The current state of our environment means there was failure in the concept of sustainability. The EPA in its more than 38 years role as a guardian for environmental protection, perceives that focusing our attention in promoting sustainability should be the foremost step in environmental protection.
What is Sustainability?
Sustainability may be simply defined as the ability of a community to use its natural resources without disrupting the ecological balance. As contained in the 1987 Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, the word sustainability means "meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs".
That definition was in 1987, when environment and development issues were still ideals. Today, twenty-two years after that report, we now represent the future generations the statement referred to and sadly, the resources to supply our needs have been compromised. If sustainability is to be measured in terms of how our environment fared during the past 22 years, it is quite evident that the concept of sustainability failed. Sustainability in its context today is about the ability of a community to effectively implement the different government regulations and policies in using natural resources, without further compromising the worsened condition of our environment.
Today sustainability is a more complex issue. Present day sustainability deals with an already compromised environment and natural resources. There are measures needed to rehabilitate the air, the land and the bodies of water, so that the future generation will not bear the brunt of a less than favorable condition of resources that is available today.
How the EPA Aims to Implement Sustainability in the Present State of Our Environment.
More than 38 years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency was established to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment. Even then, auto emissions, toxic wastes and the protection of ozone layer were already known environmental issues, which obviously did not improve through the passing of years despite EPA’s monitoring. In fact, the atmosphere became saturated with greenhouse gasses, marine life was disrupted, waters were contaminated, the air we breathe in is highly polluted and our natural resources almost depleted.
As early as 2007, EPA has made publications that the matter of instilling sustainability is the next level of environmental protection that they have to ensure. They will no longer stand as simple watchdogs over businesses to check on the implementation of pollution control policies, but will press on for a move to promote sustainability. Sustainability as the EPA sees it dwells on the following premises.
EPA believes that a sustainable future cannot be achieved by the government alone but will need the active participation of its citizenry. Each community should actively commit to inform, teach, and observe environmental awareness and responsibility as a means of improving environmental quality. A unified effort is expected to achieve sustainable benefits for all.
Businesses and industries should use alternative sources of energy and give attention to the non-use of harmful materials to arrest the sources of pollution, toxic causes of ecological destruction and eliminate life-threatening biological hazards.
Manufacturers and industrialists should consider what goes into the product as a way of managing wastes by managing materials. The principle of sustainability should not consider environmental sacrifices in exchange for business gains. Instead, there should be a way for manufacturers and industries to work out a system that will give greater value to what is safe and beneficial to public health and the environment.
Green Living for Sustainability
To promote green living as a means of achieving sustainability in an environment that is already damaged and compromised and has shown signs that the ecological system has been disrupted. Global warming has created extreme climate changes and has caused glacier meltdowns, ocean acidity, rising sea levels and intensity of natural catastrophes.
For citizens to create a demand for green products by using recyclable materials, solar power, solar powered battery rechargers, organic fertilizers, green supplies, green designs, by having a green home, eating organic food, and all other alternatives that will not require chemicals, toxic wastes, toxic emissions and non-biodegradable wastes.
For manufacturers to supply green products by using power plants that derive kinetic power from renewable sources of energy like hydroelectric power plants, or other power sources using flowing waters and moving winds, green chemistry, green engineering, and green fuel.
The Environmental Protection Agency admits it cannot achieve its role as the national watchdog for environment protection without the help of the citizenry as a whole. We are also responsible for the present day condition of our environment. We contributed to its use and misuse, hence we should heed EPA's call for our commitment in maintaining sustainability.