Sustainability Globally

We know now that FGCU is an eco-friendly university but how sustainability looks like when we project it to the world. I thought it would interesting to see how different countries cherish Earth`s resources in an attempt to decrease their carbon foot prints on the environment. First of all let`s clarify what sustainability means. It is a “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (globalissues.org) The picture you see here shows a key message that has been put together in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment in March 2005. It meant to show what changes humanity needs to make in order to leave a safe planet behind for future generations.

Let`s see how different countries of the world manage sustainable consumption. National Geographic has partnered with GlobeScan to develop and international research approach, called “Greendex,” to monitor and measure consumer progress toward environmentally sustainable consumption. They surveyed 17,000 consumers in 17 countries. Their measurements were regarding energy use and conservation, food sources, transportation, attitudes toward environmental sustainability and knowledge of environmental issues. Click HERE and see the map that shows where countries stand. South Korea and Germany are on the first place of environmentally sustainable consumer behavior followed by the China and Spain. Can you guess which country fell to the last place? Among the 17 countries surveyed the United States ranks last! It raises the question; how such an economic, industrial and political power could provide such negative results when it comes to the environment? Sometimes I think, there are so many people talking about dangers of global warming and the importance of sustainability in the U.S., however, most of the time these are nothing more than empty words without meaningful actions. In my opinion, the scope of the problem comes down to this: people tend to think that they alone cannot make a difference by recycling a can or an empty bottle. However, when too many people think that way, the number will just grow higher and higher from one family to the next, from one ignorant individual to an ignorant community and society.