For most people, a car is a means for transportation while for some it is a way of exhibiting their wealth and freedom. However, what most of us don’t realize or rather tend to ignore is the fact that cars consume natural resources, pollute the environment, and can increase mortality.
Our intention may not be to consume natural resources, pollute the environment, and increase mortality but when you use cars, you end up doing just that. Can we design and create better more sustainable options to help minimize the negative effects and maximize benefits?
When you look at the big picture and begin thinking in a the wider context, change towards ‘sustainable systems’ becomes more possible. One transport solution as a start can be providing a better public transport. But what exactly are the effects of this new option? Public transport also consumes resources and pollutes the environment, but it does so to a lesser degree because it involves eliminating various forms of transportation and carpooling into one.
We need to involve systemic thinking. Systemic thinking involves looking at such matters and alternatives in the following manner as we all should. Ask yourself these questions:
· If this is the solution, what is the problem?
· What is the purpose of this solution?
· What does it actually do?
· What new solution might help address the problems?
· What other problems or benefits might it create?
· Who or what gains and who/what loses from this solution?
The scope of sustainability is frequently described as including three spheres – social, environmental, and economic. Sustainability is at once an integrative discipline and a multidisciplinary project. It has statistical, scientific, and humanistic dimensions. With its focus on specific problems and particular solutions, sustainability suggests place-based and project-based approaches to learning.
Educating others about sustainability is an initiative that provides people with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary to build a sustainable future therefore, educating others about sustainability is important as it teaches them to think and act in ways that will safeguard the future and well being of future generations and our planet.
What questions have you asked yourself about how you can contribute to the sustainability initiatives. Now is the time to do so because the affects of global warming and climate change have already begun. All that gas that you're using well guess what? We are leaning to a more sustainable solution with more electric cars on the road than ever before such as the Tesla. This is a good thing but we have a long way to go before we make a 100% transition.