Is a Sustainable Society Possible?
The majority of nations contributing to climate change are living in an unsustainable society. For instance, Middle Eastern countries make up five of the top ten spots — Qatar leading with 39.7 emissions per capita — since they hold almost one-third of the oil reserves in the world. The United States and Canada with 16.1 and 15.1 emissions per capita, respectively, are also some of the top polluters. Considering the level of emissions, these countries are demonstrating an unsustainable economy. Oil is an incredibly finite source, and its supply is declining as these techniques are still practiced in the name of growth.
Essentially, a sustainable society “emphasizes the importance of balancing human needs with natural resources,” as described by Sustainable Tag, a medium advocating for sustainability. In order to achieve a green society, strategies could include increasing government regulation concerning natural resource use and producing less materials humans depend on, such as gas for vehicles. While some may believe that a sustainable society will not benefit humans, sustainable practices can improve the Earth’s health and reduce resource consumption.
The sustainability concept is emulated by Costa Rica, a country on track to be one of the most sustainable nations in the world. Sustainability in Costa Rica is primarily driven by the people, which translates into an effective government policy. For example, Sustainable Development Goals Costa Rica 2020 “lays out the country’s 2030 Agenda, which provides a model for nations worldwide,” or creates a plan of sustainable techniques, including the promotion of ecotourism and national park establishment in order to reach the goal of decarbonization by 2050. In other words, numerous facets of Costa Rica are progressing to an environmentally-sound country. Not only are Costa Rica’s sustainability policies a massive effort toward change, but they are also incredibly effective. According to the Green Business Bureau, 98 percent of Costa Rica is free from deforestation, approximately 99 percent of electric power comes from renewable sources, and 3.5 percent of fossil fuel taxes have generated $26.4 million since 1997. Based on the snippet of the success of Costa Rica’s policies, sustainable societies can be achieved with other nations.
However, the concern looms upon implementation. Costa Rica is considerably smaller than the United States, geographically and in population. It is important to understand that implementing sustainability is a lengthy process that is likely to start with local policy. Massachusetts has already begun a decarbonization roadmap aiming for 85 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. In the housing sector, Massachusetts plans to focus on electric-based solutions due to simple implementation and a cost-effective solution. This process may differ from state to state depending on which sector contributes to pollution the most. For example, as opposed to the electrical sector, California’s greatest source of pollution is the burning of fossil fuels from transportation. With that, a policy example would be to disincentivize single-person transportation and encourage public transit. As a result, less methane and other pollutants will be released into the atmosphere. Costa Rica’s sustainability plan has been in the works since before the 2000s, but with patience and effort, a sustainable society is an achievable path.
