Sustainable development

Sustainable development and conscious consumption

In a world with a rapidly growing population and flourishing industries all over the world, sustainable development is of paramount importance. Extreme consumption, exhaustion of resources and excessive emissions of greenhouse gasses has put nature under pressure as never before; prominent politicians are growing more populistic for each year, fearing opposition from the electorate; and economic growth is still the first priority of every nation, be they developing or industrial.

Measures to reduce reorganizing consumption (implementing fees and taxes on environmentally harmful products and products whose production requires much energy), ensuring proper waste management, phasing out profitable but grey industries, and investing in green energy production, are all expensive, and often unpopular. However, the urgency of the crisis the world is facing must be recognized and considered; there will be no economy to protect unless action is taken immediately. Furthermore, the earlier one starts the transition to a green society, the softer the transition will be. Postponing the change will only make it rasher, harder and more unjust.

Though each individual has a responsibility, the main responsibility lies with the governments and politicians; in other words, those with the power to implement legislation and use invest in green industries. Given their positions of power, these have the opportunity to take action, and be remembered as the ones who solved the greatest crisis humanity has ever faced. This, unfortunately, seems to be a less tempting scenario than that of immediate popularity and profit.

That being said, every action has a ripple effect, and one person’s actions can in some cases cause massive change. We must all be prepared to change, and it is time we understand that the question is not if we can do it, but how.