Solutions For a Sustainable Society

The impacts of human society on ecosystems are visible and dramatic in our everyday lives. Yet humanity is still an Earth bound organism; our existential dilemma seeks to support our growing population, cities, and military. There are many avenues in which we may govern and limit our impacts to preserve our biodiversity, and there are promising initiatives which lead us to more sustainable solutions and societies. The changes required cannot be localized to any single country, community, or individual, but the vessel must be executed on all planes. Though economic, political, and social stabilility are keystone factors in discerning the sustainable qualities of a group or development; this analysis seeks to expose the relationship between these human needs and our environment. The open exchange of philosophical perspective is imperative to crafting a model for society that meets the needs of those who take part in it, and balances interdependent pillars between humanity and our natural diversity.

Regardless of role within our human societies, individuals and groups have began adopting policies and measures which reduce or eliminate our dependence on harmful materials and pollutants because growing economic incentive. The ideaology of environmental activism demands that everyone is involved, “Corporate executives, investors, conservative Christians, labor unions and others not traditionally associated with the cause have joined the intensifying campaign to save the Earth” (Price). Those who have become involved have also allocated revenue within business and community budgets to address enviromental issues. The single driving force beneath global markets is free enterprise and business, and activists have targeted capital hoarding ventures to impose change on consumers. An entire industry has spawned to help existing companies create programs which limit environmental impacts and offer sustainable solutions to a more eco-conscientious market, “Environmental Defense, a leading advocacy group, hires a director of corporate partnerships and begins helping businesses “go green.” Among the many fruits of these collaborations: fuel-efficient hybrid FedEx delivery trucks, reusable UPS shipping envelopes and measures to cut greenhouse-gas emissions at DuPont facilities that saved the company $325 million in one year” (Price). Business executives have realized that turning an eye to green and efficient policies affects their bottom line and are positively rewarded. There is a wealth of economic incentive that exists to groups which seek to amend traditional policy. According to Oklahoma State University sociology Professor Riley Dunlap, who has studied popular opinion regarding environmentalism for 40 years, says “These local government initiatives, state initiatives, corporate initiatives represent a different kind of environmentalism.” This trend has been fueled by broadening awareness to “concerns that global warming poses a real and potentially catastrophic threat to life on Earth but that a conservative federal government refuses to act” (Price). Economic incentive exists to those willing to strive for sustainable solutions and communities.

The legislation required to initiate sweeping change for environmental advocacy and sustainability has been recognized at national and local levels. The United Nations has released a series of texts which illustrate fundamental principles for instilling legislative change to communities and countries. The Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity instituted in 2001 under the U.N. Says “cultural diversity is as necessary for humankind as biodiversity is for nature. It becomes one of the roots of development understood not simply in terms of economic growth, but also as a means to achieve a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual existence" (Price). There are billions being spent to convert Amerca's business infrastructure into cleaner, more efficient entities seeking profitiability. Through the Carbon Disclosure Project, for instance, “major global investors each year ask about 2,000 companies — including the world's largest 500 — to reveal their impact on greenhouse-gas emissions. In 2006, 225 investors with $31.5 trillion in assets made the request — up from 143 investors the year before. Nearly three-quarters of the largest 500 companies responded this year, up from just under 50 percent in 2005” (Cooper). Change has also been forced upon companies unwilling to comply by organizations seeking to expose activity that is overly harmful to the environment. Groups like the Rainforest Action Network have pitted companies into realizing the darkest of their environmental woes by “negotiating accords on environmentally friendly lending policies with Citigroup, JPMorganChase and Goldman Sachs, and now is running campaigns against Wells Fargo's investments in oil, coal, logging and mining operations. Among RAN's other campaigns to change corporate policies, it's pressing for revisions in Weyerhaeuser's logging practices and for increases in the fuel-efficiency of Ford vehicles” (Price). But beyond the U.N. , larger business and corporations, there are many smaller institutions that have recognized the threat of unsustainable development. For example, the International Institute for Sustainable Development, based from Colorado State University, seeks to implement change through education and policy. According to the institution's activity statement, the institute “holds workshops and courses for development practitioners (at project, intermediate, and policy levels of society) to help impart knowledge and skills essential to sustainable development. Courses cover development-based subjects such as planning, motivation, leadership, management, communication, and evaluation. IISD also organizes conferences on community-based development, where participants can exchange ideas and build upon their field experiences ” (IISD).

Sustainable communities have entered the marketplace and have proven to be more efficient economically and socially. Companies and organizations that recognize current trends in environmental catastophes have realized the profitability and necessity of creating a greater biodiversiy on Earth for future generations. The most effective way to bring about change is to work with communities and entities to foster a dialogue.

“IISD Activities.” The International Institute for Sustainable Development. 2007. Colorado State University. 10 April. 2007. <http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/IISD/activities.html>

Cooper, Mary H. "Population and the Environment." CQ Researcher 8.26 (1998): 601-624. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Emerson Library, Boston, MA. 12 April 2007 .

Price, Tom. "The New Environmentalism." CQ Researcher 16.42 (2006): 985-1008. CQ Researcher Online. CQ Press. Emerson Library, Boston, MA. 12 April 2007 .