We do not spend all of our earnings, but save. We save for the future - to meet planned and unplanned future requirements importantly for the bright future of our children. But what about preserving an habitable climate for our children? What about conserving the natural resources which are finite in supply? Think about a situation that we have saved a considerable amount for the future needs of our children but they don't have enough clean water, pure air, other basic resources even an habitable climate that they can buy with our savings!
Sustainable development means meeting our present needs without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet theirs. So, how is our race for a comfortable living for us and our family going to compromise the comfortable living of our children and generations to come?
We have read and heard a lot about the climate change and global warming and we know its consequences. People around the world have already started to taste the sample of future to come - drastic changes in the climate and soaring temperature! It has been identified that major cause of climate change is greenhouse gas emission. Carbon Dioxide is the predominant greenhouse gas. Carbon dioxide is emitted when the fossil fuels are burnt. Coal, oil and gas are major fossil fuels. Mainly, fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity, to run motor vehicles and to operate machines in the factory etc.
The government can not ban production of electricity, vehicles or running factories. But we the people can reduce the need for setting up more electricity plants and factories and in turn need for more fossil fuels to be burnt! Yes! use less, save and preserve!
Another reason why we should preserve the natural resources are that they are not unlimited in supply. We use fuels, water and other natural resource quicker than it is replenished by the nature. Resources are there to meet the need of every living creatures, but not our greed.
So how can we do justice to our future generation! Conserve the natural resources and preserve our environment. Consume less. Any products that we buy reach us after long manufacturing process and transportation where it has caused emission of carbon either directly or indirectly and has used up so much natural resources.
Use public transport and bicycles. It saves fuels and reduce the carbon emission from using your own vehicle. 10 people driving 10 cars and 10 people travelling in a single vehicle make lots of difference! Save electricity, it will reduce the need for more generation capacity and thus save fuels and reduce carbon emission. Use energy efficient equipments and lights. Use renewable energy, utilise the products that works on renewable energy like solar, wind etc. Renewable energy do not use depleting fuels and do not burn fuel that cause carbon emission. Make your building - home, office or factories - more energy efficient. Buildings are where most of the energy is used - for lighting, heating, cooling and so on! Follow green building norms when you construct your home or any other building. Refurbish your existing building incorporating some of the green building features!
Using Electricity | Fossil Fuels (Coal, Petroleum, Natural Gas) | Carbon Emission | Global Warming and Climate Change |
Driving Vehicle |
Consumption of Materials and products | Manufacturing |
Transportation |
Remember when you waste your food buying/preparing more than you want, when you throw away things to buy new ones to follow the current fashion and trend, when you drive a private car where you can comfortably walk or use public transport - everything have depleted a portion of one or more natuaral resources and have emitted so much greenhouse gases that is spoiling the climate and the environment that we live in!
