Environmental Sustainability

The world as we know it today is an unsustainable place. Pollution and poverty

have thrown our planet into a downward spiral. We have truly made a mess of
things. The only way to make the earth a better place for generations to come
is to implement a more sustainable way of life.
In ecology this word describes biological systems that remain diverse and
productive over a long period of time. Healthy wetlands and forests are prime
examples of sustainable biological systems. For humans sustainability has
economic, environmental and social dimensions. These are the three pillars of
sustainability.
Our planet has plenty of natural resources but the demand for these resources
is increasing by the hour. Sooner or later they will be exhausted. As Mahatma
Gandhi once said "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs but not
every man's greed." It is high time that we analyse our needs and decide what
our true priorities are.
Nowadays flexibility and dynamism are more relevant than ever before. With
stressful lives and decreasing amount of leisure time we want to go from one
place to another as fast as possible. But this desire for saving time puts a major
strain on the environment. What alternatives are available to us in terms of
eco-frendly transport? And how can we reduce dependence on the finite
resources, such as oil, in the transport sector? The solution lies in using bicyles
and public transport.
Engaging youth in organised efforts to promote environmental sustainability
has important implications for youngsters themselves as well as for their
communities. Every third person you meet in an Indian city today is a
youngster. The Indian youth have both special concerns and special
responsibilities in this context. A number of environmental risks and hazards
will affect those who have to live for an extended period in the deteriorating
environment bequeathed to them by the earlier generations. The nature,
extent and severity of environmental problems vary tremendously from one
part of the world to another but certain issues-most notably global warming
and ozone layer depletion-are global problems and therefore of concern to
everyone.
The participation of youth in environmental protection can be sought at levels
ranging from grass-roots activism to policy-making bodies and Non-
Government Organisations (NGOs). Their role can be institutionalised in policy-
making through advisory bodies such as youth councils. Many national
governments have ministries or departments of "youth affairs". In addition to
their intellectual contribution and ability to mobilise support, young people
bring unique perspectives that need to be taken into account by the
government.
Majority of Indian youth come from rural India where obtaining basic
amenities of life continues to be a matter of concern. In such a challenging
situation where immediate issues like livelihood and food are of primary
importance, sustaining the support of young people is bound to be very
difficult. That’s why they need to be trained in sustainable ways of living
through vocational workshops that would empower them to fulfill their
requirements without being harsh on the environment!!
The present day youth knows that this is not the time to sit back and expect
things to change by themselves. Therefore almost every day we hear about a
new movement for or against various environmental issues, ranging from
deforestation to discouraging animal ill-treatment. In the current situation of
the environment awareness is bliss. These are the harbingers of the new age
when India would not only be known for its cultural and geographic diversity
but also as a country that prides itself on actively maintaining and upholding
ecological balance through sustainable development. A Modern Youthful
India!!

“The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man
who cleans up the river."
-Ross Perot