Concept of Sustainble Development Essay

The tradition judgment of t apieceing has for a con statusrable menses of time been driven by economic considerations. Exploitation of subjective resources which leads to environmental degradation motivated by targets of maximum profits has been the norm and teeny regard has been granted to the side effects of ontogeny initiatives. Gradual escalation of cognizance and realisation of the range as well as the magnitude of environmental effects of victimization initiatives led to worldwide discussions on the way forward. Consequently, the concept sustainable study was conceived. However, this concept is perceived to be oxymoron by environmentalists, in other terms it is massed as a combination of cardinal contradicting terminologies. In view of the above, this essay left all overeavours to explain with relevant specific uses the reason wherefore environmentalists consider the concept sustainable increment as an oxymoron.In commit to establish a good argument, two literat ure definitions of sustainable exploitation shall be given. This will be followed by an explanation why sustainable development is considered to be oxymoron and this shall be supportinged by cases. And only subsequently(prenominal) then shall a conclusion be stressed. fit to the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and rude(a) Resources (2007 V) sustainable development is defined as, development that joins the needs and aspirations of the present coevals withtaboo causing deterioration and without compromising the ability to meet the needs of prospective generations. On the other hand Todaro and Smith (2003) asserted that sustainable development entails both intra-generational and inter-generational equity. These concepts project a requirement of the present generation to meet their needs and aspirations without destroying the ability of the future generations to come and meet their needs and aspirations. As earlier alluded to, the concept sustainable development is a mixture of two words with distinct opposing interpretations.According to Arend and Eureta (2002) sustainability entails the maintenance of the extraordinary assortment of plants, animals and insects that exist on res publica. The other term development is known as a multidimensional phenomenon which has several aspects namely economic, social, political, cultural and environmental. It is imperative to notice the fact that true development involves a record of progress in all the dimensions of the development process. Furthermore, it is alike necessary to be cognisant of the catamenia that the environment and global systems which admits development atomic number 18 a series of energetic and interconnected processes changing and interacting overtime, (Todaro and smith, 2003). From the definitions provided above, it is app atomic number 18nt that the two expressions sustainability and development contradict each other. This is payable to the point that sustainability emphasizes on mai ntaining diversity and productivity of natural resources overtime.On the contrary, natural resources fuel the process of development therefore, development cig arettenot be a reality without consuming natural resources. The global community is hungry for development as a result people are constantly amelio dictate their livelihoods and wel farthermoste so as to attain higher standards of living by pixilateds of m both innovations much(prenominal) as technology which in turn negatively impact on the environment. The question which maybe asked here is what forms the basis of livelihoods? (ECZ, 2008). According to ECZ (2000), the environment is the cornerstone of our livelihoods because biological resources are the primary sources of economic development thus development is all about consuming natural resources. at any rate development, population dynamics also exert pressure on natural resources. With a clear reflection that development is all about the engagement of natural re sources, how then foundation sustainability be transformed into actuality?This is the question asked by many environmental practioners. It is evident through many global development initiatives how planetary natural resources are being utilized in range to achieve desired development targets. The two terminologies sustainability and development can be compared to a saying that says two cobras cannot stay in the same mint candy one has to die or eventually leave the mountain. Therefore, sustainability and development are two cobras staying in the same mountain. The implication according to environmentalists is that, if we are to achieve ultimate sustainability then development should be out of the picture, (Energy ordinance Board, 2007). In Zambia, development programmes are using environmental resources at an increase rate. With a fast growing population, the drive to meet goals set out in national development strategies and in international conventions, around late defined in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), has likewise accelerated. As an example to illustrate the contradiction between sustainability and development, urbanisation in Chipata district can be utilized.As by definition, urbanisation may also mean development of land into residential, commercial and industrial properties. urbanisation in Chipata has resulted in a number of negative environmental impacts which have unfavourablely modify the diversity of biological resources. Consequential environmental effects include disforestation which has provoked excessive vegetative removal of tree cover a farsighted streams and on hills around Chipata town. Furthermore, land degradation due to urbanization is also prevalent in Chipata and this has led to soil erosion, sand and earth tap and degradation of catchment areas of Lunkhwakwa and Lutembwe rivers, (ECZ, 2008). Chipata district has over 56,000 hectors of land under protection and around areas are threatened by encroachment and defo restation due to urbanisation. Urbanisation in Chipata can be considered as progress from a developmental perspective because more houses, shops and industries have been erected and this has advanced peoples livelihoods in terms of increased housing facilities and employment opportunities.However, this contradicts with sustainability because there has been excessive remainder of forests on the hills of Chipata which has resulted in extreme soil erosion down the slope, (ECZ, 2008). With lengthiness to the economic dimension of the development process, the construction and expansion of mining as well as manufacturing industries can be perceived as progress. This is due to the fact that the existence of operational industries attracts various(a) benefits to the local people. Firstly, job opportunities are created for the local and this helps them sustain their lives by acquiring wages at the end of each month. Salaries obtained by people from employment give them the ability to che ck their basic needs such as food, shelter and clothes, (MoFNP, 2006). The mining patience has played a pivotal role in the development of the country.However, the accessibility of exposed, accessible and near surface mineral deposits are increasingly graceful scarce requiring more expensive equipment to locate deeper buried ore deposits. This has led to colossal environmental degradation due to the use of heavy sophisticated earth moving machines. For instance, when Konkola copper Mines (KCM) took over from Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) on the copperbelt, Chingola and Chililabombwe in particular. After a while later, the production scale was upgraded and this created employment opportunities for over three thousand individuals who were unemployed, (MoFNP, 2006).Other benefits included improved infrastructure such as roads and schools as well as better health services. According to economists and development planners this was considered as national development because the lives of people were improved. However, the view of economists and development planners contradict with that of environmentalists because an elevation in the production scale of any pains is problematic as far as environmental sustainability is have-to doe with because of unsustainable production strategies that hamper a good quality of life, (ECZ, 2011).According to ECZ (2008) mining activities especially large-scale open pit mining has negatively touched the environment resulting into environmental degradation. Among the prominent open pit mines are Nchanga, Kansanshi and Maamba collieries. despite development enhanced by these mines, industrial operations of these sites have caused the defilement of terrestrial ecosystems mostly ascribed to dust fall-out and this has been a draw back as far as the maintenance of biological resources diversity and productivity are concerned. Kafue River on the copperbelt was polluted by Konkola copper Mines Plc due to toxic substances whi ch were dismissed into the water body. This occurrence negatively affected marine ecosystems which resulted in a depletion of certain species.Water resources have been affected by climate replace and other factors such as increase in population growth, industry and agriculture which are induced by development. Unfortunately, there has been no jibe expansion of sewerage infrastructure and solid waste disposal facilities and most of them are in a poor state, despite the increasing rate of development and this actually curbs sustainability. However, it must be realized that only afterward the last tree has been cut, only after the last river has been poisoned, only after the last fish has been caught only then will it be notice that money cannot be eaten, (ECZ, 2008). Human sustainability has also been affected due to the side effects of development which have made the environment unsafe to support a good quality of life.The rate at which development is misadventure has put so muc h pressure on the environment and this has resulted into various environmental issues such as air pollution, water pollution, land pollution and ozone layer depletion among others. environmentalists have identified that increasing industrial operations in Zambia have negatively influenced life expectancy and infant mortality rate. For example, big(p) survivorship levels have been declining in the last twenty years following fast development trends. Life expectancy for females dropped from 46 years in 1980 to 44 years and 29 years in 2000. In the same division for males it was 44 years in 1980, 42 years in 1990 and 23 years in 2000. Diseases associated with environmental degradation include malaria, tuberculosis, asthma, bronchitis and dysentery among others and these so far have claimed quite a considerable number of lives, (MoFNP, 2006).In conclusion, it can be said that development and sustainability are two ends of the same continuum. Whichever example of development one might think of such as industrial enterprise and housing, they are unsustainable, unless that development is related to green technologies or meant to counter the adverse effectives of development. In the end, the solution is a compromise because people need sustainability just now cannot progress without development, hence, sustainable development. We can have development as long as we put measures in place to minimise environment damage. These measures include environmental impact assessments, environmental audits and strategic environmental assessments among others, hereafter ensuring sustainability.REFERENCESArend. H and Eureta. J (2002). Environmental Encyclopaedia South Africa Eco-Logic Publication.ECZ (2000). The State of the Environment in Zambia. Lusaka Environmental Council of Zambia.ECZ (2008). Zambia Environment Outlook Report 3. Lusaka Environmental Council of Zambia.ECZ (2011). The Enviroline ECZ Magazine Issue No. 33, January-April 2011. Lusaka Environmental Council of Z ambia.Energy pattern Board, (2007). Energy Regulations Board Energy Sector Report-2006. Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources (2007). matter Policy On The Environment. Lusaka MTENR.Ministry of Finance and National Planning (2006). frugal Report. Lusaka Zambia.Todaro M.P and Smith S.C (2003). Economic development.8th edition.New Delhi, Pearson Publication.