Currently, there is a lot of talk about sustainability or sustainable development in different sectors of our society. But, after all, what does this term represent?
The term “sustainable development” was first used in 1987 by Gro Harlem Brundtland, former prime minister of Norway and who served as chairman of a commission of the Organization of the Nations United. She published a book (Our Common Future) where he wrote in parts: "Sustainable development means meeting the needs of the present without affecting the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
Throughout most of man's history, he saw himself as a master of nature and believed that it was available only for his well-being, to serve economic development. This way of thinking produced a "consumer society", which is the exact opposite of sustainable development, as industries and factories seek to extract the most from resources of the planet to accumulate wealth and satisfy the exaggerated consumption of the population, occurring a lot waste. The path followed by the economy so far has been to extract, produce, sell, use and dispose, without worrying about nature and future generations, as if natural resources didn't have end.
This model of development of our society established so far has led to drastic consequences, such as environmental pollution and social inequality. It has been proven that human beings cannot consume what and how much they want without worrying about the consequences.
There has been an evolution in the way we see the relationship between economic development and the environment
Thus, the urgent need for us to change this view arose. Those who seek to apply the ideas of sustainability take into account the harmony between nature and society in any human endeavor, based on the following points:
* be ecologically correct: not depleting nature's resources, treating the environment with respect, having a balance between what we take from nature and what we offer in return. Here are some examples: use only the amount of water and energy necessary and avoid waste; consume products that do not have excessive packaging and from companies that are not threatening nature; consume less meat because the herd produces methane greenhouse gas; riding on public transport or bicycles; not consume substances that destroy the ozone layer (such as sprays which contain CFC); carry out selective collection in homes and businesses; carry out recycling and reuse of materials, among others;
Recycling and clean energy sources are ways to put sustainable development into practice
* be economically viable: sustainability does not want to interrupt development, but corresponds to a new way of thinking, seeking ways to promote economic growth without harming the environment.
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In this process, new business opportunities are developed that can be seized by individuals and companies.
Recycling is an example of an idea that can be used in sustainable development, but if the expenditure on recycling is determined material is greater than that of extracting the raw resource from nature, this process will not be economically viable and will tend not to Continue. Sustainability, on the other hand, is related to the idea of continuity — how these strands can remain in balance over time. Therefore, research must be carried out to develop means that make the recycling of a given material economically viable.
An example that shows how sustainable development can be not only economically viable, but also bring advantages, is the use of fluorescent lamps, which result in an 80% savings on the electricity bill because it lasts ten times longer than the incandescent.
* be socially fair: this involves ethics, social justice, quality education, decent work for all, solidarity and to consider that our planet is one and that each action affects the whole, because life is interaction and everything is related.
An example that we can mention is the use of public transport as a sustainable way to reduce the number of cars and, consequently, the pollution generated for the environment. However, in addition to being of quality, these means of transport must also have mechanisms that make it accessible and comfortable for everyone to use, including the elderly and people with deficiencies. Thus, ideas and technologies that focus on sustainability must also take into account less favored classes and groups.
Another example that combines these three points already mentioned is the agricultural model. Today, this model favors high specialization, less diversity and greater use of chemical products. Preference is given to extensive cultivation of monocultures, with excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides that end up polluting the soil, waters and causing serious changes in the ecosystem and in the health of the population. However, considering sustainable agriculture, we can emphasize family farming, which in addition to providing greater opportunity for less favored people, also encourages ecologically correct practices, such as crop diversification, less use of industrial inputs, sustainable use of genetic resources and agroecology.
* be culturally diverse:valuing diversity, promoting respectful relationships with everyone and generating benefits for everyone. For example, today the income of a black person in Brazil is, on average, 50% lower than that of a white person. Pervasive sustainable ideas must promote equality, not the inequality and prejudice we see today.
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
