In 2002 the World Summit on Sustainable Development
was held in
There are serious resource constraints in the world.
Fresh water, clean air, fish stocks, land for food production and living space
are all under pressure because of the world population’s increasing consumption
and pollution. Economic development and consumerism also threatens natural
resources like forests, minerals and rivers.
One of the key
issues that affect sustainability is over-consumption by a portion of the
world’s population. At the moment about 25% of the world’s population live in
relative comfort and consume a huge percentage of the world’s resources in the
process. These are the people who live in large houses, often have at least one
car per family, consume highly processed and packaged foods and luxury consumer
goods like TVs, sound systems, air conditioners and so on. They have
dozens of different sets of clothing and spend a lot on leisure activities.
They create a huge amount of waste and pollution and consume more than half the
natural resources the whole world uses every year.
A further 35% of the world’s population lives in a
more sustainable way where they do not over-consume. These people are
characterised by living in small households, often built by using immediately
available natural resources. They tend to use public transport or
bicycles and eat less packaged and refined foods. They do not consume a lot of
luxury goods and have only a few sets of clothing. They do not create a lot of
waste.
The last 40% of the world’s population can be
classified as under-consumers. These are people who most often live in rural
areas in developing countries. They have only one or two sets of
clothing, use animals or their feet as their main form of transport, often grow
their own food and produce almost no waste. Other than basic items like flour,
salt, sugar and oil, they consume very little that they do not produce
themselves.
It is very important for us as development workers to
consider the impact of development on the environment and the sustainability of
any development in terms of environmental and other factors.
COMPREHENSION
1. Decide if these statements are true or
false; then, justify your answer.
a. The first World Summit on Sustainable Development was held in
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………
b.
Economic development and consumerism do not do any harm to natural
resources like forests, minerals and rivers.
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………
c.
More than half of the world’s population live in relative
comfort and consume a huge percentage of the world’s resources in the process.
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………
d.
35% of the world’s population lives in a more
sustainable way where they do not over-consume.
Truer Falser
………………………………………………...…………………
2. Answer the following questions briefly, in your own
words as far as possible.
a. Why are fresh water, clean air, fish stocks, land for food
production and living space all under pressure?
………………………………………………...…………………
b. How is life of people
living a luxurious and comfortable life characterized?
………………………………………………...…………………
c. How is life of people
living a sustainable life characterized??
………………………………………………...…………………
d. Where do people classified as under-consumers live and how is their
life characterised?
………………………………………………...…………………
3. Complete the following
sentences with figures from the text.
a. At the moment about___________% of the world’s population live in
relative comfort and consume a huge percentage of the world’s resources in the
process.
b. ___________%
of the world’s population lives in a more sustainable way where they do not
over-consume.
c. ___________%
of the world’s population can be classified as under-consumers. These are
people who most often live in rural areas in developing countries.
4. Tick the most appropriate
explanation of the word written in bold letters.
a. Over the Economic
development and consumerism also threatens natural resources like
forests, minerals and rivers. ( paragraph 2, Line 4)
r
The process of getting supplies.
r
The exchange of goods for other things rather than for
money.
r
when too much attention is given to buying and
owning things.
b. Over the Economic
development and consumerism also threatens natural resources like
forests, minerals and rivers. ( paragraph 2, Line 5)
r
Causes harm or damage to something or someone.
r
Describes something that will probably happen or is
expected.
r
Creates harmony between people.
c.
They create a huge
amount of waste and pollution... ( paragraph 2, Line 9)
r
Less than a particular amount or level.
r
Limited amount of
something.
r
Extremely large in size or amount.
5.
What does the underlined word in the text refer to?
a. They (Paragraph 3) : …………………….……….…………
b. They (Paragraph 4) : …………………….……….…………
c. They (Paragraph 5) : …………………….……….…………