ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: SOME CHALLENGES AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

Abstract

The environment not only plays an integral role in healthy living but also, is essential for the existence of life on Earth. Since the environment health is closely associated with the health of human, henceforth, it is important for nations to device various strategies and methods to prevent environmental degradation. The effects of environmental degradation in the perspective of air, water, land and soil waste pollution and how it would impact human beings, flora and fauna needs to emphasized. Here comes into play Sustainable Development which not only focuses on environmental issues but also, is a socio ecological process characterized by fulfilment of human needs by maintaining the quality of natural environment indefinitely. It has been acknowledged that the concept of sustainable development is multi-faceted with links to social and cultural aspects and also influence and shapes the economic behaviour, consumption patterns, and longer-term viability and sustainability of our society.

In the advent of modernisation, the environment has today the highest prices. Especially, in the developing countries like India, where the population is increasing tremendously and the resources are limited, it led to the exploitation of forests and agricultural lands which eventually caused loss of biodiversity. On one hand, poverty and population pressures while on the other hand economic growth and consequently changing consumption patterns came up as a serious threat to the environment.

While the poor depend on the environment for their livelihood, the process of economic development relies upon using natural resources to produce goods and services. The waste generated from consuming and producing these goods and services are in turn released back into the environment impacting it.