Environmental concern for the next decade

I believe our focus should be targeted at population growth. Although not directly linked to environmental problems, the rapid growth of our population (targeted at 7 million by 2020) versus the limited amount of land may result in a large amount of waste being produced. These forms of waste may consist of solid, non biodegradable waste that is disposed daily by garbage trucks to the extra amounts of carbon dioxide that is being released into the atmosphere by vehicles. On the contrary, trees (a main source of oxygen) and previously untempered land may be cleared to make way for residential or commercial buildings.

Besides that, a growing population also requires a greater supply of potable water for consumption. However at the moment, we have yet to be fully self sufficient although solutions (e.g. New Water, water desalination plants) have been implemented to curb such demand.

Thomas Malthus had a similar theory like me. In short, we're going to die if development continues, population growth exponentiates and food productivity increase slowly. This will be followed by mass famine and environmental damage. This is definitely not true, at least it doesn't apply in modern times. Of course, I am not talking about curbing population growth.

Its all about sustainable development; whether we are able to produce enough to feed ourselves, whether we can make good use of our limited resources and not damage the environment that makes us.

A proven method to curb with the above mentioned problems is through education - to emphasise on the need to reduce, reuse and recycle as well as raising awareness with regards to our deteriorating planet. The future leaders should realise the importance of sustainable development. If we were to continue with such destruction of our planet, we certainly have no future to speak of.