Is human development possible without an environmental cost?
Introduction
Evolution is the basis of humanity. From physical appearances to intellectual capabilities, humans have been continuously striving towards betterment since the early times. However, with time, the concept of human development has itself undergone changes. It now encompasses freedom of thought and expression and a greater desire to partake in political and economic systems. It involves moving out of comfort zones and delving deeper into the world of innovation. But success in any form comes at a price. In the case of the process of human development and evolution, the price was environmental deterioration. Secondary sources, such as websites and journals, have been employed in conducting research over this rising issue of environmental degradation due to human development. Despite alternative ways such as sustainable development, the destruction to the environment seems inevitable. It is and will always be the price of capitalism.
The environmental costs of human development and activities
The current era of globalisation and rapid technological advancements paints a heinous picture with the environment under siege and humanity as the aggressor. Population numbers all around the globe, particularly in China and developing countries such as India, are on the rise. (2002) To manage this population explosion, fertilisers, herbicides and insecticides are used to increase production volumes. These toxic chemicals pollute the air, soil and water and have repercussions involving human life. In order to cater to the needs of ever growing populations, over-fishing also often takes place which leads to an imbalance in the ecosystem. Recently, there has been a move towards fish farming – aqua culture. This has had an environmental impact of its own – destruction of mangrove forests and pests such as sea lice. In addition, burning of fossil fuels and toxic gases produced in factories causes air pollution which has detrimental effects on the health of all those who inhabit earth. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) "The estimations we have now tell us there are 3.5 million premature deaths every year caused by household air pollution, and 3.3 million deaths every year caused by outdoor air pollution." (2013) Moreover, in order to increase cultivation areas or fulfil the need for land for industrial purposes, deforestation is taking place on a massive scale. This causes habitat loss and threatens the survival of several species of animals and plants. Also, fertilizer run-offs and toxic waste dumping activities pollute water resources and have an adverse impact on marine life. Oil spills further heighten this problem. Furthermore, even the smallest of inventions such as aerosol sprays have played their part in the destruction of the environment through the emission of chlorofluorocarbons. These and greenhouse gases like methane and carbon dioxide act as catalysts to the process of global warming. Increasing usage and manufacturing of automobiles that emit carbon monoxide further aids this problem by creating holes in the ozone layer. The invention of high-tech toys, appliances and gadgets also contributes to global warming, ozone depletion and thus, environmental degradation.
Alternative: Sustainable development
All is not lost, though. Not every bit of technology invented partakes in the process of environmental destruction. In these recent times, consumers and society at large have become more environmentally conscious. This is evident from the creation of organisations such as Green Peace and the increasing campaigns revolving around environmental protection which have given birth to the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility. All of these activities driven by the human conscience have led to further technological advancements that aid this agenda. For example, nanotechnology filtration systems have been introduced to purify water and efficient carbon filters have also come into existence in order to reduce air pollution. Among the new technological advancements is the rise of wind turbines on the horizon of energy creation and consumption. As educational tools develop more and more and intellectual capabilities broaden, the renewable energy source field is being experimented in. Wind turbines along with solar power and biomass are being indulged in. These have had a significant impact on reducing environmental pollution levels thereby also decreasing health problems caused by pollution emitted by non-renewable energy sources. In addition, wind and solar energy require no water resources, unlike natural gas extraction or biomass power plants, and therefore they do not contribute towards water shortages by competing with agriculture, drinking water systems or other important water needs. (‘Benefits of renewable energy use’, n.d) With the ‘Go Green’ agenda rapidly gaining popularity, recycling is being encouraged as a part of it. Recycling helps reduce landfills and in turn this decreases pollution levels, as landfill waste emits gases when it rots. Also, employing recycled items in the production process involves less energy consumption as compared to manufacturing products from virgin sources. Furthermore, with sustainable development gaining impetus, ways of practicing sustainable agriculture are also coming in to the limelight. Sustainable agriculture practices rely less on non-renewable energy sources, involve reducing tillage, use of pest-resistant crops as well as soil management techniques. (‘what is sustainable agriculture?’, n.d)
Problems with sustainable development
Although sustainable development is continuously under research with new ideas being born frequently, it only aids in reducing the environmental problem. It does not present solutions to actually curbing it. For example, reduction, reuse, and recycling slow down the rates of contamination and depletion but do not stop these processes. Moreover, sometimes sustainable development ways, particularly recycling, are nothing more than a mirage. (‘The NEXT industrial revolution’, n.d.) retrieved. It eventually ends up in landfills or incinerators while the recycled process produces a hybrid of lower quality material. Furthermore, even though non-renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power present an eco-friendly image they too have certain drawbacks of their own which contribute towards environmental damage. For instance, generating electricity from solar and wind energy does not involve global warming emissions however, there are emissions associated with other stages of the solar and wind turbine’s life-cycle such as installation, manufacturing, material transportation etc. (‘Environmental impacts of solar power’, n.d; ‘Environmental impacts of wind power’, n.d) The destruction of Baotou serves as an example here. The toxic waste and byproduct in the area is just as much a result of the production of consumer electronics as it is of the production of wind turbines and electric cars. (Maughan,2015) Moreover, wind turbines although environmentally friendly with respect to pollution, often lead to the deaths of birds and bats that come into contact with its blades. There is also the problem of noise and vibrations emanating from wind turbines. These prove to be disturbing for people residing nearby. (‘Environmental impacts of wind power’, n.d)
Conclusion
Environmental destruction thus, is inevitable. It is and will always be the price for evolution into a new era of dynamic possibilities. We, as human beings, can only try and reduce the impact of our actions on the environment. And so perhaps it can be perceived that the conception and execution of the idea of sustainable development has taken place merely with the intention in mind that, for however long humans reside on planet earth the least they can and should do is control themselves from destroying it completely. In effect, all alternative ways such as sustainable development are counter-measures to lessen the deeper impact of our ever-easing and ever-demanding human race and its horrific actions in the global chase for money.