Sustainability

Greg Klyachman
EXP201
Blog Post


Sustainability and climate change are two growing issues that have caused a large amount of discussion. On one side, environmental activists are pushing for harsher environmental laws, business standards and incentives for sustainable energy. However, on the other hand, some claim that climate change, more commonly referred to as "global warming," is a myth.  While humans have advanced society, several sources are dedicated to proving the negative effects that humans have had on Earth.

Sustainability is defined as the practice of harvesting or using a resource in a way that does not deplete or permanently damage that resource. This mindset can be applied to non-renewable resources like fossil fuels, but also to renewable resources like water and many minerals. The broad nature of sustainability is perhaps its best aspect-- it can be applied to almost all parts of life. 

Sustainability is fundamentally reducing, reusing and recycling Earth's resources. Sustainability relates to ecology, society and the economy. Ecology is the science of organism’s relation to one another and their physical surroundings. Sustainability is prevalent in this science because with proper action and more knowledge humans can affect the Earth in a less harmful way. Many of our practices endanger the Earth and leave a lasting mark on it. Practices like hydraulic fracking are also dangerous to other members of our society. And finally, businesses must be held accountable for their community and all of the people that are stakeholders in the company.

After watching Chasing Ice, a documentary that follows the melting of ice caps in the Arctic. This film shows picture evidence of the melting of ice caps and glaciers. The disappearance of these giant ice sculptures into the ocean shows that the temperature in the Arctic has been increasing over the years. 

 

Debatably our most important resource, fresh water, has been melting into the ocean and becoming undrinkable. In addition to effecting humans, the melting of these glaciers effects wildlife like bears and seals in the area. 

Another film, Gas Lands, focusses on hydraulic fracturing, a new method for extracting natural gas and oil from the ground. While this practice has driven the price of gasoline down to below 3.00/gallon in some areas, "fracking" is devastating for the environment. Gaslands shows the effects that untreated and dirty water left behind from the process does to the people and animals living in the area. Mostly filmed in Pennsylvania, some people's water faucets catch flame when run near a match, countless wildlife dies, and the drinking water nearby becomes contaminated and poisonous. 

These films not only question each person's contribution to climate change and the deterioration of Earth, but also analyze business's role.  These films question the ethical implications of profit and attempt to show that environmental effect should be just as important as revenue in the business world. These films are showing a shift in the popular culture's thinking. Now, rather than debating the existence of climate change, people are taking initiative to inform others and practice more sustainable means of living. 

Sustainability, clean energy and "going green" has become a trend among many people and is starting to become adopted by businesses like Chipotle, Whole Foods and Cisco. In a market where profit and revenue dominate self-interest, sustainability is opening up a whole new way to analyze and rank companies. A shift from a focus on profitability to sustainability is a growing trend in the world's market.