Rio Summit: Critical Issues : JOBS

Thursday, July 10, 2025

Rio Summit: Critical Issues

DISASTERS

Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, floods, droughts and more come in many forms and virtually no place on earth is immune to them. Such events shape our planet and affect where and how we live.

Apart from being dangerous to humans, these events lead to financial losses, environmental loss and loss of human life. Characteristically, the poor section of the society is the worst hit for they have the least resources to cope and rebuild. When disasters like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes strike as the poor are already so much under the burden of debt.

But a little bit of planning and making a smart choice can actually go a long way in helping people and places to withstand these impacts and recover quickly.

OCEANS

Oceans are one of the Earth’s most valuable natural resources. They comprise about 71% of the Earth’s surface and are incalculably an important aspect of all forms of life on the mighty planet.

Ocean and seas play an important role in keeping a check and regulating the environment by removing carbon from the atmosphere and providing oxygen. They are also an enormous source of biomedical organisms which help in fighting many diseases. Not just this, oceans are an important source of fishing, mining, transportation etc.

So, it is essential to protect this global natural resource for a sustainable future.

WATER

The day is not far when the saying will come true that “Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink”. Perhaps nothing is as serious at present as securing the future of our water resources. Although, there is sufficient amount of clean water present on the planet but bad management of this essential resource is the major factor behind its scarcity.

An advancing shortage of safe drinking water leads to death of millions of people annually due to lack of sanitation and hygiene. Further, this lack of access to safe water supplies leads to global food crisis and this chain reaction paves way for malnutrition which further contributes to nearly half of child deaths globally.

So, it is time that we streamlined processes to conserve this essential resource gifted by Mother Nature.

FOOD

It is hard to imagine what it must be like to be constantly hungry. What an irony it is that many of us have so much to eat that more than 1.5 billion adults, aged 20 and older, are overweight as per the World Health Organisation estimates. Yet at the same time, in other parts of the world, millions are starving.

In the year 1996 the World Food Summit said that food security would only exist “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.”

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation, the world produces enough food to provide every person with more than 2,700 calories per day, which is more than the recommended amount for an average adult. But, still there are countless stomachs that starve for food not because of lack of production of food, but because of a crippled agricultural system and devastating impacts of climate change on our farming system.

It is a fact that we have been relying on the same food practices that were used since the primitive times when the invention of agriculture took place, but in this 21st century, it is the need of the hour to intensely rethink about these practices and find new ways of feeding the planet. We have to search for ways to conserve our food cultural heritage without hampering the environment.

CITIES

Cities are a major source of important elements like trade and commerce, innovation, environment, energy, utilities, governance and delivery of services. They play a critical role in enabling people’s advancement, both socially and economically.

But, due to urbanisation, there has been a growing pressure on the cities around the world because of job opportunities which in turn puts a pressure on land and natural resources. Apart from this, a city also faces other challenges like overcrowding, lack of basic services, shortage of resources, pollution, poverty and declining infrastructure.

So, it is the need of the hour that we pay attention to all these problems.

ENERGY

Energy is an important resource and is fundamental to the quality of our lives. Nowadays, we are entirely dependent on continuous supply of energy for living, working and for many other essential works; so, access to energy for everyone is essential.

Lately, more and more nations are keen to use sustainable energy systems in order to satisfy their growing energy demand. Sustainable or renewable energy is important for improving an economy, protecting our ecological systems and achieving equity.

World has come to a point where it has to not only satisfy ever-growing energy demand but also achieve this without putting a pressure on our natural resources. And renewable energy sources are the best option.

JOBS

The world at present is facing many sustainable development challenges like food crisis, energy crisis, climate change and financial crisis. So, with the economic recession taking a toll on various job opportunities, Green jobs are one area that is expected to provide greater financial stability and help save the future of many families.

In 2007, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) jointly launched the Green Jobs Initiative.

More than 2.3 million green jobs have been created in the renewable energy sector in recent years.

Green jobs lay more emphasis on the generation of renewable energy, lesser greenhouse emissions, conservation of natural resources, and minimise wastage and pollution.

Green jobs basically include agriculture, plantation and other such practices that help in restoring and preserving environment quality.

By: Shruti Saxena