Sustainable Us

With the world population set to hit 9.7 billion people by 2050, a significant shift in the way we use resources is needed. Much of this starts with the way we think about them. For much of human history, natural resources such as water, energy, land, and food have been treated as though they were in endless supply. But as the evidence mounts this assumption is proving to be inaccurate.

The recent droughts in Australia and California are examples of the need to conserve and recycle water. The majority of studies have linked the attainment and use of fossil fuels to a slew of adverse effects on the human health and the environment. Many of these effects could be blunted with land conservation yet ecosystems are continuously depleted without proportional restoration efforts. And maximum food production depends on plentiful water as well as fertile soil.

On the other hand, significant financial and physical capital is already entrenched in maintaining our current way of life. Changes of this magnitude cannot happen at the flick of a switch. Time must be afforded to transition to a sustainable lifestyle. Companies could spend trillions of dollars to convert to renewable practices only to fall prey to cheaper competition willing to squander our resources. Besides evolving quickly, our way of life must move in relative synch to be successful.

None of these problems are insurmountable. Individuals can make small changes in their daily lives that reduce wasted resources. Companies can commit to three bottom lines: people, profit, and planet. Industries can reduce costs by striving for efficiency in production and supply chains. Progressive behavior at all of these levels can be encouraged by government incentives for projects in renewable energy, waste reduction, and energy efficiency.

Call it what you want: environmentalism, sustainability, the circular economy, or whatever phrasing follows. The spirit remains the same. Let us make the world a better place for those who come after.