UK Sustainable Development

The United Kingdom is meeting the true definition of sustainable development. 

Why is this so? 

This meets the basic definition of sustainable development, allowing them to serve as a paradigm for other countries, including the United States.

So, what exactly is involved with UK sustainable development?  Well, one of the country’s first and foremost goals is to attain carbon neutrality. 

This is when the air becomes free of carbon dioxide.  Sound impossible to do?  Well, it is one of the more difficult goals of UK sustainable development, but not impossible. 

Basically, in order to achieve it, the UK government must focus on utilization of renewable energy sources that do not release carbon into the air. 

Of course, carbon offsetting is not the best option, but it’s still doing something. UK sustainable development also includes goals for improved waste management. 

By 2020, the UK government hopes to have recycled 75% of its wastes.  It also hopes to reduce the overall amount of waste by 25%. 

These goals are very important when it comes to UK sustainable development, because waste can cause pollution, habitat damage and health problems if it isn’t efficiently taken care of.

Then there’s the area of UK sustainable development involving conservation of both energy and water.  In 2020, the UK government wants to reduce the country’s water consumption by 25%; energy consumption by 30%. 

If the country can meet these goals, they won’t have to worry about shortages or, (on the energy side), pollution.

Finally, UK sustainable development has incorporated another area of concern that often gets forgotten when people think about the overall definition of sustainable development… social functioning. 

The government, in conjunction with the local communities, hopes to ensure that UK citizens: 1) can acquire affordable housing that is of high quality, 2) are able to get jobs to help support themselves and their families and 3) can promote environmental and social sustainability on a personal level. 

Achievement of these goals will tremendously benefit UK sustainable development in all areas, since individuals are an important aspect in maintaining sustainability.

In conclusion, the United Kingdom is going in the right direction by using the government to initiate sustainability. 

This is because the government can use legislation, taxation and other bureaucratic entities to encourage or sometimes even force a certain level of sustainability. 

And it’s not just on environmental issues, as they are only one factor in the definition of sustainable development. 

By also focusing on social sustainability, the United Kingdom helps preserve the lives of its people… one of the main reasons why sustainability was thought of in the first place. 

All in all, the UK is doing an excellent job, and hopefully more countries will follow suite.