Sustainable Earth – science, policy, society

Source: NASA/NOAA/GSFC/Suomi NPP/VIIRS/Norman Kuring ‘Earth Day’ was first celebrated in 1970 and gave voice to many concerns about the global environment. Scientists played a major role in drawing attention to our impact on the planet and millions marched in response. Across the world nations, cities, businesses and communities began to address environmental issues. The 1970s and 80s saw the rise of environmental science, environmental protection agencies, environmental policy and environmental assessment with the worst pollution of air, water and land being addressed. But deeper issues about our consumption of energy, materials, food and forests began to surface and serious questions were asked about global limits and the pursuit of single-minded economic development. Should we stop economic growth? What about the 1 billion people in extreme poverty? The UN’s World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 resolved this issue in theory by creating the idea of ‘sustainable development’. This suggested that we could grow economically and help the environment, rather than destroy it. For the last three decades since this concept was introduced to the world, this is what scientists and policy makers have striven to achieve. Sustainability research has now become one of the fastest growing scientific fields today. The journal’s vision is to work closely with scientists, policy makers and the general public to facilitate and enhance the communication of inform...
Source: BioMed Central Blog - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Biology Open Access Publishing Sustainable Earth Source Type: blogs