Politics in Minutes (2016)

Sustainability and resources

Moving towards sustainable development - the rational use of resources to meet current and future human needs, without inflicting irreversible damage to the environment - is a fundamental principle of Green politics. Since the Industrial Revolution, humans have relied on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas to power the increasing needs of industry and domestic use. However, these resources are not only finite but also major pollutants contributing to climate change and global warming.

Green proposals for sustainable development include strict conservation of resources and the use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and tidal power, rather than nuclear power or continued extraction of fossil fuels. Opposed to GM crops, environmentalists campaign for environmentally friendly farming practices, conservation and a more equitable distribution of resources, pointing out that Western nations consume a disproportionate amount of the world’s resources.