Sustainability is about the management of precious resources, how we use energy and water, and how we deal with waste. Essentially, it is about how we manage and look after our environment in a circular economy. It is about shared responsibility. Environmental quality depends on the kind of care we give our surroundings. Buildings and landscape both require maintenance.
Who takes responsibility?
Many local authorities promote schemes for recycling, both through normal rubbish collection and through the provision of bottle banks and other collection points for paper and clothes. A key concern is to provide appropriate facilities for waste disposal that respect the environment. How well are these organised in your area?
There are now many rules and regulations imposed on factories, shops and warehouses to protect the environment. However, there is still a lot of work to be done on the use of energy and the control of pollution. What is the impact of industry and commerce on your area?
The way we use energy in our homes, schools and offices is important for climate change and human health. How much electricity or water can you save? How much less rubbish do
you have when you recycle? Does some of the energy in your area come from wind turbines? Two other threats to environmental quality are litter and graffiti. Are there any such problems in your area? Where do these happen? Who is responsible? How should
we deal with them?