"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” World Commission on Environment and Development, Our Common Future (1987).
I feel that everybody would like to think of their lifestyle as being sustainable. I certainly would like to believe that I was doing my bit to help save the planet. If somebody was to ask me in the street if I felt I was leading a sustainable lifestyle, my initial answer would probably be yes. However, upon further reflection I would have to say that my life is probably not as sustainable as I would like it to be. I now recycle most materials that can be, thanks to all of the recycling boxes and bins introduced by the government. However I would say that most of the things I do that I would say help make me more sustainable are small acts that are more common sense than me thinking about the environment. For example, showering rather than taking baths, only using a washing machine and dishwasher when they are full, turning off lights behind me when I leave the room and not leaving things on stand-by.
I do own a car, and honestly, I use my car as my main mode of transport. During university term time, I live in a small village, and commute to university daily, which takes around 20-25 minutes. I know that I should opt for public transport, however buses are very infrequent (Maybe one bus an hour) and would have to then swap buses around 3 times just to get to either campus. So I drive to university, and to most other places, out of convenience.
The department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, 2009) states that “The past 20 years have seen a growing realisation that the current model of development is unsustainable. In other words, we are living beyond our means. From the loss of biodiversity with the felling of rainforests or over fishing to the negative effect our consumption patterns are having on the environment and the climate. Our way of life is placing an increasing burden on the planet.” It is the understanding of a statement like this that has urged people to do something to help on an international scale spanning right down to an individual one. One of the main themes of the London 2012 Olympics is ‘Sustainability’ - http://www.london2012.com/making-it-happen/sustainability/index.php
Defra also has a complete website completely devoted to sustainable development, http://www.defra.gov.uk/sustainable/government/ . The website includes a page on what sustainable development is, and what you can do to make your own life more sustainable. This, I feel plays a vital role in helping the public understand the ideas behind sustainable development, and how they can alter their own lives to become more sustainable.
On reflection of everything I have said above, under the circumstances surrounding my lifestyle, I feel that I am doing as much as I can, nonetheless I would still like to be able to say I am doing more.
Hi Hannah
ReplyDeleteI really liked this first blog, you make it very clear about what youdo and what you dont do. I very much agree with the part about the buses, the buses are never realiable and the car is alot more convnient:).
The part about if you asked someone if there were sustainable or not is very true. we all like to think we are sustainable in some ways and that weall do our bit to help.