Sustainable Management of Resources – Goals

Natural Resources  

Natural resources are Earth-derived materials that are used to sustain life and meet human requirements. 

A natural resource might be any natural substance that humans utilize. Natural resources include oil, coal, natural gas, metals, stone, and sand. Air, sunlight, soil, and water are examples of natural resources. Natural resources include animals, birds, fish, and vegetation. 

Food, fuel, and raw materials for manufacturing are all made from natural resources. Plants and animals provide all of the food that people consume. 

Heat, light, and power are provided by natural resources such as coal, natural gas, and oil. Natural resources are also important basic ingredients for manufacturing things that we use daily, from our toothbrushes and lunchboxes to our clothing and automobiles. 

Sustainability 

Everything we require for survival and well-being is dependent on our natural environment, either directly or indirectly. Pursuing sustainability entails creating and maintaining conditions that allow humans and nature to coexist in productive harmony to support current and future generations. 

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) by United Nations, 2015 

The United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, safeguard the environment, and ensure that by 2030, everyone lives in peace and prosperity. 

The 17 SDGs are interconnected, recognizing that actions in one area have an impact on outcomes in others and that development must strike a balance between social, economic, and environmental sustainability. 

SDG’s 

1. NO POVERTY- END POVERTY IN ALL ITS FORMS EVERYWHERE POVERTY  

• Poverty is defined as having a daily income of less than 1.25 USD. 
• A future where the poor are not vulnerable to climate change and have equal access to economic resources is one of the goals for this objective. 
• To create long-term jobs and promote equality, economic growth must be inclusive. 
• By 2030, this objective intends to eliminate extreme poverty. 

2. ZERO HUNGER – END HUNGER, ACHIEVE FOOD SECURITY AND IMPROVE NUTRITION AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 

• Many people, particularly women and children, continue to suffer from hunger and malnutrition worldwide. 
• The food and agriculture sectors provide essential development solutions to end hunger and poverty. 
• Ending malnutrition, safeguarding small farmers, maintaining the genetic diversity of crops produced, and investing in research to make farming more productive are goals of this aim. 

3. GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEING- ENSURE HEALTHY LIVES AND PROMOTE WELL-BEING FOR ALL AT ALL AGES. 

• Sustainable development requires ensuring healthy lifestyles and fostering the well-being of people of all ages. 
• The aim includes calls for universal health coverage, an increase in the number of healthcare workers, a reduction in illness and mortality caused by pollution, and a comprehensive plan to address various global health issues such as AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. 
• Vaccinate your family to safeguard them as well as the general public. 

4. QUALITY EDUCATION – ENSURE INCLUSIVE AND EQUITABLE QUALITY EDUCATION AND PROMOTE LIFE-LONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR ALL 

• Education is the foundation for improving people’s lives and achieving long-term growth. 
• Access to university-level education, vocational training, and entrepreneurial skills are among the goals for this aim. 
• Encourage children in your neighborhood to read. 

5. GENDER EQUALITY – ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER ALL WOMEN AND GIRLS 

• Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a prerequisite for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. 
• Freedom from discrimination, violence, an equal share of leadership possibilities and responsibilities for women and property ownership are all targets for this aim. 
• There are several references to national appropriateness in interpreting these aims. 
• Sexist language and behaviour should be called out. 

6. CLEAN AND WATER SANITATION – ENSURE AVAILABILITY AND SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL 

• Water that is both clean and readily available to all is an essential component of the world we want to live in. 
• Water scarcity affects 40% of the world’s population. 
• Programs that give access to basic technology like toilets or latrines and safeguarding ecosystems that provide water are among the goals for this purpose. 
• Avoid wasting water. 

7. AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY – ENSURE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE, RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE AND MODERN ENERGY FOR ALL 

• Almost every critical difficulty and opportunity revolves around energy. 
• Around 1.3 billion people in the world do not have access to electricity.  
• The targets for this aim emphasize a switch to renewable energy sources and a significant increase in efficiency across the world. 
• Only use energy-saving light bulbs and appliances. 

8. DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTH – PROMOTE SUSTAINED, INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH, FULL AND PRODUCTIVE EMPLOYMENT AND DECENT WORK FOR ALL 

• Sustainable economic growth will necessitate societies creating conditions conducive to creating high-quality jobs. 
• Globally, it is estimated that 75 million people between 15 and 24 are unemployed and out of school. 
• This goal aims to close that gap through innovation while separating growth from ecosystem degradation. 

9. INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE – BUILD RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, PROMOTE INCLUSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND FOSTER INNOVATION 

• Infrastructure investments are critical for attaining long-term development. 
• Fostering a more inventive and environmentally sound approach to industrial development is one of the goals for this aim. 
• Consider new and inventive ways to recycle old materials. 

10. REDUCED INEQUALITIES – REDUCED INEQUALITY WITHIN AND AMONG COUNTRIES 

• The world is massively unequal.  
• Policies should be universal in concept, paying attention to the needs of disadvantaged and marginalized communities to decrease inequities. 
• Financial market regulations to level the playing field and make migration more orderly, safe, regular, and responsible are all targets for this purpose. 

11. SUSTAINABLE INEQUALITIES AND CITIES – MAKE CITIES AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS INCLUSIVE, SAFE, RESILIENT AND SUSTAINABLE 

• Cities must provide possibilities for all citizens, including access to critical services, energy, housing, transportation, and more. 
• More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. 
• Transportation, disaster preparedness, and the preservation of the world’s cultural and natural legacy are among the goals for this aim. 
• To help keep our city’s air pure, ride your bike, walk, or take public transportation. 

12. ENSURE SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION PATTERNS 

• This aim focuses on matters such as food waste reduction, corporate sustainability, and educating people about the consequences of their lifestyle choices. 
• Paper, glass, plastic, and aluminum may all be recycled. 

13. CLIMATE ACTION – TAKE URGENT ACTION TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AND ITS IMPACTS 

• Climate change is a global problem that affects everyone. 
• This aim is marked with an asterisk because it refers to the December 2015 “Paris Agreement,” which encourages countries to commit to keeping global warming below 2 degrees Celsius. 
• Young people should be educated about climate change at a young age in order to put them on a sustainable path. 

14. LIFE BELOW WATER – CONSERVE AND SUSTAINABLY USE THE OCEANS, SEAS AND MARINE RESOURCES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

• A sustainable future requires careful management of this vital global resource. 
• The world’s oceans are overfished, under-protected, and under threat from climate change and pollution. 
• This goal aims to study and understand more about what lies underneath the oceans to save them better. 
•  To keep the oceans safe and clean, avoid using plastic bags. 

15. LIFE ON LAND – PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS 

• Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. 
• Stopping the threat to living ecosystems and biodiversity on land is the purpose of this mission. 
• Plant a tree and contribute to environmental protection. 

16. PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTION – PROMOTE PEACEFUL AND INCLUSIVE SOCIETIES FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

• Access to justice for all and the establishment of effective, accountable institutions at all levels. 
• This goal’s targets include reducing violence, putting an end to torture, reducing corruption, and establishing institutions and governments that work for everyone. 
• Use your right to vote to elect leaders in your country and community. 

17. PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS – STRENGTHEN THE MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION AND REVITALIZE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

• Every country and sector must work together to achieve the SDGs. 
• This goal aims to ensure that countries have the resources they need to achieve the remaining SDGs, such as funds, capacities, and technologies. 
• The goal emphasizes the importance of collaboration and partnership. 

 

3 Spheres of Sustainability

The relationships between our world’s environmental, economic, and social components are described by three interconnected domains of sustainability. 

Natural resources are conserved, the environment is safeguarded, the economy is not affected, and our people’s quality of life is improved or maintained. 

The spheres of Sustainability are also known as the 3 Pillars of Sustainability. 
Advantages of Sustainable Development 

• -Appropriate use of resources 
• -Fulfills basic needs of human beings 
• Controls climate change and pollution 
• Maintains Biodiversity 
• Improves quality of economy 
• Emphasizes social progress, developing health, education, agriculture, and social development. 

Management of Resources 

Natural resource management encompasses measures for preserving both renewable and non-renewable resources for current and future usage. By thinking about how best to use it, the productivity of a resource may be extended and its relationship with the environment can be safeguarded. 

The ‘Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose Recycle’ Waste Hierarchy of Resource management (5R’S)- A Path to Sustainability 

In modern times, waste has become a major issue for both the environment and humans. Our water bodies, grasslands, fields, and public spaces are all impacted by the waste we generate. It is critical to begin Refusing, Reducing, Reusing, and Learning About Recycling at a young age. It is crucial to differentiate between what we truly require and what we merely desire. 

So, 5R’s  is the prioritized list of actions to be implemented in order to reduce waste generation, enhance waste management procedures, and conserve natural resources to lead a sustainable life 

Hence, we have a responsibility as citizens of a society to manage our waste sustainably. We may accomplish this by following the 5R’s of waste management. 

Refuse 

This implies refusing offers of stuff you don’t require. Say no to single-use plastic carry bags and refuse to buy things that can hurt you and the environment. 

Example- Refuse single use cups, cutlery, straws, plastic bags. 

Reduce 

The easiest approach to contribute is to reduce the quantity we buy and use in the first place. Reducing the number of products and packaging we purchase results in less waste. It also means that we use less energy to produce and transport goods, as well as less energy to treat waste. 

Example- Purchase eco-friendly and sustainable products such as cloth bags. 

Reuse 

It is also less wasteful if we can find ways to extend the life of everything we buy. We can try to repair some items and repurpose others. and prevent items from ending up in landfills when they could still be useful. 

Example- Reuse paper and containers for art and craft works. 

Repurpose 

The concept of repurposing is taking materials that were originally intended for one function but can now be used for another. In the green or environmental circle, this is also known as upcycling. 

Example- Using empty shoe boxes as storage bins for household items, stationery or any. 

Recycle 

If you can’t manage the above steps, then the next best thing, to avoid throwing waste into landfills, is to try to recycle things like paper, plastic, and metal. Some of these can be reused or turned into new things. Recycling is regarded as one of the best and most environmentally friendly waste disposal methods. 

Example – Recycling plastic, glass and paper into useful products. 

Summary

• Sustainability is defined as the act of living within the limits of existing physical, environmental, and social resources in such a way that the living systems in which humans are integrated can live indefinitely.
• There are 17 SDG goals outlined by the United Nations.
• Management of natural resources is a method for regulating the use of natural resources
  in order to reduce waste and make the most efficient use of them.
• By following the 5R’s hierarchy of waste management, which includes Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle, we can reduce the pressure on the environment and live in harmony with nature.