work place
will also promote economic growth.
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