The issues of pollution control, Climate change, Global warming and greenhouse effect and their implications on the lives of all living beings have become one of the most trending and discussed topics of the entire century.
Sustainable thinking had become need of the hour as it is the only alternative available on hand. It can be brought about by adopting a broad minded approach in our responsibility towards the mother earth. Refurbishing of manufacturing practices, Eco-friendly innovations in transportation, Management of water resources, oceans, forests, reducing plastic and using its alternatives, avoiding deforestation are some of the most basic as well as much needed approaches to be acknowledged and implemented.
Sustainable development in literal sense means the development which takes place by planning and judicious use of resources so that they can be used by the future generations. But have we ever thought of implementing sustainability as our way of life? No, Because our idea of sustainability is naïve and comes only from what we have heard or read from newspapers and magazines about environment and renew ability.
We need to understand that each and every activity of ours is in some or the other way going to impact the nature. So we must have a sufficient track of our everyday activities that harm the nature and focus on amending it by implementing eco-friendly technologies that are available in the market. These may seem to be a little more costly at first. This initial investment can only help us and our future generations to survive.
There are a number of innovations in transportation industry like use of solar cars, environment-friendly fuels instead of conventional petrol and diesel, improvisations in the automobile technologies to reduce the release of unburnt toxic gases into the air. Similarly there are many innovations suggested in the manufacturing processes of industries to prevent the release and spread of hazardous gases into air and hazardous chemicals into water bodies. Different industries have started the policy of net zero waste as well as net zero carbon. Though it seems a little difficult to adopt these, the advantages they offer are countless.
In the construction sector as well, there have been many commendable developments from the environmental regard.There is a widely used concept of categorizing the buildings into green building and net zero building used in our country and elsewhere. Under this, the buildings adopt several energy and water conservation methods like use of natural ventilation, better insulating building materials, less wastage of water, reuse and recycling of wastewater after proper in-house treatment, rainwater harvesting and recharging the ground water, solid and liquid waste reduction strategies by recycling the waste, use of solar photovoltaic, bio gas, wind energy and other site specific solutions.
The use of alternatives against wood can be used in the construction of partition walls, doors, windows, furniture etc. There are many natural, Eco-friendly and recyclable materials like coconut etc. which can be used to perform the same functions as wood. By doing so, we can effectively reduce cutting down of trees which in turn will help us in our efforts towards carbon sequestration. This in turn will pave a way to reduce global warming and green house effect. A number of natural and artificial water bodies should be created so as keep the temperature low and the atmosphere cool.
In the infrastructure sector, a lot of economic as well as eco-friendly alternatives can be availed. The roads and railway infrastructure has got a huge scope to play in safeguarding our environment. The slopes of the roads and railways can be safeguarded and beautified by use of the coir geogreen blankets. This bio-degradable material can be applied to all the slopes which are adjacent to roads, railways, as well in safeguarding the already mined areas. Restoration of open cast mines can be done by use of erosion control blanket. It can be applied to steep vertical slopes as well as horizontal slopes. This technique is cost effective, self-reliant and the vegetation on it behaves as a carbon sink.
A lot of money, efforts and time have already been spent by nations across the world in researching and developing sustainable solutions to protect our Mother earth. Now it’s time to put this hard work into effect. It is already too late to realize the importance of sustainability and that our earth is the only planet where life exists. And if we lose her, then there is no chance of existence of living beings in the coming years.
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