What is Sustainable Development and Why is it Important? | Waterpedia #SDGsSaturday

Hi, guys.

Do you have time
for a few quick questions?

I see you're having a lot of fun.

But do you ever stop and think
if what you do is sustainable?

And do you know
what sustainable development means?

Sustainable development is to make
the world a better place for everyone now,

without destroying the possibilities
for the next generations.

If you wonder if something is sustainable
you can ask yourself:

can we do this,
over and over again, forever?

Sustainable development means

that we need
to keep three things in mind at once

social progress, economic development,
and climate and environment.

First of all,
we have to take care of our planet,

we have many natural ecosystems
that must be in balance

in order for us to live here.

The climate system is one of them,

this system ensures
that the temperature is correct

and that the atmosphere emits
exactly the right amount of solar energy.

When we emit harmful greenhouse gases,
such as CO2, we clog the atmosphere.

This changes the temperatures on Earth,
which again effects our development.

How we produce and use energy
is incredibly important.

Oil and coal are examples of energy
we may run out of.

Water, wind, and sun,
however, will always be here.

Using the lasting sources of energy
that renew themself is good for the planet

and can provide jobs for years to come.

Economics.

Almost everything we develop, buy,
and trade starts with nature.

The smarter we use our natural resources

and the better systems
we create for a fair distribution,

the more sustainable we are.

One way to contribute
to a more even distribution

is to be more aware of what we buy
and how it is produced.

A football is a good example,

it travels far before it reaches
the football players.

First, materials are made,

then, they print the logo somewhere else,

before a third country
sews it all together.

One single football sees the whole world
before it reaches its goal.

This journey ties us together.

If we are to win
the battle for a sustainable future,

we have to play with fair rules
that apply to everyone.

Social progress.

We humans are part of nature,

but we are also important resources
for the world,

just like water, the forest, and the sun.

We have minds that can create
the strangest and most creative things.

But for us to be
the best version of ourselves

there are things that must be in order,

like having equal opportunities
to education, safety, food, and medicine.

This provides greater opportunities
for us as human beings,

but also for the planet,
we just have to think in new ways.

These three must work together,

that is sustainable development.

And there is actually a plan for this.

All the countries of the United Nations

have agreed on a joint plan
for sustainable development.

But for the plan to work,
we need to cooperate

and we need you to be onboard.

Are you with us?