Sustainable Development
Sustainablity Paper
Engineering Ethics, Sustainable Development and the Law ES 4498F/G
Submitted By:Muhammad Musa Khan
Submitted to:Dr. Kevin Mcguire
The industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century saw the progress of human kind in manufacturing and energy. The source of this revolution was the discovery of minerals and fossil fuels, which the human race started to exploit without thinking of the consequences on the environment. Fossil fuels were burnt for energy and mines were being dug for minerals without realizing that these activities would alter our atmosphere. It was in the late 20 th century when the comity of nations realized that the past activates have taken a toll on the environment, consequences like “Global Warming” and “Climate Change” have become evident from scientific study, which heralded a need for “Sustainable Development” if the environment is to be protected from further degradation. In 1969 the United States formed a national policy for environmental sustainability by virtue of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with the aim to “foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations”.1 In 1972 the Stockholm Conference reiterated the need to protect the environment and a resolution from the participant governments to use the resources of the earth in a responsible manner.2 But, the need and immediate action on Sustainable
1
U.S Environmental Protection Agency. History of Sustainablity Creation of EPA & NEPA. n.d. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/8bb15fe43a5fb81788256b58005ff079/398761d6c3c7184988256fc40 078499b!OpenDocument (accessed 03 25, 2013).
2
United Nations Environment Programme. Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. n.d.
Engineering Ethics, Sustainable Development and the Law ES 4498F/G
Submitted By:Muhammad Musa Khan
Submitted to:Dr. Kevin Mcguire
The industrial revolution in the 18th and 19th century saw the progress of human kind in manufacturing and energy. The source of this revolution was the discovery of minerals and fossil fuels, which the human race started to exploit without thinking of the consequences on the environment. Fossil fuels were burnt for energy and mines were being dug for minerals without realizing that these activities would alter our atmosphere. It was in the late 20 th century when the comity of nations realized that the past activates have taken a toll on the environment, consequences like “Global Warming” and “Climate Change” have become evident from scientific study, which heralded a need for “Sustainable Development” if the environment is to be protected from further degradation. In 1969 the United States formed a national policy for environmental sustainability by virtue of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) with the aim to “foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony and fulfill the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations”.1 In 1972 the Stockholm Conference reiterated the need to protect the environment and a resolution from the participant governments to use the resources of the earth in a responsible manner.2 But, the need and immediate action on Sustainable
1
U.S Environmental Protection Agency. History of Sustainablity Creation of EPA & NEPA. n.d. http://yosemite.epa.gov/r10/oi.nsf/8bb15fe43a5fb81788256b58005ff079/398761d6c3c7184988256fc40 078499b!OpenDocument (accessed 03 25, 2013).
2
United Nations Environment Programme. Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment. n.d.
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