PSCI 100: Challenges in Environmental Sustainability Analysis

This essay examines the multifaceted challenges to environmental sustainability in the present age, arguing that current political systems often fail to adequately protect the environment due to their prioritization of economic interests over long-term environmental well-being. The essay begins by highlighting global trends like changing demographics and urbanization that exacerbate these challenges, including increased pressure on resources, inequalities, and the impacts of climate change. It discusses how unsustainable consumption patterns and inadequate access to public services in many cities contribute to environmental degradation. The analysis then delves into the limitations of current political systems, which often view the environment as a resource for economic production rather than a priority for sustainable development. Real-world examples, such as the United States' approach to climate change, are used to illustrate these points. The essay concludes by emphasizing the need for multilevel cooperation and integrated approaches to address these complex issues, advocating for policy frameworks that prioritize long-term environmental sustainability over short-term economic gains.

Running head: CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
Challenges in Environmental Sustainability
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1CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
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

2CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
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

3CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
the world. The sustainable development of the urban areas needs the integration and the co-
ordination regarding the land usage issues, employment and the biodiversity conversation.
There should be integrated set of the investments in the infrastructure and the public services
that can aid in improving the condition of various countries across the world. The integrated
approach can prove to be crucial for the rural and the urban development of the countries
across the world (Howes et al., 2017). The urban authorities do not have the access to the
modern energy services as they do not possess the financial resources that can help in the
creation of the services. The one size fits all approach cannot be undertaken by the cities as
the priorities and the objectives of the cities are diverse in nature (Higón, Gholami & Shirazi,
2017). The policy frameworks should promote the integrated approach but at the same time
it should make the distinction in between the rich and the poor countries.
The current political systems have not been able to address the problems relating to
the environmental sustainability and they take the effective strategies that can curb the risk
that is posed to the environment. The political regimes in the present age conceive of the
environment to be a part of the economic system and it have raised the barriers in the path of
the sustainable development. The resources are used by the political systems in the present
age for serving the economic functions so that it can serve the present interests of a nation.
They do not think of the consequences in the long term that will have a detrimental effect on
the development of the nations spread across the world (Bibri, 2018). The environment
provides the raw materials for the production and it acts as a receptacle for the wastes that
have been produced on account of the process of the production. The economists are solely
interested in the environment so that it can ensure the continuous flow of the goods and the
services that can meet the human needs.
The people in the United States have the high standard of the living however it have
greatly cost the environment. USA is second largest contributor in relation to the emission of

4CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
the carbon dioxide and per capital emissions in USA have been found to be very high. USA
have not ratified the Kyoto Protocol that is aimed at fighting the climate change taking place
in various countries of the world (Nytimes.com., 2020). It is an integral part of UNFCCC
treaty that had come into existence in the year 2005. The American concern pertaining to the
environmental issues have been found to be the lowest and they are more bothered about the
economic concerns. The air pollution exists in the country which makes the country suffer
from the brunt of the acid rain. It have caused the damage to the trees, soils along with the
animal ecosystems that have caused the grave injury for the environment.
Conclusion
The trends have taken place in the present age like changing social dynamics that
have threatened the aspect of the sustainable development in the present age. There have been
fast growth in large economies however it have proved to be adverse for the environmental
conditions in the modern world. Challenges are perpetrated on institutional capacities that can
improve access to sound infrastructure in present age. The rich countries are not efficient in
the usage of the energy and the water which acts like a barrier in the path of progress of these
countries. Political systems use the resources for catering to economic functions for serving
economic interests of a nation.

5CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
References
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environmental sustainability. Princeton University Press.
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6CHALLENGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
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