Northumbria University: Environmental Sustainability Research Proposal

This document is a research proposal focusing on environmental sustainability, exploring effective environmental management strategies to balance human needs and the natural environment. The introduction highlights the importance of mindful collaboration with the environment. The research question investigates suitable methods for environmental management to achieve sustainability. The theoretical rationale emphasizes balancing human needs with environmental requirements, protecting species, and employing preventive, preservative, and protective actions. The methodological rationale outlines observational techniques, interviews, questionnaires, and case studies to gather data. The proposal also discusses sustainability approaches, including identifying ecological and socio-planetary resources and evaluating adverse symptoms like soil erosion and climate change. The research aims to stimulate interdisciplinary debate and provide solutions for environmental sustainability, considering issues such as environmental change and the United Nations' sustainable development goals. The proposal concludes with a discussion on the importance of clean air, water, and healthy communities for environmental and human well-being.

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Environmental Sustainability Research proposal
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Date

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A study on environmental sustainability
Introduction
Environmental sustainability has become a topic that is worth venture in the recent times.
It involves a mindful collaboration with our environment in order to prevent corruption or
interference with the resources and take into account the natural quality. This research seek to
explore the environmental sustainability and its contribution to environment.
Research question
What are the effective and suitable methods of environmental management strategies that can
balance the requirements of the natural environment and human societal needs to help in the
realization of environmental sustainability?
Theoretical Rationale
Sustainability targets at balancing the needs of human societies and the requirements of
the natural environment, protection of the rare species of plants and animals on the earth to make
use of and enjoy (Al-Mulal et al, 2015). Sustainability enhances healthy environment, biological
diversity, control protection and preservation of both minor and major ecosystems as well as
high quality life Smith 2003.
Preventive, preservative and protective actions are the most efficient strategies to realize
environmental sustainability in the present world (Stern, 2018, pp. 49-54). This is as a result of
the environmental destruction resulting to the breach of the ecosystem, loss of diverse biology,
limited lifestyle. It therefore implies that prevention alone may not be able to support the
realization of sustainable environmental goals since the present needs have to be satisfied

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therefore restoration should be put into practice (Al-Mulali et al. 2015, pp. 123-131). However,
restoration should not be heavily ventured on the original approach, whereby people’s motive be
degrading the environment so that they restore, it’s preferable to keep off from destroying the
environment in the first place. Deployment of restoration should be put into practice where
destruction is the order of the day, that can that can anticipate sustainable utilization of valuable
contents of the physical environment (Ahmed et al, 2015, pp. 95-103).
Realization of environmental sustainability receives from the degradation of habitats of
native species, emission of chemicals and other effluents into the water sources, release of
destructive gases into the atmosphere as well as exhaustion of various mineral resources for
example oil.
Methodological Rationale
Through observation I will ascertain what the target population do and think as well as
exploitation of the natural resources and other environmental related activities (Stern, 2018, pp.
49-54). Walking around the affected areas to keep a close check on how the society handles the
environment. Objectively penetrate the outer and inner life of the research target population
through interview thereby acquiring wide range of ideas on motives concerning the
environmental conservation. Through schedule method I will be able to collect personal
preferences, habits, social attitudes, group practices, beliefs, opinions and behavior patterns of
the research population. Application of properly constructed and administered questionnaire.
Apply projective techniques to test individuals’ responses to situations of the environment. Using
case studies in exploration and analysis of the life of the research target group, that is their social

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groups, individuals, families, related institutions, and the entire community under study (Stern,
2018, pp. 49-54).
Sustainability approaches
Since environmental sustainability is concerned with management and protection of the
naturally occurring resources, habitats as well as instruments used to maintain functioning
ecosystems that assists in human well-being. It entails identification of the ecology, socio-
planetary resources as well as evaluation of adverse symptoms which includes, soil erosion,
water depletion, climate change and decline in biodiversity. Research in environmental
sustainability therefore aims at stimulating scientific approach, interdisciplinary, advanced
debate. It will comprise of newly conducted research that is meaningful to the broader domain of
environmental sustainability; that which cuts across disciplinary boundaries and a deep
understanding (Buland et al 2018).
Current research in environmental sustainability therefore will emphasize on the real
multidisciplinary sustainability research approaches, provides solutions and their diffusion and
application. It will also oversee various themes such as environmental change issues, which in
details gives room for a flexible distinction between natural sciences with social sciences,
engineering subjects and humanities as part of the United Nations’ evolving sustainable
development goals. Environmental sustainability thrives to adjust environmental health as well
as quality of human life. It is therefore very important because we need to have clean air, clean
water, have healthy communities, enough natural resources as well as nontoxic environment.

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References
Ahmed, K., Shahbaz, M., Qasim, A., & Long, W., 2015. The linkages between deforestation,
energy and growth for environmental degradation in Pakistan. Ecological Indicators, 49,
pp. 95-103.
Al-Mulali, U., Saboori, B., & Ozturk, I., 2015. Investigating the environmental Kuznets curve
hypothesis in Vietnam. Energy Policy, 76, pp. 123-131.
Stern, D. I., 2018. The environmental Kuznets curve. In Companion to Environmental
Studies (Vol. 49, No. 54, pp. 49-54). ROUTLEDGE in association with GSE Research.