World Sustainability Day : For a Green Planet

Dr N Munal Meitei
World Sustainability Day, celebrated on 30 October, the last Wednesday reminds us the urgent need to protect the planet for future generations. This day focuses on promoting sustainable development, redu- cing carbon footprints, conserving natural resources and encouraging individuals, businesses and Govts to act responsibly in preserving the planet.
Sustainability is essential for addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and resource depletion. UN’s sustainability is, ‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’ and sustainable development goals encompass a broad spectrum of environmental goals such as clean energy and climate action as well as goals for economic growth, hunger, poverty, health, education, equality, peace and justice.
Sustainability is not only about the nature and ecological products, but also about a healthy planet, thriving economy and well-being of people. More than that, sustainability involves knowledge, in its first step, right before action. This day encourages everyone to reflect on their environmental impact and take steps to reduce waste, save energy and support sustainable practices.
Throughout history, civilizations have collapsed when they ignored sustainable practices and over- exploited their natural resources. Civilizations like the Egyptians, Sumerians, Mayans and Polynesians failed to balance human progress with the health of their environments. Scholars, like Thomas Malthus in 1798, predicted resource shortages due to population growth, marking the beginning of sustainability con- cerns in modern times.
At the individual level, people can drive to a sustainable future, such as reduce, reuse and recycle, minimizing personal usage and embrace eco-friendly habits. At the State and National level, there are many responsible political decisions that can drive sus- tainable practices.
Human activity is pushing the planet’s ecological systems to their limits. Recycling means turning an item into raw materials which can be used again, usually for a completely new products. Reuse, in contrast, refers to using an object as it is without breaking it down. Advocacy can be a powerful tool to effect real change in environmental sustainability. These ini- tiatives focus on creating solutions that balance the needs of people and the planet, ensuring that pro-gress today does not come at the expense of future generations.
Sustainability in food systems is crucial for the future of both the planet and humanity. According to the United Nations, one-third of all food produced globally is wasted, which equates to around 1.3 billion tons annually. Food waste is not only an ethical issue but also an environmental one. The wasted food not only could feed more than one-fourth of world’s hungry people but contributes to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while valuable natural resources like water and land are consumed unnecessarily.
One of the primary objectives of sustainability is to foster community growth by creating economic opportunities and improving livelihoods. By equipping community members with skills and resources, these initiatives enable individuals to secure stable employ- ment and generate income.
For example, in our agriculture, we introduce sustainable farming techniques that increase crop yields and reduce dependency on chemical inputs.
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