Environmental sustainability is a concept that focuses on efforts aimed at achieving a widespread, deep and lasting ecological balance through the preservation and responsible use of natural resources .
To fulfill this purpose, it is essential to carry out optimal management of natural resources in order to ensure their availability in the medium and long term. Ordinary citizens, and especially those who run businesses or companies, must contribute to maintaining environmental sustainability through daily practices that reduce the percentage of waste generated , sustainable water management and responsible consumption .
As principles that mark the bases of environmental sustainability, we can point out the sustainable use of elements of nature , respect for biodiversity , good waste management and actions aimed at reducing pollution .
Importance of environmental sustainability
Environmental sustainability is indispensable and important because it pursues a healthy balance and harmonious coexistence on Earth . With sustainable development criteria it is possible for a society, and the planet as a whole, to make progress without compromising the resources of future generations.
It is important that each individual, government, company and community educate themselves about the advantages and positive impact of environmental sustainability in order to adopt a lifestyle, a corporate philosophy and an environmental policy in accordance with sustainable guidelines.
According to analysts, sustainable measures that are implemented on a large scale and maintained over time end up generating favorable transformations that translate into a more productive , safe and healthy natural environment. In this context, people's quality of life improves and the prospects for future generations are hopeful.
With environmental sustainability strategies, experts on the subject indicate, the air becomes cleaner, vital resources such as water are not depleted, and ecosystems are preserved.
Characteristics
It is enriching to know the dimensions or scope of environmental sustainability . Firstly, it has an impact on nature in pursuit of the protection of species , the efficient management of natural resources and, ultimately, the improvement of the environment .
Thanks to sustainable development , the health of the population also benefits. The risk rate of contracting respiratory and/or gastrointestinal diseases decreases significantly when air and water pollution levels are significantly reduced.
The economic sphere, meanwhile, is covered by sustainability when practices that are profitable and, simultaneously, environmentally responsible are implemented. Fair trade , green purchasing and the circular economy reach significance at this point.
Nor should we overlook the challenges that arise when applying environmental sustainability in the operation of a company. First of all, you have to know that the initial costs to adapt facilities or processes to sustainable criteria are usually high. In any case, over time these investments tend to be compensated by saving money with the use of renewable energies and thanks to the prestige gained by the company, which generally has better and better growth opportunities. It also requires a change in individual and group mentality, training and conviction of managers and workers to perform tasks in a sustainable way.
Examples of environmental sustainability
That a company invests resources and adopts measures in pursuit of energy efficiency constitutes a good example of environmental sustainability that deserves to be imitated by other companies.
Whether at a corporate level or at home, it is also a sign of commitment to environmental sustainability to commit to recycling .
Sustainable tourism is another example of an attempt to develop an activity, in this case linked to travel, that seeks to minimize as much as possible the environmental impact of tourism dynamics to preserve natural heritage , take care of nature's resources and respect biodiversity. .
The United Nations Organization (UN) , by providing concrete data, demonstrates through its facilities how it contributes to environmental sustainability from its spaces. It has installed, for example, solar panels and is progressively reducing the percentage of greenhouse gas emissions , in addition to acquiring carbon credits to offset these emissions. The UN system, according to what was reported, is aimed at achieving one hundred percent climate neutrality .
Current needs in terms of textile and food resources can be met, to detail another possibility, by betting on sustainable agriculture . This modality takes care of the resources it uses by pursuing a balance between social requirements, the economic dimension and the environmental issue.
Finally, it is desirable that environmental education be strengthened, that more and more be invested in research projects on environmental sustainability , that citizen participation in actions in favor of the planet grow, and that sustainable mobility be consolidated on a global scale from of the massive use of non-polluting transport , low-emission vehicles and hybrid cars .