The world today is considered a global village, as Marshall McLuhan first described it. Indeed, it is. Technological advancements and innovations have allowed for us to reach a phenomenal level of information interchange and have enhanced the standard of living in developed and most developing nations. But before we indulge in this temptation of continually exploiting our natural resources to satisfy the greed of a few wealthy individuals and organizations, let us take a moment to ponder over the destruction that this has caused to our environment and millions of wildlife habitats.
The key problem that faces ours and the next few generations concerns this question - given the environmental and economic conditions we are in, how must we aim towards sustainable development? The world's overall industrial potential is closely intertwined with the presence of fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas. Unfortunately, these fuels are limited and non-renewable. Thus, the objective of our youth today needs to be to reduce, if not eliminate, our strong dependence on them. And the best way to do so is to invest in alternative fuel programs and energy independence. In addressing the first topic, it is critical that the US Department of Energy along with regulatory institutions such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) work on a cost-benefit analysis of the various fuels available. As far as energy independence is concerned, the US must take on certain initiatives to rely more on itself and less on the rest of the world, especially the Middle Eastern shore region for oil as this would grant more jobs that are, as such, desperately needed in today's financial climate.
The environment is currently in an extremely fragile state. The situation is only going to become more and more detrimental if we humans, residents of this great planet, do not take the necessary steps to preserve it. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and gases such as carbon dioxide and methane released into the atmosphere by our incessant usage of aerosol spray propellants, fire extinguishing agents, refrigerators, solvents and foam blowing agents, have led to the enlargement of the hole in the ozone layer. This has further resulted in the penetration of ultra-violet rays from the sun, which are responsible for birth defects and skin cancer amongst humans. Also, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and perfluorocarbons (PFCs), as declared by the Kyoto Protocol, consist of greenhouse gases, that get trapped in the earth's atmosphere, and are the key stimulants of global warming. However, the series of events doesn't end here. Global warming interferes with the ecological balance on earth. As the icecaps begin melting, numerous animal species lose their habitats and move further towards extinction. The increasing sea levels cause the submergence of land in many low-lying areas.
Therefore, it is vital for us to learn how to apply principles of mathematics, science and reasoning in reducing the enormous pressure humankind has been exerting on nature, particularly in the last 2 decades. The emission of large quantities of greenhouse gases, the ever-increasing hole in the protective ozone layer, the impending ecological disaster of global warming, the melting of the polar ice caps and the inevitable submergence of land has urged me and I hope millions of others, to try and devise ways of not only curtailing the causes and if not, the effects, of such a crisis, but also warning the world against it. Exhaustion of more of our limited natural resources is not a solution at all. The withering of dead plants and animals for millions of years and their subsequent compression deep below the surface of the earth is what forms the fossil fuels (coal, petroleum and natural gas). But humans have incessantly mined these out, bringing more carbon and carbon compounds back into the atmosphere. Thus, alternative and renewable sources of energy must be made use of but setting up systems and procuring energy from them is a difficult and expensive process. Also, the people who end up using this are the rich, who are undoubtedly a minority. Thus, ways to ensure suitable and sustainable growth as well as green and inclusive growth are the only means by which we can reduce our chances of becoming victims of a global ecological catastrophe.
For a valid solution to arise, we need skillful engineers, as I hope to become, environmentalists, industries and governments to work together to reduce the impact of such a tragedy on our planet. Public awareness campaigns that address the issue as well as the work of dedicated innovators will certainly signify a strong move towards sustainable development in the 21st century.
Shefali Khanna
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