24 Tomorrow’s World

Overview of Chapter 24 Living Sustainably Sustainable Living: A Plan of Action Changing Personal Attitude and Practices What Kind of World Do We Want?

Choose to live sustainably? Globally, 1 in 4 live in extreme poverty 1 in 7 little access to enough or quality foods Fairness and equality

Living Sustainably Environmental Sustainability Ability to meet humanity’s current needs without compromising the needs to future generations Sustainable development 1987 report – Our Common Future (aka Brundtland report)

Living Sustainably Consumption Human use of materials and energy World does not have enough resources to sustain everyone at level enjoyed by US Asian countries rapidly catching up

Five Recommendations For Sustainable Living 1. Eliminate poverty and stabilize the human population 2. Protect and restore Earth’s resources 3. Provide adequate food for all people 4. Mitigate climate change 5. Design sustainable cities From Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, Published in 2006 by Lester R. Brown

Recommendation 1 - Eliminating Poverty and Stabilizing Human Population Eliminate Poverty Improve quality of life in lower-income countries will require increasing economic growth Must address issues of: health, nutrition and education Role of women requires attention (right)

Recommendation 1 - Eliminating Poverty and Stabilizing Human Population Eliminate Poverty Need more trained professionals in developing countries Debts to poorest countries should be forgiven Population Must devote necessary resources to family planning

Recommendation 1 - Eliminating Poverty and Stabilizing Human Population Microcredit programs “The poor stay poor, not because they’re lazy but because they have no access to capital.” Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto Small loans of $50-$500 dollars to establish self- employment projects that generate income Examples: sewing machines, refrigerators, chickens

Recommendation 2 - Protecting and Restoring Earth’s Resources The world’s forests Lost for two reasons Converted to cash Pressure from rapid population growth and widespread poverty Need to protect forest resources

Recommendation 2 - Protecting and Restoring Earth’s Resources Loss of biodiversity Need to protect biodiversity Food, medicine, clothing Ecosystem services

Recommendation 2 - Protecting and Restoring Earth’s Resources Economic development cannot ignore functions of biological and physical systems Depends on attitudes and practices based on scientific information Connection to cultural diversity

Recommendation 3 - Providing Adequate Food For All People Link between poverty and food insecurity Agriculture must be improved to achieve more global sustainability Manage farmlands and grazing lands efficiently (precision farming and IPM) Reduce loss of soil fertility, erosion, aquifer depletion, etc.

Case in Point: PA association for sustainable agricultural Connects farmers and non- farmers Agritourism

Recommendation 4 - Mitigating Climate Change Human activities are causing the increase in global temperature Must address climate change in aggressive coordinated fashion Cannot wait until scientific knowledge is complete- earth is too complex Stabilizing climate requires a comprehensive energy plan Phase out of fossil fuels in both developed AND developing countries

Recommendation 4 - Mitigating Climate Change Comprehensive energy plan

Recommendation 5 - Designing Sustainable Cities ~50% of world’s population now lives in cities Need to design sustainable cities Urban transportation systems Parks and open spaces Innovative approaches to handle water scarcity and sewage treatment

Case-In-Point: Durban, South Africa Member of Sustainable Cities Network Community participation needed Food gardens in schools Waste reduction programs Renewable energy in many homes

Changing Personal Attitudes and Practices Sustainable consumption Use of goods and services that satisfy basic human needs and improve the quality of life but that minimize the use of resources so they are available for future use Needs of survival compared to wants

Changing Personal Attitudes and Practices Role of Education Accurate information must be made widely available People’s concerns for the environment do not translate into action

Role of Education People must be educated to understand the reasons for changing practices Set up environmental curricula at all school levels Encourage environmental activities and organizations Support institutions that promote conservation and sustainability Encourage inclusion of relevant material in programs of social groups

What Kind of World Do We Want? Those who live in developed countries are the source of most of the problems facing the global environment Assumption made that environment will take care of itself This view needs to be changed radically

What Kind of World Do We Want? Most critical environmental problem is our own attitudes and values Your generation must be the next pioneers Explore a different way for humans to exist in the world Requires reconnecting with natural environment Requires revaluing ourselves according to a new set of ideals What kind of world do you want to live in?