Climate Change and
Sustainability
Gopal Kumar Jain
Programme Coordinator
Youth Programmes, CEE
1
What role do you think this small creature plays
on this big earth?
2
Insects have a bad
reputation!
Pests: Because they
compete with us for food;
Infections: Spread
diseases
The only good bug is a
dead bug!
…. But, a large proportion
of plant species (including
several trees) depend on
insects to pollinate
(propagate)
Loss of insect species will
mean loss of plants, thus
3
loss of food for humans!
Many insects, such as praying mantis
eat other insects (pests!)—pest control
4
There are many such relationships exist all
around us
And
Are the basis of human survival as well!
5
Why We are in a mess?
6
Natural resources are not distributed evenly
Forests, fossil fuels, energy resources, water ….
Not even humans!
In a closed loop, humans depend on natural
systems
They are both the source as well as sink for all activities
Adverse impacts of activities
Humans have far over-stretched the ‘resilient’ and ‘selfregulating’ capacity of such systems
Earth’s carrying capacity for human population is over stretched
Invention of several ‘non-biodegradable’ substances
7
Generation
Decomposition
8
No Decomposition
No Cycling
Generation
Withdrawal only
No depositing
Depositing
undesirable assets
May lead to an
explosion soon
9
Many Dimensions of Development
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Improved environmental status
Increase in real income per capita
Opportunity to have a satisfying livelihood
A fairer distribution of income
Improvement in health and nutritional status
Improvement in education status
Access to resources
Assurance of basic human rights
Participation in decision making processes10
economy
society
environment
11
Sustainable Development
Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
Our Common Future - Report of the World Commission on Environment and
Development, 1987
More definitions are provided
Main concepts:
‘Needs’ … Development should satisfy the basic needs of people
‘Equity’ …. Development means that the basic needs of all people
should be met; not just in the present, but also in the future
‘Ecosystem durability’
12