Sustainable economies across the world need a firm value system to thrive. There is no need gainsaying that.
Each time I happen to reflect on the current state of things in Nigeria and how much awareness we have about changing things and making things work, I usually have to come to a conclusion that that much needs to be done in terms of creating awareness on how we can make this same world we live a lot better.
Now, I will first want to ask my readers these questions. What are you doing currently to earn a living? Can this same job you do now be done by you when you become old?
I am often baffled when I see energetic youths doing little to improve themselves. If in your youthful age, you engages in an occupation that requires lot of risk or the dispensing of much energy to do little, e.g crushing stones manually using sledge hammer, Okada riding, truck driving amongst other energy tasking jobs should as a way of planning for their future learn a new skill that will surely require less stress and yet be able to keep them running financially and otherwise.
Think of a less stressful venture like poultry keeping, sales of provision in front of the house and so on.
When we embrace eco-friendly behaviours, create jobs that support sustainable sectors, and invest in renewable energy, we can achieve economic sustainability. It entails lowering our carbon footprint, eliminating waste, and promoting self-sufficiency through local companies and projects.
We can assure that we are protecting the environment and our economy for future generations in this manner. Sustainable economies are a method of thinking about how we might thrive and succeed while minimizing our impact on the environment and future generations.
Here’s a straightforward but inventive approach to convey the notion of sustainable economies:
Assume you have a large cake that you would like to share with your friends and family. You can cut the cake into pieces and serve it to everyone, but You should also set aside some money for yourself and for tomorrow. How do you decide how much cake to give out and how much to retain for yourself?
One alternative is to be greedy and take the largest piece while giving everyone else a tiny slice. This may temporarily make you happy, but it will also make your friends and family sad and upset. They may refuse to share anything with you in the future, or they may attempt to steal your cake. This is not a sustainable method of cake sharing because it breeds conflict and anger.
Another alternative is to be generous and serve everyone a large slice of cake, keeping only a little bit for yourself. This may provide joy and gratitude to your friends and family, but it may also leave you hungry and miserable.
You may not have enough cake for yourself or tomorrow, and you may regret giving too much out. This is also not a sustainable method of distributing the cake because it leads to feelings of deprivation and regret.
Another alternative is to be fair and balanced, giving everyone a reasonable slice of cake while keeping a reasonable piece for yourself. This may satisfy and please you and your friends and family because everyone gets enough cake to eat but not too much to squander. You also have some cake left over for yourself and tomorrow, so you may anticipate having more later.
This is a sustainable method of cake sharing since it promotes harmony and happiness.
Sustainable economies are analogous to the third choice for splitting the cake. They seek to ensure a good quality of life for people now without jeopardizing future generations’ ability to meet their own needs.
They also strive to stay within the planet’s boundaries and avoid producing environmental issues such as climate change, pollution, or biodiversity loss. Sustainable economies employ economic mechanisms such as taxes, incentives, laws, or innovation to stimulate environmentally and socially beneficial activities while discouraging damaging activities.
Sustainable economies are not only good for the environment, but they are also beneficial for business since they can provide new opportunities, cut costs, and boost productivity Increase efficiency and competitiveness
Businesses in Nigeria can benefit from a sustainable economy if the government:
1. Provides incentives and creates an enabling environment for change. In this situation, incentives could include business tax benefits and greater R&D investment in energy and infrastructure.
2. Work from home to lower your carbon footprint.
3. Switch to more environmentally friendly modes of transportation.
4. Print less and double-sided to become paperless or reduce paper waste.
5. Get rid of single-use items.
6. Make use of and recycle
7. Collaborate with local vendors.
8. Make the switch to eco-friendly items.
9. Volunteering in the community.
And there is more…
– Gbenga Omosola. ( Writer, columnist )
