1. What is Sustainability? Is a Sustainable World Possible?
Md Saidul Islam (Prof Said)
Assistant Professor of Sociology
Nanyang Technological University
Singapore

2. Let’s hear something different and disturbing
1. ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS:
Nearly 3.5 billion people live on less than two dollars a day.
The Gross Domestic Product of the poorest 48 nations (which is a quarter of the world's countries) is less than the wealth of the world’s 3 richest people combined.
1 billion children live in poverty (1 in 2 children in the world).
8 million people die because they are too poor to stay alive.
800 million people go hungry each day.
50,000 people are dying every day because of poverty and poverty-related diseases

4. 2. ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
When environment is exploited more than its recycling and regeneration capacity.
Two kinds:
Resource depletion: when a resource people value is in short supply.
Pollution: when human actions change ecosystems in undesirable way.

5. Examples of environmental problems
acid rain
air pollution
Smog and haze
deforestation
global warming
greenhouse effect
indoor air pollution
landfill over-crowding
low level nuclear wastes
ozone depletion
radiation from power lines
species extinction
toxic waste dump
desertification

6. So, the environment is changing! WHY?

7. Changing the environment…
Each day humans:
Consume 54% of the accessible runoff water on earth.
Mine more materials from the earth than the natural erosion of all earth’s rivers.
Add over 50 million tons of carbon to the atmosphere.
Destroy 180 square miles of tropical rain forest.
Create over 60 square miles of desert.
Eliminate at least 74 animal or plant species.
Erode 70 to 80 million tons of topsoil.
Add around 1,400 tons of CFCs to the stratosphere.
High-risk of ecological problems:
Wildlife ecological alternation/destruction
Species extinction and loss of biodiversity
Stratosphere ozone depletion
Global climate change
High-risk health problems:
Indoor air pollution
Outdoor air pollution
Workers’ exposure to industrial or farm chemicals
Pollutants in drinking water
Pesticide residues on food
Toxic chemicals in consumer food

8. Changing the environment…
Waste and pollution: Americans, for example, through away:
Enough vehicle tires to encircle the planet almost three times
Enough aluminum to rebuild the country’s entire commercial airline fleet every months
About 2.5 million non-returnable plastic bottles each year
Enough disposable diapers per year which, if lined up to end, would reach to the moon and back seven times
About 1.5 billion pounds of edible food per year
Enough office paper to build a wall 11 feet high across the country from New York City to San Francisco.

9. Global crises and issues?
Economic: Great Recession—unemployment, poverty, ripple effect in the rest of the world.
Social: Extreme and growing inequality, poverty; while a tiny minority has experienced soaring incomes and accumulated grand fortunes.
Environmental: Excessive human consumption and waste and a spate of terrible technologies are disrupting Earth’s climate, reducing Earth’s capacity to support life.
Political: Reflected in governmental paralysis and a democracy that is weak, shallow, and corrupted—”the best democracy that money can buy”. Politicians around the world have “collective irresponsibility” on the global commons.

10. Big Questions Why? How? With what effects? Is there any solutions?
Why do/don’t some solutions work?
What can we do?
One answer is: SUSTAINABILITY

11. SUSTAINABILITY: Definition
“development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

12. SUSTAINABILITY: Goals
Three goals of sustainable development:
Economic growth
Environmental protection
Social equity
Incorporation of sustainable development in institutions:
USAID
World Bank

13. SUSTAINABILITY: Ecological modernization approach
Capitalism is flexible enough to embrace a movement in the direction of a “sustainable capitalism”
Neither questions the existing capitalist economic and political arrangements nor advocates for retreating to a world of simplicity
Argues for a further modernization (“super-industrialization”) through: promoting environmentally friendly technologies, green consumerism, and transformation of state policies towards sustainability

14. Ecological modernization: Huber (1982, 1985)
Industrial breakthrough
Industrial revolution
Construction of Industrial Society
Manufacturing and Service
Super-industrialization
Ecological switchover of the industrial system
Ecological Modernization
Green economy, natural capitalism
Ecological modernization: Huber (1982, 1985)

15. Ecological modernization…
Adoption of environmental certification regimes in the global agro-food system particularly in aquaculture to address the troubled social and environmental legacies is an example of ecological modernization

16. Ecological modernization: how to achieve
Free-market environmentalism
Voluntary actions by corporations and consumers can improve the environment
Change through green consumerism and boycotting harmful products
CERES (Coalition for environmentally responsible Economies ): voluntary environmental reporting; ongoing environmental improvements (e.g., American airlines, Bethlehem Steels, GM, Sonoco)
3M: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing
ISO: International Standard Organization
3P: Pollution Prevention Policy [product reformulation; process modification; equipment design; recycling/reuse of waste]

17. Ecological modernization… Ideal situation for “green consumerism”

18. Ecological modernization: how to achieve
B. Policy/Reformist Sustainable development:
It looks at how policies can be reformed to integrate sustainable development
Al Gore advocated for “greening” within the bounds of economic growth
Political actors at all levels (local, state, national, international) take reformist approach
“Don’t change the system; adapt it to meet the goals of environment, economy, and social equity.”

19. What you can do… About water:
Don’t leave tap running while you are doing other things
If you buy a new dishwasher, get an energy-efficient one
Take showers rather than baths
When you buy a new toilet, buy a water saving one
Install a flow constrictor device on faucets, particularly your shower-head

20. Is a sustainable earth possible???
Yes.
But…

21. It requires international agreements on sustainability…
So, it is immensely challenging

22. Because of power conflict, differences of opinion, diverse local dynamics…
Last Month A World-Wide Survey Was Conducted By The UN. The Only Question Asked Was..."Could You Please Give Your Honest Opinion About Solutions To The Food Shortage In The Rest Of The world ?"
The Survey Was A Massive Failure Because Of The Following:
In Western Europe: They Didn't Know What "Shortage" Meant.
In Africa: They Didn't Know What "Food" Meant.
In China: They Didn't Know What "Opinion" Meant.
In The Middle East: They Didn't Know What "Solution" meant.
In South America: They Didn't Know What "Please" Meant.
In The USA: They Didn't Know What "The Rest Of The World" meant.
In The Indian Subcontinent: They Didn't Know What "Honest" Meant.

23. Any questions