Personal Definition of Environmental Sustainability Paper Example

Introduction

Defining environmental sustainability requires a detailed review and understanding of sustainability as a phrase. According to my knowledge, sustainability involves the ability to indefinitely continue a specifically defined behavior, in the society, related to technology, the economy and most importantly the environment. According to my understanding, the environment is mainly composed of two different types of resources, renewable and nonrenewable resources. Moreover, pollution is also a significant factor that relates to these resources, leading to a direct effect on the environment at large. For sustainability in the environment, about the renewable resources, there should be a sustainable yield, where the rate of harvesting should always be lower than the rate of regeneration. On the same note, a condition towards the depletion of nonrenewable should require a comparable development of a renewable replacement for the resource. Moreover, the rates of generating wastes from different projects in the society should never be more than the assimilative capacity of the environment.

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The above conditions provide a significant perspective and ground towards establishing a credible understanding of environmental sustainability. As such, from my definition, environmental sustainability involves the rate at which the harvest of the renewable resource, as well as the non-renewable depletion resources, can be maintained. This is the process of conserving the environment to ensure that future generations benefit from the same. In the event where this rate cannot be continued indefinitely in the environment, then sustainability would not be achieved at all. Most importantly, I think that to achieve sustainability, individual needs in the society should be met without any jeopardy on the ability of the future generations, towards meeting their needs as well. As such, there should be considerations to make sure that the generations to come can be able to enjoy the resources, both renewable and renewable, that the planet has to offer.

Usefulness of this Definition

Basically, the standard definition of environmental sustainability does not capture a comprehensive aspect that is relevant towards preserving the future. Ideally, most of the definitions focus on expressing sustainable growth within the economy of the environment. However, one can relate this common definition as an oxymoron, considering that every economic growth today is highly associated with the degradation of the environment. Most importantly, it is almost impossible to maintain a sustainable environment while sustaining economic growth at the same time as well as the next few decades (Murray, Caulier-Grice & Mulgan, 89). With this consideration, I, therefore, view that my definition is imperative to the environment and should replace the standard explanation that exits today. The standard definition omits the level of life which the sustainable system can support. But in the real sense, focusing on the future and the coming generation, it would be unconducive to live in an environment full of pollution, dried water bodies as well as the excessive heat (Hawken et al., 205). I chose to deal with the trans-mountain pipeline in Canada, a project that has had an enormous impact on the environment, due to the oil lick to the environment. This problem relates to my definition of environmental sustainability, since developing a solution to the issue will result in the effective conservation of the environment.

Defining the Problem

Global environmental sustainability has a huge dependency on the intact as well as the healthy ecosystems. However, most of the ecosystems in the world today have experienced stress along with degradation to the extent where recovering is almost impossible. Such a case is evident in Canada, a fact that has increased the country's concern on the environment. Along with the most common problems that have resulted to Canada's environmental concerns, the trans-mountain pipelines, which connects between the British Columbia and Alberta have contributed heavily towards the ecological degradation in the region (Daly et al., 22). The main issues from the project relate to the lick of the pipeline which affects the ground as well as the water bodies around the pipes.

Statement of the Problem

The trans-mountain pipelines issue between the British Columbia and Alberta have been a core a primary environmental problem in Canada for a long time. As an ecological sustainability problem, this issue has resulted in a massive effect in Canada, such that some of them can never be resolved. With the existing problem in the country, several teams have linked up, towards battling the project, as a way of trying to recover the environment, while focusing on the future generations and their dependency to the environment (Daly et al., 24). As a significant concern to the environment, the development of pipelines between the British Columbia and Alberta has led to enormous increases on spillages, affecting the environment as well as instilling direct dangers to the populations living around the regions.

In response to this problem, my solution proposes to investigate the most viable option towards making the environment more sustainable, while ensuring that future generations can benefit from the country's resources. Therefore, the study focuses on the cause of the issue, as well as the credible ways of mitigating the problem through an effective and less expensive solution.

Description of the Problem

Canada has a prolonged history involving the building of energy pipelines in different parts of the country. The Trans Mountain pipeline system in the region is a pipeline which transports crude as well as the reined oil between Alberta and the West Coast of Columbia. The method, as well as the extension of the project, is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Canada Development Investment Corporation, which is accountable by Canada's parliament. The project is the only line operating between these two areas and has been in use since the year 1953. According to Daly et al. (25), the trans-mountain pipeline in the region is among the country's major environmental sabotage due to oil spills, along with anticipations in the increase to the problem shortly which could cause more damage than the current situation. The pipeline focuses on transporting crude oil along with bitumen gas between the two regions, at high pressures, around the clock. As Etkin et al. (48) point out, a combination of these two products can have a detrimental impact on the environment, ranging from the living to the non-living organisms in the environment. The initial construction of the pipelines from its establishment as well as the recent expansion affected the environment, especially the water bodies and the ground massively (Hughes & David, 101). This is because of the spillages along different sections of the line while crossing between the two regions.

Moreover, the fish habitat was profoundly affected as a result of the soil washout from the machinery, which caused sedimentation into fish-bearing rivers as well as the streams. Also, the deposition into the waterways during the construction led to disruption on the normal behavior of the fish, while at the same time altering their feeding, mating as well as their growth (Daly et al., 27). Even worse, constructing the pipelines led in excess sediments which filled the spawning gravel beds, resulting to smothering and killing of the rearing eggs. Also, as Hughes & David (103) explains, the pipeline spills from time to time increase the rate of pollution to the environment, especially the waterways, resulting to exposure of the water animals to toxic substances. Moreover, apart from killing the aquatic animals, the leaks' impact cause diseases on these animals over a long period, while causing distinction to some of the species.

There are series of arguments against the pipelines, considering the adverse effect they pause to the environment, against the existing environment sustainability goals. Most importantly, Edoho & Felix (114) argue that the project is a setback towards environmental conservation, specifically the fight against climate change. Another report adds that it would be almost impossible for the country to meet its 2030 Paris Agreement emissions target, due to projects such as the trans-mountain pipeline (Lamendella et al., 130). This is because the project is highly-emitting and contributes to a considerable part of environmental degradation. Another report points out that Canada is fighting towards lowering its total greenhouse emissions which currently stands at 722 megatons, as a result of the trans-mountain pipeline leakages (Etkin et al., 51). This figure is exceptionally high, raising a considerable concern to the environment.

Another part of the problem related to the pipelines is the threat to the local ecosystems in the country, which has a direct impact on the future generations. Specifically, with the plans to extend the pipeline, there is an implication of a seven-fold increase in tanker traffic through different inlets and outlets. As Daly et al. (29) point out, this would mean an addition to the risk of spills near populated areas. Also, this would mean an increased evacuation of the population into other parts of the land leading to clearance of vegetation and land for settlement. As such, with such an expansion, several tracts of land bearing vegetation and indigenous species would have to be clear, a fact that goes against my definition, towards ensuring environmental conservation for future generations.

Significant Hurdles towards finding Solutions to the Problem

Environmental issues in Canada relating to the trans-mountain pipelines are of great hindrance towards achieving ecological sustainability. Solving the problems as soon as possible would play a huge role in improving the environment and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its benefits in every aspect (Edoho & Felix, 115). However, several issues act as barriers, standing against the chances of finding and enacting effective solutions to these problems. These challenges are in the form of economic, political, and societal aspect as well. Establishing ways to address them would increase the possibility of solving the problems, thereby guaranteeing a sustainable environment for the better of the future generations.

Economic Aspect of the Challenges

There are specific arguments that favor the trans-mountain pipeline, making it hard to resolve the environmental issue in the country. According to a study, the pipe is good for the Canadian economy and should, therefore, be sustained in the economy (Hughes & David, 104). Different parties support that the pipeline should be extended further into other regions, to ensure ease transportation of bitumen and crude oil. According to another argument, countries such as the U.S are benefiting from pipelines, by entering new markets and serving a vast region with the oil products (Hoberg & George, 58). As such, as a challenge towards eliminating the trans-mountain pipeline, arguments claim that the project contributes a lot to the Canadian economy, specifically an increase in the country's revenues as well as the expansion to other regions. Moreover, there are claims that in the next few years, the extension of the project will lead to a significant decrease in oil prices in the country. Thereby, increasing the growth of the economy by a considerable percentage.

Societal Aspect

Societal issues are also among the significant barriers towards the effective elimination of the problem in the country, towards achieving a sustainable environment. Similarly, many arguments are supporting the proje...