CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Running head: CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Challenges in Environmental Sustainability
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CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY1
Introduction
Rio Earth Summit which was held in the year 1992 brought in the unprecedented era
of the environmental awareness which could not be translated into the real actions. The
progress have been slow and the hurdles are faced by the countries in relation to the
environmental sustainability. The urbanization have brought about the new opportunities for
a large number of people across the world however urbanisation have added pressure to
resource base and increased the demand for the energy and the water
(Sustainabledevelopment.un.org., 2020). This topic have been chosen as the concept of the
sustainable development is of crucial importance in the present age and the countries are
facing the difficulties in relation to the environmental regulation. This topic is of crucial
importance as it can aid in raising the consciousness of the people that can aid in the creation
of a better world.
Thesis Statement
This essay argues that the challenges are being faced by the countries in the present
age in relation to the environmental sustainability. This essay states that political systems
in the present age cannot offer the proper protection to the environment.
Discussion
Global challenges to the sustainable development have been driven by the mega
trends like the changing demographic profiles and the changing social dynamics. The fast
growth have taken place within the framework of the large economies however it have led to
the partial convergence of the living standards of the people (Gholami et al., 2016). The
inequality undermines the prospects in relation to the inclusive growth and the broad
sustainable development affects in a negative manner the aspect of the aggregate demand in
the society. The diverse population dynamics have exacerbated the inequalities prevailing in

CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY2
the society within the framework of the developing and the developed countries
(Environmentalscience.org., 2020). The population ageing have put the stress on the national
along with the local infrastructure that have raised the sustainability challenges in the world.
The challenge arises on account of the unsustainable consumption in the cities which have
evolved in the developing countries and it is being greatly followed by the developing
countries of the world. High degree of the inequality have been responsible for promoting the
patterns that have been instrumental in constraining the achievement of human development
goals (Baland, Bardhan & Bowles, 2018).
There are many cities like the low and the middle income countries where the access
to the public services have been found to be inadequate. The challenges are posed to
institutional capacities that can bring about the improved access to the sound infrastructure
and reduce the vulnerability to the natural disasters. The upper middle-income countries on
the other hand get the access to the basic public services however they have to become more
efficient in usage of energy and the water (Sarkis & Zhu, 2018). The larger cities have the
well-managed resources however they are also instrumental in the creation of the larger
ecological footprint. The climate change have made the cities vulnerable and it have put the
stress on adaptive capacities of poor. The economic crisis taking place in the world have
increased the underemployment of the educated youth within the poor and the rich nations.
There prevails the inequality in between the rural and the urban areas and it have emerged to
become the persistent feature within the framework of the developing countries (van Huis &
Oonincx, 2017). There are around 1 billion people in the world who reside in the slums and
they lack the access to the basic infrastructure and the services.
Policy framework in relation to the sustainable development of the urban areas needs
the multilevel co-operation in between the local, national and the global communities. The
partnerships should be formed that can help in improving the present condition prevailing in