How is it going?  It is autumn already. The new season has still not taken away our face masks. But the situation looks better with most of us getting covid-19 vaccine shots. We are a bit relaxed after months of fear and are returning to our normal selves.

I first heard of Sustainability and the goals in grade 8 as a Model United Nations (MUN) participant. Since then, I have started noticing it everywhere. In the news, in stores, in fact, all public places like museums, etc. Initially, I related sustainability only to protecting the environment. For example, reducing carbon emissions, using renewable energy, managing waste, reusing stuff, and so on. But now I understand how it has a broader meaning. Sustainability is the ability to maintain our long-term relationship with nature, making social progress, economic and technological growth by co-existing with the environment. It encompasses a long-term effort of not just maintaining the present but also securing and improving the future.

Why is Sustainability important?  

History presents us with ample examples of how mankind has mainly been a consumer. The agricultural and industrial revolutions have brought socio-economic growth and we have been continuously tapping the natural resources. We have come a long way in ensuring social and economic growth ignoring the environment. So, societies and civilizations are negatively impacted or have perished because we forgot to give back or replenish nature.

The emphasis on sustainability is so that we uphold the value of co-existing with nature while ensuring growth and development. This collaboration must be long-term so that future generations reap the same benefits and maintain the same relationship with the environment. Lately, there is disruption of the eco-system, climatic changes, depletion of the ozone layer, greenhouse effect, increase of carbon footprints. Further, the increase in population and pollution, the existence of poverty, hunger, and societal problems like gender inequalities are marring our present and threatening our future. It’s high time we consider sustainability as a priority.

What are sustainability pillars and goals 2030?

Educating society, changing our lifestyles to a more sustainable living, utilizing resources for our economic growth, intertwines the three pillars of sustainability. It is a holistic, collaborative approach encompassing the following three pillars –

Environment Sustainability

Rational use of natural resources while making social and economic progress. Protecting and replenishing natural resources. Using renewable sources of energy, cutting down energy consumption, becoming minimalist, protecting the ecosystem, going green, reducing carbon footprint, are some ways to have a sustainable environment.

Social Sustainability

Protecting the health and wellness of people, having housing, clean water, nutritious food, and education is the basic right of every human being. Educating people about gender equality, eradicating social differences, having secured sources of livelihood and good living standards for all. Most importantly making people aware of sustainable living.

Economic Sustainability

The financial stability and economic growth of an individual as well as a nation is an important part of sustainability. Supporting the growth of the under-privileged and helping them attain a minimum standard of living. This is also important to achieve social sustainability. It is important that in doing so we don’t disrupt the social, cultural, or environmental conditions.

Sustainability Goals 2030

In 2015, The United Nations came up with the 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030. These are important to keep the three pillars of sustainability strong by bringing awareness and motivating people to achieve these goals. The goals aim at combating poverty and hunger, providing good health and education to all, providing clean water, affordable and clean energy, reducing inequalities, working towards gender equality, dealing with environmental problems and climatic change, creating sustainable production and consumption.

Why my role is important in achieving sustainability goals?

At 16, I am a significant part of the world’s youth population, which is 16% constituting about 1.2 billion people. The youth are the torchbearers of society and can have a critical role in achieving sustainability goals.

The lessons learned in schools through social science lessons and Model United Nations (MUN) like activities make us aware and responsible from an early age. We can guide the younger ones and inform elders in the family and neighborhood. This coupled with our passion and energy to do something worthwhile can bring in innovations and revolutions.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) prepared a report on “Youth and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stating how Youth can create awareness, collect data and make predictions. They can take initiatives, drive and monitor efforts, and implement sustainability by helping in policy and decision-making. Many countries have youth-led organizations where they are involved in policymaking.

Examples of Youth contributing to sustainability

The following examples are just a preview of the immense work done at the individual, local, national, and global levels. We already have lots of learnings, a lot happening at present, and much more planned for the near future.

• Canadian government has a group of young people aged 16-24 that works as Prime Minister’s Youth Council. This council advises government on several issues like education. Employment, climate change, etc.
• The Butterfly Project in India is another youth-led group that works on various regional and national levels. This provides opportunities to youngsters in making policies and uplifting the condition of underprivileged women.
• Several Arab countries got together to fight the climate crisis in Middle East and North Africa through Arab Youth Climate Movement.
• The Youth Participatory Budgeting program launched by City of Boston, US contributes ideas for capital projects for improving the city.
• ACT 2030 is a global movement of youth. This works in collaboration with the UN for establishing reproductive and sexual health and rights of the youth.

The effort continues….

I am a student at an international school. Every day I get to know different perspectives on numerous environmental, economic, and social issues from my peers and supervisors. Moreover, through various school initiatives activities like Student Life Organization (SLO), we engage and invest more in understanding and contributing to sustainability goals. Also, I can bring awareness and changes using technology and social media. As per a Deloitte survey, millennials can have a great contribution and influence in the workplace. They can create ‘The Ripple Effect’ where small individual actions can bring big societal changes.

The future belongs to the youth. Not just as the consumers but also as the aware and responsible members of society. So let You and I learn from history, countries, cultures, and people. Let us integrate all learning with our creativity, ability, and passion to create a better, sustainable living and planet and make this world a beautiful place forever 😊. I will share many interesting lessons learned and my sustainability practices and beliefs in another blog. Also, I invite all readers to share their take and contributions towards sustainable living in the comments section.

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