How Are Human and Nature Relationships Important for Moving Toward Sustainability?

The origin of the term ‘Sustainability’ can be traced back to the Brundtland Report of 198 7 which was also referred to as ‘ Our Common Future,’ ( Kuhlman & Farrington, 2010). The need for the report was based on the realization that despite increased emphasis on industrialization as an avenue for improving the living standards of the populace globally, extreme poverty was still an issue of concern in many countries. It had become apparent that the quest to achieve economic development at the expense of ecological health and social equity failed to foster long-lasting prosperity. As a result, there was a need to create harmony between prosperity and ecology. Kates (2001) argues that the realization of the need to balance human development goals of society with the environmental limits of the planet in the long term laid the foundation for the idea of Sustainable Development (SD). Subsequently, the Brundtland Report defined SD as “ development that meets the needs of the present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs ” (Kuhlman & Farrington, 2010; Schultz, 2002; Kates, 2001). The term ‘Sustainability’ is thus informed by the concept of SD and refers to the transition towards SD (Kates, 2001). Natural resources are pivotal in the achievement of sustainability. However, the role of social and economic resources cannot be overemphasized. Sustainability does not solely entail environmentalism but also features social equity and economic development. Thus, sustainability offers a holistic approach to development, in which the ecological, social, as well as economic dimensions, are put into consideration. This is because the three pillars are vital in the achievement of lasting prosperity. Against this backdrop, this essay will explore the importance of the human-nature relationship in the movement toward sustainability. In this pursuit, the essay will highlight the over-dependence of human beings on the planet for survival and its impacts in the context of sustainability. It will also highlight sustainability problems and the influence of human-nature relationships on sustainability-related policy. Further, the essay will explore the history of the relationship as well as how the relationship influences environmental behavior. Globally, anthropogenic activities are responsible for altering ecosystems in uncertain and profound ways (Schultz, 2002). This is despite the fact that the survival of humans is highly dependent on the condition of such ecosystems. As a result, to overcome the most pressing development and conservation challenges of the 21 st Century, there is a need to put into consideration the dynamic and complex relationships between human societies and ecosystems (Fischer et al., 2015). For instance, to conserve forests, there is a need to discourse on the growing agricultural markets which act as catalysts for the growing demand for agricultural products. This is because to meet this demand, there is a need to increase the amount of land under cultivation. This, in some instances, results in the clearing of forests and other overexploitation of other valuable resources. If sustainable approaches to agriculture are not sought, there is a high likelihood of the degradation of these resources hence a decline in the ability to sustainably grow enough food. Thus, to achieve food security, environmentally sustainable agricultural production is requisite ( Giovannucci et al., 2012). Also, for this to happen, emphasis should also be placed on institutions that promote equitable distribution of the produced agricultural products. This is in a bid to ensure that the dietary needs of all are met while improving the balance between the demand and supply of particular products. On the other hand, the debate on the sustainability of fisheries has to be coupled with that of enhancing the occupations of coastal communities as well as how best to manage alternative sources of protein including aquaculture, agriculture, and bush meat. This is because while the coastal communities rely on fishing for survival, over-exploitation of fish would be a threat to their livelihoods and the aquatic ecosystem in general. Therefore, to achieve sustainability, there is a need to ensure the equitable advancement of the well-being of humans without compromising the integrity of the ecosystems on which they depend. The relationship between humans and nature helps in understanding the intertwined dynamics of societal and environmental change, which are fundamental to the advancement of sustainability (Fischer et al., 2015; Grindsted 2013; Schultz et al., 2004). These dynamics include those occasioned by human beings and their actions coupled with the changes in the atmosphere, biogeochemical and water cycles, as well as changes to the earth’s system ( Folke et al., 2016). Likewise, the social-ecological systems such as communities, people, societies, economies, and cultures are not only adaptive but also complex. They are also components of the biosphere and influence it at different levels ( Folke et al., 2016). The social-ecological systems boast feedback loops across different interlinked scales which either accelerate or slow down the rate of change respectively. It is this feedback that determines the biosphere’s ability to sustain human development and progress. The interactions between ecosystems and people vary in scope, scale as well as intensity ( Folke et al., 2016). Consequently, these variations make an understanding of the dynamism of the social-ecological systems necessary. Therefore, human beings are at the center of the move towards sustainability due to their direct and indirect impact on nature. There is a consensus amongst scholars that the survival of human beings is highly dependent on the health of the biosphere (Braito et al., 2017; Folke et al., 2016; Seymour, 2016; Arsene, n.d.). Despite this recognition, a challenge still exists with regard to how best to attain a balance between the short and long-term betterment of the well-being of humans and the integrity of ecosystems (Seymour, 2016; Restall & Conrad, 2015). Despite this, it is clear that ecosystem integrity and human well-being cannot be decoupled. According to Arsene (n.d.), human beings are both dependent and stewards of nature. Likewise, they have ethical obligations towards future generations and other living things. It is due to this recognition that such initiatives as the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), National Ecosystem Assessments, and the Economics of Ecosystem and Biodiversity project have been established ( Guerry et al., 2015). The private sector has also recognized that humanity depends on nature. This is exemplified by the advent of such platforms as the Natural Capital Declaration as well as the promotion of Sustainability Leadership by such firms as Unilever, Patagonia, Interface, and IKEA amongst others (GlobeScan & SustainAbility, 2016). Sustainability problems are multi-faceted in nature (Fischer et al., 2015). They include financial and economic, social, political, and institutional challenges amongst others (Swart, et al., 2002). This recognition calls for interdisciplinarity, in which case different disciplines have to work together for the achievement of sustainability. Subsequently, there has been an emergence of ‘inter-disciplines.’ This development justifies the need to for a relationship between social and natural sciences. There has also been an evolution of transdisciplinary research structures so as to foster the integration of societal challenges in various scientific processes and put into practice scientifically-based solutions (Swart, et al., 2002). Likewise, academic institutions and curricula have been reoriented in a bid to promote understanding and resolution of sustainability problems. As a result, increasingly, sustainability scientists are embracing diverse conceptual frames as well as methodological approaches (Swart, et al., 2002; Kates, 2001). This implies a shift in research efforts, from placing emphasis on exploring different sustainability aspects separately to adopting a holistic focus on multifunctional elements and their response to both new and existing pressures (Grindsted, 2013). This has meant that researchers have to adopt new approaches and become open to embracing multiple ways of looking at sustainability. Moreover, new approaches are aiding in understanding sustainability challenges in different circumstances. The relationship between humans and nature in the context of sustainability plays a role in advancing sustainability-related policy. For instance, social-ecological research not only influences researchers but is increasingly informing policymakers. In this regard, the United Nations (UN) Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals has been instrumental in recognizing the relationship between the social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability. These are the people, the need to attain profit in business, and the role of nature respectively. The interconnectedness of the three is necessary for the advancement of sustainability. Goal two is a combination of the socio-economic target and the environmental target and is geared towards ensuring the resilience of the ecosystem is assured (Sachs, 2002). In the United Kingdom (UK), the government has recognized the linkage between ecosystems and society. Other efforts that recognize the relationship between nature and humans include the Biofuels Directive of the European Union, and the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) (Fischer et al., 2015). These initiatives indicate that social-ecological relationships are becoming part of the policy-making processes. The advances also suggest that compared to a few decades ago, there is a shift in how society, as well as the research fraternity, views the relationship between social and ecological systems. They also show that the crucial role played by social-ecological relationships in advancing sustainability has been acknowledged considerably (Fischer et al., 2015). However, despite this, the impacts of this recognition have to be deeply and broadly embraced by society so as to address the increasing sustainability challenges amicably. Thus, in the wake of increasing, rapid, interconnected, and large-scale ecological and social change, research has to emphasize on the nexus between society and nature. Humankind cannot exist outside of the environment (Fischer et al., 2015; Arsene, n.d.). This is because both the history and evolution of humankind have their basis in the environment. Thus, people’s past and history are closely linked to their environment. Thus humanity can be placed at the center of history. Various scholars agree that history comprises people’s creations, ideas, actions, and conquests. Therefore, the environment is a key determinant of humankind’s history. Thus environmental history entails not only the opinions of ecologists but also those of anthropologists and historians. The detrimental impact of the human-nature relationship is also historical (Arsene, n.d.). For example, following the invention of fire, large tracks of land were reduced into grassland. Likewise, excessive hunting by people led to the extinction of various species of megafauna. Agricultural practices, further, led to intensified desertification. These scenarios highlight the relationship between humans and nature and the repercussions of this relationship (Arsene, n.d.). Thus, the dependence of people on nature for food and other needs, and the impact of this dependence significantly influence sustainability. Braito et al. (2017) argue that the relationship between humans and nature can be used in explaining environmental behavior. For instance, the relationship aids in recognizing the hierarchical views regarding nature and their impact on behavior. It also helps in fostering an understanding of environmental governance and communication. Such sustainability challenges as water scarcity, pollution, over-extraction of natural resources, and decline in biodiversity are attributed to anthropogenic activities. These present opportunities for human beings to reverse the trend by changing their attitudes and behaviors towards those that are pro-sustainability ( Braito et al., 2017). This is a challenging feat that entails the stimulation of a long-lasting shift towards ensuring balance exists between human-nature relationships. Human behavior is comprised of multiple variables, interactions, and circumstances that feature other people. Thus, understanding environmental behavior is not easy. However, its role in advancing sustainability cannot be overemphasized. One of the core elements of sustainability is the need to reconcile society’s human developmental goals with the long-term environmental limits of the planet (Kates, 2001). This shows that the environment and society are interdependent. This argument has enjoyed increased political acceptance and attention across the world (Kates, 2001). However, in recent decades efforts to re-engage the scientific fraternity on the need for a transition towards sustainability have intensified. As a result, sustainability has evolved to become a phenomenon that entails a sequence of interrelated transitions, a process of both social learning and adaptive management, and also a set of various indicators and future scenarios (Kates, 2001). In sustainability, the most vital element that ought to be sustained is nature’s life-support systems, in particular, those that support human life. These are the natural resources and environments from which services such as recreation, absorption of pollution, and cleaning amongst other services are derived. However, nature has to be sustained in totality including its biodiversity and life form assemblages such as different species of flora and fauna (Kuhlman & Farrington, 2010). These should be sustained due to the utility derived from them by humans but also as a moral obligation. This is because while humans are the most important occupants of the planet, other living beings have an equal right to both sustenance and existence. On the other hand, what is to be developed is often recognized as the economy which is associated with such features as employment, income, consumption, human and physical capital investments, and, lastly environmental restoration and maintenance (Kuhlman & Farrington, 2010; Kates 2001). Another key emphasis is people-centered development. This entails enhanced quantity of life through human survival, enhanced life expectancy, and enhanced quality of life which can be attained by promoting quality education and equal opportunities (Seymour, 2016). Further, the society itself ought to be developed through increased well-being and increased security of institutions, national states as well as regions. Overall, therefore, and informed by the arguments above, the relationship between nature and human beings plays an irreplaceable role in the advancement of sustainability. 

References  

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