Sustainable development through actions for the preservation of the environment

In recent years, we have been hearing about a series of phenomena that are happening on the planet, and these are not so positive for the human population. The phenomena that are happening in many parts of the world are due to the greenhouse effect, this is the result of the bad actions of human beings, since they have not taken the time to think and reflect on the actions they have taken and how they themselves are causing damage to the environment. Carrying out a series of actions that are being designed through the different organizations in the world through sustainable development will ensure that the environment is benefited and that its degradation is reduced.

Key words: Greenhouse effect, environment, sustainable development

Introduction

In recent years, a series of events have been heard throughout the world, these are phenomena that are affecting the environment and the living beings that inhabit it. Currently there is a concern for the planet as it is degrading as a consequence of the greenhouse effect, because it has triggered a series of phenomena that threaten the safety of all living things, in many parts of the world there have been strong hurricanes and tsunamis, to name just a few, in addition to this, the melting of the polar ice caps that are causing the sea level to rise and trigger more phenomena that can put at risk everything that has life on planet Earth.

Our environment is formed by everything that is external to us and that affects us or is affected by us (Ackoff, 2005).

Years ago the human being thought that our environment was inexhaustible, that we could do and undo what we wanted.

The environment was believed to be natural, capable of absorbing any amount of human use and fully recovering (Ackoff, 2005). It was thought that we could take everything we needed to satisfy our basic and complementary needs, since the environment provides us with an infinity of goods and services.

It was considered to be an unlimited source of all kinds of resources (Ackoff, 2005).

The human being began to exploit the environment in many ways because he realized that benefits could be obtained from this, and so he continued to do so without thinking about the consequences that excessive use of resources could have, until he has reached a point in which he has realized that there are a series of events that are taking place in his coexistence with his environment.

Because, as Ackoff (2005) describes it, "man began to suspect that the supply of natural resources was not unlimited and he even began to fear that some might be depleted for a generation."

The deterioration of the environment is being presented by many factors such as water, air, soil pollution, excessive logging, the extinction of animal and plant species, due to indiscriminate hunting and trafficking of exotic species.

Human activities such as the large amounts of emissions generated by industries, the gases generated by automobiles and the waste from factories that are deposited in inappropriate places, are causing air and water pollution, respectively.

The greenhouse effect is the process that generates overheating of the atmosphere, this is caused by the absorption of infrared waves.

The gases that absorb such radiation are carbon dioxide and water vapor (Vásquez, 2001).

At the start of the industrial revolution, carbon dioxide from fossil fuels has been released into the atmosphere in considerable and increasing amounts (King, Sanders, & Wallace, 1992).

Carbon dioxide is a factor in the balance between the energy that enters and the one that leaves the biosphere (King et al., 1992).

The incorrect activities of the human being promote the destruction of the environment, without being aware of it, he acquires and uses products that contaminate his environment, all he wants is to satisfy his needs.

The negative influence of artificial compounds, of the chlorofluorocarbon type, present, for example, in household extinguishers and in old aerosol cans, on the protective ozone layer seriously endangers all forms of life, fundamentally to the terrestrial, since ultraviolet radiation can annihilate them (Vásquez, 2001).

Ozone from the stratosphere is the shield that protects us, for millions of years, from the ultraviolet light of the sun (Vásquez, 2001).

The objective of this research is to describe the factors that affect the environment, the consequences that are generated and to publicize the actions that society can use to contribute to the preservation of the environment through sustainable development.

Approach

In this investigation we will begin by describing which are the most representative problems that are occurring in the environment, that is, the factors that are causing its deterioration and the effects as a consequence of its degradation, once all of the above has been described as a induction towards the topic we will describe what are the actions that are being carried out through sustainable development for the preservation of the environment, this in order to publicize the measures that are being carried out to contribute in support of the environment, thus how to induce people to reflect and exercise these beneficial actions towards our environment.

Environment

The environment is everything that surrounds us, in which man develops and includes biological, physical, chemical and social components.

Set of physical, chemical, biological and social components capable of causing direct and indirect effects, in the short or long term, on living beings and human activities (Stockholm, 1972).

Gabriel Quadri (2006) considers that the term “environment” refers to various biological, ecological, physical, and landscape factors and processes that, in addition to having their own natural dynamics, are intertwined with human behavior. These interactions can be economic, political, social, cultural or with the environment, and today they are of great interest to governments, companies, individuals, social groups and the international community. How do human activities impact the environment?

Negative impacts

The human being in his eagerness to satisfy his basic and complementary needs has to make use of an infinity of activities, these can be harmful to the environment if proper measures are not taken when they are carried out.

There is no awareness of the actions that human beings perform and that put everything around them at risk, by affecting their environment where they operate, they affect themselves, because we need what surrounds us and this environment needs to be preserved so that it continues to provide us with the resources we need to continue carrying out our activities. Because as soon as we give the planet the same we will receive from it, because without balance nothing can last long.

While it is true that perhaps not all people are responsible for the deterioration of the environment, in general most people do not care about this issue, because they believe that it is not so true that the environment is degrading and not we must be alarmed, that is why they do not take conscious actions, they continue to act irrationally and increasingly affect the environment around us.

Positive impacts

Although human beings have acted in a harmful way towards the environment, they are also capable of carrying out actions to benefit it, there are people who are interested in the environmental issue and are contributing to its preservation, but the unfortunate thing is that these are very few.

Environmental health and welfare systems were induced, from environmental systems into the consciousness of nations and corporations, through pressure groups formed around a variety of issues including ecology, racial equality, consumerism and underdevelopment (Ackoff, 2005).

What are the factors that are causing the deterioration of the environment?

There are several factors that cause the environment to be affected and all of them are the product of human intervention.

The deterioration of the environment is directly related to the way in which a country develops its economic activities and the procedures it uses to exploit its natural resources.

The factors that are causing damage to our environment are described below:

Exaggerated self-consumption Extraction of all the goods and services we use Exploitation of natural resources The countries with the most industrialized societies Technological advance Oil spills Indiscriminate fishing (shrimp, tuna, shark, whales) Felling logically Burned Emissions generated by vehicles Gases or emissions produced by industries Waste (chemical waste) in inappropriate places (rivers, lakes, etc.). Clandestine hunting of animals. Use of chemicals on the ground (pesticides and fertilizers). Misuse of drainage.

It is very true that the list of factors that harm the environment is very long, but there are some that are more representative due to their high incidence.

Human activities affect the level of CO ₂ in the atmosphere, an example of this is the burning of fossil fuels, which can cause an increase in the level of CO ₂.

Therefore an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide produces an increase in the heat of the biosphere (King et al., 1992).

Large-scale emissions of carbon dioxide from man-made industries are the main ingredient that is taking us on the path of destruction.

According to Ackoff (2005), approximately 22 kilos of solid waste are generated per capita and per day in the United States.

Each barrel of oil, each ton of coal and each kilogram of Uranium consumed represent multiple sources of environmental deterioration.

Beverage containers contribute approximately 3.5% of the weight of solid waste produced at home (Ackoff, 2005).

Consequences of environmental deterioration

Environmental problems cannot be analyzed or understood if a global perspective is not taken into account, since they arise as a consequence of multiple interacting factors. The way of life that we lead supposes an excessive expenditure of natural and energy resources that is increasingly growing and unsustainable. The industrial forms of mass production and consumption that make this possible mean the destruction of the planet in the medium term.

The growing faculty that we have to manipulate the environment that surrounds us, has given rise to problems whose dimensions vary from local degradation to the complete destruction of natural landscapes, forgetting that the health of nature is a true reflection of our perspectives and possibilities. future survival, in addition to not recognizing that the Earth is a global and finite unit (Cantú -Martínez, 2002).

Some effects of the environmental crisis are already clearly noticeable, which are the following:

Increase in temperatures Hole in the ozone layer Desertification Greenhouse effect Acid rain Contamination of waters, soils and air Deforestation Production of waste Chemical products Exhaustion of natural resources Loss of biodiversity and natural spaces  Erosion-desertification of soil

To mention the most important, man has so far applied his

"Intelligence" in order to want to progress, plundering and exploiting nature, without taking into account the negative consequences that these actions cause.

Why conserve the environment?

Many opinions have been found saying that our environment is in a critical stage, since its degradation is increasing and is no longer reversible.

Such damage diminishes the ability to support such a species and, therefore, the population inevitably collapses (King et al., 1992).

The issue of the environment and the damage it is suffering is a matter of political debate, as there is concern about it, and because there is a demonstration by groups demanding that measures be taken to stop the degradation of the environment.

The interest in conserving the natural environment has 3 aspects that interact with each other. First, its ability to sustain life by providing the air, land, and water it needs. Second, its ability to provide the materials and energy that man needs. Third, its ability to please our senses (Ackoff, 2005).

Actions for the environment through sustainable development

Sustainable development proposes a series of actions that contribute to economic and social development, but that the exercise of respect for the environment is also carried out.

The following is a list of activities that we can carry out to contribute to the preservation of the environment.

Actions at home

Separate garbage: into organic (natural and plant waste), inorganic (paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and metal) and sanitary waste

Reuse materials: before throwing something we must see if we can repair it, give it away or if we can take advantage of it in another way. Take care of the water: do not leave the keys open or the hose running while you are washing, use a glass to brush your teeth and buckets to wash the car. Reuse water: water from the shower and washing machine for cleaning, irrigation and for the toilet. Check and repair leaks: immediately, since they can represent thousands of liters per year. Install collection vessels: to collect water in the rainy season. Change biodegradable soaps and dishwashers: use products that degrade more quickly. Change to focus savers:you can save up to 75% of electricity. Turn off the lights - when you're not at home, and consider installing motion sensors that activate them only when you need them. Disconnect appliances: even when switched off they consume up to 30% of energy Take advantage of the residual heat: turn off the oven and stove 5 minutes before finishing cooking. Clean the stove: dirty burners consume 10% more fuel. Switch to natural gas: the emissions from its combustion are much lower than LP gas and other fuels such as coal, diesel and firewood. Save paper: use recycled and pre-used paper.

Actions in transportation

Change transport: if your main means is the car, change it at least once a week for public transport, bicycles, skates and skateboards

Walk regularly: especially avoid short distances by car. Efficient vehicles: in case of acquiring a new car, choose one suitable to your needs and consider renewable technologies such as hybrids. Optimize the performance of gasoline: check that the pressure in your tires is correct, avoid abrupt acceleration and braking over short distances, unload luggage and materials that you do not use, refill gasoline every time you consume half a tank. Carbon Offsets: Choose airlines that offer the carbon offset option.

Other actions

Consume less plastic and Unicel: reject bags, straws, wraps and unnecessary packaging. Optimize the use of plastic: reuse and make the most of it: refill water bottles at home and buy products in bulk. Use reusable bags: use cloth bags and natural fibers. With this you will save around 300 bags a year and more than 20,000 in your life. Select friendly products: and give priority to products made with recycled materials that can be easily recycled and / or reused. Exercise local trade: purchasing the products that are available directly from the small local merchant or producer and not from the intermediary Putting the garbage in its place:take care of the streets and public places like you take care of your house.

Caring for flora and fauna: do not mistreat plants, trees and animals, do not consume products derived from endangered species.

Avoid buying exotic species: this will prevent hunting and illegal trafficking of different species of animals and plants. Take care of our consumption: buy only the necessary things. Planting Trees: Reforestation is a great way to reverse the damage done.

Find out about programs in your area.

Personal actions:

Get informed: if you have concerns about any topic and you don't know it, look for the information and spread it. Promote changes: act, participate, raise your voice, make proposals for your town, city, country and planet. Big problems don't solve themselves. Promote the change to renewable energies: look for people and groups related to your way of thinking.

conclusion

The deterioration of our environment is increasing more and more, the blame falls on us, because we are responsible because we act irrationally, without measuring the effects that our actions can have, and if we do not do something we will end up suffering the consequences of our Bad acts.

Sustainable development promotes a great infinity of actions that we can carry out in order to preserve our environment, the damages that we have caused are already having consequences and we cannot repair them, but we can still do something, that is why we must reflect and to carry out these actions, which are simple activities, easy to carry out and that have a great beneficial impact on our environment.

If we carry out these actions that sustainable development has developed, we can continue to maintain our environment in balance, benefiting from the goods and services it provides us, only in this way will we ensure that our future generations enjoy a harmonious environment in which they can develop. integrally.

Bibliography

1.- Ackoff, RL (2005). Redesigning the future. Mexico: Editorial Limusa.

2.- Cantú-Martínez, PC (2002). Environmental deterioration and the future of humanity. Engineering, 5 (14), 30-34.