Living Sustainability

The fundamental definition of sustainability aims to delineate the need to use the current resources in a way that the needs of the future generation are not compromised. However, sustainability should not be associated only with environmentalism as it is a broad term that encapsulates several factors. In fact, a sustainable world should be understood at the intersection of the environment, economy, and society. Whereas environmental sustainability, particularly, accentuates the need to conserve and utilize natural resources while ensuring that future generations’ needs are not jeopardized, economic and social sustainability stress the necessity for the human communities to maintain their financial independence as well as the basic needs to live healthy lives with security.

Having understood the diversity of concepts encapsulated within this term, the seventeen sustainable development goals all aim to eradicate poverty, income inequity, and social injustices. However, as precise as the seventeen goals appear, their execution is not an unchallenging undertaking.

 In a nutshell, the seventeen goals aim to achieve the following:

However, the important question that arises is what an individual can do on a basic level in order to contribute positively towards, at least, one of the pillars of sustainability. The notion to achieve sustainability on an individual level has been highlighted by #MzuzahMoves where the person in the video captures one moment from his/her life where they showcase an act of sustainability.

Importantly, there exist several ways to attain engagement with Sustainability.

 1. It is a positive habit to be more cognizant of one’s shopping habits; If you are buying products from outlets that are notoriously known for contributing significantly towards carbon footprints, then it is wise to deter from spending one’s money there. Moreover, most of the time, we shop for products that are used only once or are not needed on an urgent basis; hence, it is rational to inquire if you actually require a product before making a purchase.

2.  It is not a new insight that plastics have contributed significantly to environmental pollution, especially with marine life being impacted in the most pernicious way. The affected marine species suffer from infections, internal injuries, as well as lacerations, and keeping that in mind, it is crucial to diminish one’s use of plastic to the greatest possible extent. Some ways to achieve that is by using reusable bags (to avoid buying one repeatedly), reducing online shopping, buying fewer packaged products, or avoiding drinking through plastic straws. 

3. One of the important factors in the expansion of greenhouse gas emissions, inevitably, leading to global warming is the expansive and pervasive use of automobiles. Therefore, if you can go to school on foot, avoid using the car to go back and forth; walking or cycling has its perks as these ways of commute, in truth, allow you to interact more with nature and the environment, as a whole. 

 4.   One food industry that is escalating the process of global warming is the meat processing industry. This insinuates that we should attempt to change our eating habits. One can eat more healthy and more sustainable products like Grass-fed beef, locally grown or fermented vegetables, and mussels. Hence, consuming such sustainable foods imply that not only are we supplanting our diet with healthy food, but we are also making an effort to conserve the environment. 

 5. One of the fundamental resources for the existence of the human race is the availability of freshwater that one can drink to sustain life on Earth; however, we are all aware of the impending water crisis that can affect the lives of millions around the world, with the global south being affected first. Consequently, make a conscious effort to use the low-water appliance in your homes, switch away from taking long showers, or if you are interested in gardening, practice xeriscaping to avoid watering more, and make sure that you close water taps properly to prevent water dripping even after you have closed the taps.

6.    What puts a strain on the natural resources in the present is the ever-burgeoning population; we can all commit to raising smaller families and ensure ecologically sustainable lives for them. This can have larger social and economic ramifications which will be perceivable in the form of reduced poverty, diminishing hunger, and decent livelihoods.

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY IS NOT HARD IF WE ALL START LIVING SUSTAINABLY ON A DAILY BASIS.