World Sustainability Issues

By Samuel Arnowitz


          Every day, the world population accelerates in size and has done so more in the last decade then it ever has before. The fertility rates as well as recent advances in the medical field and the decline in death rates are the two leading causes of over population today. No longer does famine and disease carry the same weight in population control that they once did.
          Statistics show that on average the world inherits another billion people every thirteen years; this number is astronomical. It has been predicted that by the year 2050 the world population will reach somewhere between 9 and 9.5 billion people. As it is now, the Earth can not support numbers such as these. If things do not change in the near future, we will reach the tipping point and the Human Race on this planet will be doomed.
          Problems that will arise shortly if nothing is done; The depletion of clean water today is already an issue in some countries. In years to come water will be cause enough for war. Rivers in west Asia are becoming possibly intermittent. Increased deforestation as well as the depletion in croplands and agricultural sites will lead to a decline in food accessibility.
          It, however, is possible to stabilize life on Earth and prepare a better future for Mankind. Rules and regulations must be strictly enforced concerning the environment around us. The people of this world must become more environmentally friendly. Birth rates must be cut and controlled. The way we as a people view population, water, food, time, and especially education must be reevaluated.
          Sustainability issues must be addressed if we wish the generations to come to live good lives.


           Sustainable Development Timeline:
1969 – National Environmental Policy Act – This act set the basis for the environmental influence assessment in the world.
1970 – First Earth Day - A national teaching on the environment and why we should take care of it.
1971 – Polluters Pay Principle – Those polluting should pay a cost. This warns major polluters of the actions that will be taken.
1975 - World Watch Institute established in U.S – Helped raise public awareness of global environmental threats. 
1990 – UN Summit for Children – Important recognition of the impact of the environment on future generations.
1992 – Earth Summit – UN conference on environment and protection. This is where Action 21 was agreed.
2000 – Increasing Urbanization – Almost half the world’s population now lives in cities that occupy less then two percent of the earth's land but use 75 percent of the earth’s resources. This is a huge blow towards the push to be sustainable.