Interna tional Jo urna l o f Applied Research 2016 ; 2 (3 ): 464 -46 7

ISSN Print: 2394-7500

ISSN Online: 2394-5869
Impact Factor: 5.2 Sustainable development through environmental ethics
IJAR 2016; 2(3): 464-467
www.allresearchjournal.com
Received: 11-01-2016 S Rajalakshmi
Accepted: 13-02-2016

S Rajalakshmi Abstract
Asst. Professor, Department of The continuous maintenance of quality environment for many years is called “Sustainable
Sociology, the Madura College Development”. The environment and its resources are not allowed to degrade. The natural resources
(Autonomous), Madurai, must be used in a limited way. It produces an ideal balanced ecosystem. All the components are
Tamilnadu, India. available for the future generations. Sustainable Development recognizes that all development
decisions must simultaneously consider aspects of Economy, Environment, and Equity. If future
generations are to enjoy a high quality of life, then this generation’s plans must guarantee the integrity
of our natural resources. Sustainability implies that adjustment of a system, to a foreseeable change in
land use can be made without necessitating expensive construction, or that provisions are made for
accommodating potential changes. Proper maintenance is one key condition to preserve utility of a
system.
To fail to develop ethically sound solutions to the population problem and our relationship with the
biosphere is a mistake we cannot afford to make. Perhaps the most important factor in obtaining
sustainable environmental systems is that the local people must take the responsibility for their
environmental system, as they have been doing in many parts of the world. Environmental ethics,
distinct from concern for animals or animal rights, outlines the development of a long- term, objective
opinion about how we as humans ought to be dealing with our non- human environment to ensure its
wellbeing. The emphasis of environmental ethics, the effect of human behavior, comments on how
detrimental behaviours ought to be changed as to benefit the entire biosphere.

Keywords: Environment, Sustainable, Development, Ethics, Maintenance, biosphere.

Introduction
Sustainable development represents a commitment to advancing human well-being, with the
added constraint that this development needs to take place within the ecological limits of the
biosphere. Progress in both these dimensions of sustainable development can be assessed: we
use the UN Human Development Index (HDI) as an indicator of development and the
Ecological Footprint as an indicator of human demand on the biosphere. Sustainable
development has broad appeal and little specificity, but some combination of development
and environment as well as equity is found in many attempts to describe it. Despite the
persistent definitional ambiguities associated with sustainable development, much work
(over 500 efforts) has been devoted to developing quantitative indicators of sustainable
development. The emphasis on sustainability indicators has multiple motivations that include
decision making and management, advocacy, participation and consensus building, and
research and analysis. We select a dozen prominent examples and use this review to
highlight their similarities and differences in definition of sustainable development,
motivation, process, and technical methods.

Aim
The aim of this study is to categorize the challenges of Environment and framed ethics for
sustainable Development.

Correspondence
Objectives
S Rajalakshmi 1) To understand the present conditions of Environment in India.
Asst. Professor, Department of 2) To analyze the various Environmental challenges.
Sociology, the Madura College 3) To frame the ethics to protect the Environment.
(Autonomous), Madurai, 4) To suggest the ways and means to maintain the sustainable Development.
Tamilnadu, India.

~ 464 ~ 
International Journal of Applied Research
 

Importance hazards in order to sustain the environment for future

The World commission on Environment and Development generations. Sustainable development is closely linked to the
was initiated by General Assembly of the United Nation in carrying capacity of an ecosystem. So these developments
1982, and its report, ‘Out Common Future’, was published in should prevent further damage to our life support systems
1987. It was chaired by the Prime minister of Norway Gro like air, water, land and forests. It should also conserve and
Harlem Brundtland (thus earning the Name “Brundtland nurture the biological diversity, gene pool and other
Commission”). One most formidable definition has been resources for long term food security.
given by him. “Meets the need of present without Thus sustainable development has dual role to perform i.e. i)
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their to provide the strategy for wealthy human life and (ii) to
own needs”. Therefore sustainability is an attempt to provide provide the strategy for healthy planet the Earth.
the human and natural environment both now and into the
indefinite future. Savinder Singh (2003) defined the Causes of Environmental Degradation
sustainable development “as an overall socio- economic There are several causes for environmental degradation.
growth of the society through rational exploitation and They are Modern Technology, Industrialization, Modern Life
optimum utilization of resources by adopting ecofriendly style, Overuse of natural resources, Water Pollution, Air
technologies, environmental education and maintenance of Pollution, Land Pollution, Pesticide Pollution, Radioactive
better organization leading to sustainable economy and Pollution, Thermal Pollution, Noise Pollution, Urbanization,
maintenance of environmental quality and ecological balance Population Explosion, Wrong use of natural resources,
so that continuous yield of resources is insured to the present Deforestation, Hunting and poaching, Felling trees and
and future generations” Forest Fire.
According to the “United Nations World Commission on
Environment and Development” sustainable development Principles to achieve Sustainable Development:
must meet their own needs of the present generation without A Number common principals are embedded in most action
compromising on the ability of the future generations to meet programmes to achieve sustainable development. These
their own needs and aspirations. It is possible to have include (Hargroves & Smith 2005).
development without destroying the environment. Provided, i) Dealing transparently and systematically with risk,
man ensures that any single use does not deplete the uncertainty and irreversibility.
environmental resources. To ensure sustainable development, ii) Ensuring appropriate evaluation, appreciation and
the depletion of renewable resources should not take place at restoration of nature.
a rate faster than their regeneration. Therefore the iii) Integration of Environmental, Social, human and
environmental aspects should be included in the development economic goals in policies and activities.
policies and activities. We should develop those iv) Equal opportunity and community participation/
technological aspects which have minimum environmental sustainable community.

 Conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity. should know about what is to be sustained, and what is to be
 Ensuring inter-generational equity. developed. On the basis of this there were two aspects of
 Recognizing the global integration of localities. sustainable development.
 A commitment to the best practice.
 No net loss of human capital or natural capital. 1. Intergenerational equality
 The principal of continuous improvement. It states that it is our responsibility to handover a healthy,
 The need for good governance. resourceful and safe environment to the future generations,
 Create a global alliance. by justified use of resources, reducing pollution, controlling
 Minimize depletion of nonrenewable resources. population and maintaining an ecological balance.
 Conserve earth’s vitality and biodiversity.
2. Intra – generational equality
Rio Summit 1992 An equality within and between the nations by such type of
It was clear during the Rio Summit 1992 that meaning of technological development which will support economic
sustainable development vary far developed and developing growth of the poor countries so as to reduce the wealth gap
countries, it was fluctuating between two extremes of ‘ no between the national. It will also provide equal opportunity
growth’ verses unlimited growth. To make it clear one to use natural resources for all.
~ 465 ~ 
International Journal of Applied Research
 

Goals of Sustainable Development the sustainability transition of the ‘Board on sustainable

Goals of sustainable development categorize in three groups. Development”, and the long term (beyond 2050) goals of the
i) To fulfill the basic needs of human – like foods, cloth, ‘Great Transition of the Global Scenario Group”.
house, education, health and respect.
ii) Development should be done with minimum side effect Un Millennium Declaration
on ecosystem purity of environment. To make the millennium, heads of states gathered in New
iii) It should be done at global level. York at the United Nations in September 2000. There, the
UN general assembly adopted some 60 goals regarding
There are three sets of goals that use different time horizons. peace; development; environment, human rights; the
The short term (2015) goals of the Millennium Declaration vulnerable hungry and poor Africa and the United Nations.
of the United Nations; The two generations goals (2050) of Many of these contained specific targets.

Steps for Sustainable Development  Reduce indiscriminate use of natural resources.

To achieve the goals of sustainable development three  Recycle to reduce the pressure on existing natural
different components (i.e. By physical, economic and social) resources recycle the materials.
should be considered together. Therefore, sustainable 2. Education: environmental education and awareness
development advocate a development process that is should be provided through education system and mass
biophysically admissible economically feasible and socially media to develop “earth thinking: (feeling of
acceptable. Following are the steps for the sustainable belongingness to earth) from childhood.
development. 3. Technology: to use locally adoptable, ecofriendly and
resource efficient technology.
1. 3- R approach should be followed: it states, 4. Justified use of natural resources.
 Reuse of natural resources instead of generation of waste
and pollutants. Initiatives recently taken by GOI

Expert group on low Carbon Planning Commission – led Group setup to develop strategy for India as
1.
Economy a low carbon economy; in twelfth plan process.
State action plans on climate Delhi was the first state to release climate change action plan; other
Policy 2.
change states finalising plans.
Development
National policy on bio- fuels approved by the Cabinet Committee of
3. National Policy on Biofuels India to promote cultivation, production, and use of bio- fuels for
transport and in other applications
National Missions under National National Missions on Solar Energy, Energy Efficiency and strategic
4.
Action Plan on Climate Change Knowledge approved, other Missions in final stages of preparation.
First National Conference on Conference to stimulate green building sector; to set an example, GOI
5. Green Buildings – Materials and proposes that all its new buildings will be GRIHA 4+ compliant subject
Technologies to site conditions.
In Principle approval given to “30 Solar Cities” with aim of 10%
6. 30 “ Solar Cities” deduction in projected demand of conventional energy through a
Policy
combination of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures.
Implementation
Energy Efficiency ratings made mandatory for four free appliances –
Energy Efficiency Standards for
7. refrigerators, air conditioners, tube lights and transformers from January
appliances.
7, 2010d, more to follow through 2010.
Plan for fuel economy norms for vehicles announced, to be made
8. Fuel Efficiency Norms
operational during the coming years.
India assessed as best CDM country, Indian projects to neutralise 10%
9. CDM Programs
of emissions by 2012.
~ 466 ~ 
International Journal of Applied Research
 

Environmental Ethics -Suggestions and Discussions bio diversity, Use of alternative energy sources, Awareness
‘Ethics’ word is derived from the Greek word ‘Ethos’, which creation among people and Global partnership are the efforts
means customs. The other meaning of ethics is ‘Set of moral have been taken to make a sustainable environment. Role of
principle’. All of us know that ethics is beliefs, attitudes or environmental experts involves providing intellectual with
norms that form the basis of customs. Not only in India but philosophical and ethical perspectives on the current and
all over the world, there is a growing concern for ethical controversial issues being considered in the field of
norms in all spheres of human activities. Our duties towards environmental ethics and to enable them to think through
the environment and living beings is also referred to as complex environmental problems involving scientific,
environmental ethics. economic, political and ethical aspects within a framework
Environmental ethics is the scientific looking of various that gives due weight to the disciplinary approaches, yet also
issues related to the rights of individuals on the environment. aims for integrated and rigorous understanding and entertains
It is the moral relationship of human beings with the possible solutions. To ensure a rich and harmonious
environment. It is concerned with do’s and dont’s of the existence of man in nature, time has come for man to keep
human beings to the environment. It deals with ecological harmonious interactions with nature, which forms the basis
rights of all creatures present today as we fruitful as those for better environmental management. So every citizen must
which will come next to live on the Earth. Ethical standards take an oath to protect our beautiful environment.
are necessary a long – term conservation and maintenance of
nature and its resources. A mango tree bears mango fruit to Let us not forget
propagate its kind. Man plucks the fruit and eats it. But we Little drops of water
should do justice to the tree. After eating the flesh of the Little grains of sand
fruit, don’t throw away the seed. Sow it in a safe place and Make the mighty ocean
nurse it to grow into a tree. This is environmental ethics. And the pleasant Land.

Environmental ethics is maintained by the following Methodology

methods The study is based on secondary data. The secondary data
 Equitable utilization of natural resources. required for the study was collected from various books,
 Equity among the people of rural and urban areas. magazines, journals, newspapers etc.
 Equity for males and females.
 Conservation of resources for future generations. References
 Environmental rights of animals. 1. Agarwal KC. Environmental Biology, Nidi Publ. Ltd.
 Environmental education. Bikaner, 2001.
 Conservation of traditional value systems. 2. Bharucha Erach. The biodiversity of India, Mapin
 Prevention of sacrifice of animals to poojas. Publishing Pvt. Ltd., Ahemadabad
 Prevention of ecoterrorism. 3. De AK. Environmental chemistry, Wiley Eastern Ltd.
 Use of ecofriendly items. 4. Heywood VH, Watson RT. Global Biodiversity
Assessment. Cambridge Univ. Press, 1995.
 Keeping the environment neat and clean.
5. Jadhav H, Bhosale VM. Environmental Protection and
 Avoid carry bags and plastic items.
Laws. Himalaya Pub. Hous, Delhi, 1965.
6. Miller TG Jr. Environmental Science, Wadsworth
Conclusion
Publishing Co.
7. Survey of Environment, the Hindu.
8. Dr. Shradha Sinha. Environmental Studies, AITBS
Publishers, India.
9. Kumaresan V. Environmental Studies, Saras
Publication, India.
10. http://biodiversity.uno.edu

The concept of sustainable development is much more than

environmental protection because it needs joint effort of
economists and ecologists by parallel care and respect for the
ecosystem and for the people live in. ‘Checking land
degradation, Water management, Control of population
explosion, Pollution control, Waste management,
Management of urban and industrial areas, Conservation of

~ 467 ~