Geography For Schools

Sustainable development is often defined as that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

 

Sustainability

 

Sustainability is about ensuring access to energy, healthy food, clean air and water for everyone on the planet - both now and in the future. It is about improving the world and then trying to ensure this quality is maintained for the future. 

 

It is particularly important when we consider that the World’s population is growing at a rate of approximately 76,000,000 per annum – this means that a lot of extra healthy food is required every year.

 

Sustainability in an environmental context is about reducing and reversing the damage to the land, air and sea as a result of human activity. This damage (degradation) occurs when resources such as soils, plants, animals, habitats, water and air are being used faster than nature can replenish them or are being damaged by pollutants or human activity.

 

A well known example of this damage is the depletion of ozone - mainly by bromine and chlorine in man made products such as chloroflourocarbons (CFCs). These have now been banned in many countries and thankfully the ozone layer is starting to repair itself.

 

It is important to remember that for the world to develop in a sustainable way, it is not just environmental issues that need to be considered but economic and social too!

 

World’s Population

 

Different demographic growth rates are changing the distribution of the world's people. 

 

In 1950, Europe and Northern America accounted for 28.5 per cent of the world population, that share fell to 17.2 per cent in 2000, and it is expected to further decline to 12.1 per cent in 2050. Conversely, Africa's share of world population share rose from 8.8 per cent in 1950 to 13.1 per cent in 2000 and is projected to reach 20.2 per cent in 2050.

 

Kyrsten Black
Environmental Sciences Group Manager at SAC Aberdeen