Sustainable society

Sustainability: ability to continue for a long time without economic and social situation
+ the use of natural products in a way that does not harm the environment

Pillars that contribute to a sustainable society + categories & subcategories

Social pillar
• Basic needs
Sufficient food
Sufficient to drink
Safe sanitation
• Personal development & Health
Education
Healthy life
Gender equality
• Well-balanced society
Income distribution
Population growth
Good governance

Environmental pillar
• Natural resources
Biodiversity
Renewable water resources
Consumption
• Climate & Energy
Energy use
Energy savings
Greenhouse gases
Renewable energy

Economic pillar
• Transition
Organic farming
Genuine savings
• Economy
Gross domestic products
Employment
Public debt

Tips to support sustainable economy:

• water and electric conservation
• recycling
• purchase only energy efficient products

Environmental problems of our society:

• Water pollution: contamination of water bodies; chemicals poured into water, plastic
bags and straws thrown into water, oil spillage death of water animals, undrinkable
water
• Light pollution: caused by excessive usage of artificial light; negative impact on noc-
turnal wildlife, confuses migratory patterns of animals, causes physiological harm, dis-
turbs natural body cycles- sleep disorders
• Deforestation: conversion of forest to another land use- planting crops, grazing live-
stock; loss of habitat for species; trees protect soil from getting dry- climate changes

Greenhouse effect:

• process by which radiation from a planet’s atmosphere warms the planet’s surface
• Earth’s natural greenhouse effect is crucial in supporting life, but it’s strengthen so
much that now it is causing global warming
• Reason: releasing of greenhouse gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane)- they
make a layer around the Earth and keep the infrared radiation from leaving earth’s at-
mosphere
• Consequences: global warming- melting of glaciers, rising of ocean levels, some ani-
mals are losing habitats, we are losing 4 seasons

Depletion of ozone:

• -gradual thinning of the ozone layer

• Reason: releasing of ozone depleting substances- halocarbon refrigerants, solvents,
foam-blowing agent (CFCs- chlorofluorocarbons) - in stratosphere, they release halo-
gen atoms which catalyze the breakdown of ozone into oxygen
• Consequences: increases amount of UV radiation that reaches Earth’s surface- in-
creases skin cancer, eye cataracts and genetic and immune system damage