A history of poorly managed and irresponsible development practices has
amounted to a great loss of vital natural resources as basic as fresh water and
lumber. The economically and socially disadvantaged in global societies are
fundamentally effected by this loss. Millions now face slum-like living conditions
as well as a scarcity of secure access to clean drinking water. In September of
2000, the world’s leading development institutions and 191 countries in the
United Nations signed the Millennium Development Goals resolution in order to
tackle mankind’s greatest problems. This collective commitment to establish
“a more peaceful, prosperous and just world” addresses specific environmental
development objectives. The number of people living without secure access
to clean drinking water is to be cut in half and the living conditions of at least
100 million slum dwellers is to be improved.

Every nation and institution that signed the Millennium Development Goals resolution
is equally charged with the responsibility to address this escalating problem.
Environmental sustainability through sustainable development practices
must be increasingly integrated into the political and programmatic efforts of
global governments, clear benchmarks must be established to assess and
encourage the progress of these and future efforts and today’s global youth
must be actively engaged in the entire process.

In a recently published Yale and Columbia University joint study in collaboration
with the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland and the Joint Research
Center of the European Commission in Ispra, Italy, a first real attempt was made to
base the developmental efforts on clear, quantifiable metrics. Data from 133 countries
filtered through 16 unique measures and indicators for environmental protection
were worked into the Pilot 2006 EPI (environmental performance index).
Those were subdivided into the two aspects of Environmental Health and six
underlying aspects of Environmental Vitality including air quality, water resources,
biodiversity and habitat, productive natural resources, and sustainable energy.

For every category there was a maximum reachable score established
which simplified the process of evaluating the performance of each country.
Countries that outperformed in a specific categories were given a 100
percent score in order set a benchmark to reasonably assess performance.

Although many countries achieved outstanding results in specific categories,
no single nation was able to perform well across all categories.
Top ranked New Zealand and Sweden achieved exceptionally high scores
in “Environmental Health” and individual categories in “Environmental
Vitality” based on its ability to manage its supply of water and other productive
natural resources. As well-industrialized and wealthy nations with
strong GDP, strong sweeping achievement in all categories was expected in
addition to its achievement in individual categories. However, as was characteristic
of fellow nations, the biodiversity of habitats and air quality had
suffered greatly from industrial and technical advancement. In contrast,
emerging and developing countries such as Namibia, Rwanda or Uganda,
which are middle or bottom ranked nations, achieved superior results in the
Vitality sector but lacked in Environmental Health.

This study illustrates the need for every country, to improve its efforts to protect
the environment and improve the living conditions of its inhabitants.
Each country must assess its unique performance across all categories and
engage its citizens in a collective effort to shift the paradigm of environmental
development. Educating today’s generation about the threat facing the
environment and the steps that can be taken to achieve a sustainable future
is vital. The next generation of a country’s inhabitants will inherit either the
consequences of its apathy or the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of its
commitment to address the environmental issues of today.

Educational platforms to engage global youth and encourage environmental
development efforts have to be provided. A group of young people from all
over the world is planning and leading a series of debates and panel discussions
with scientists from diverse backgrounds, leading industrials and representatives
from departments of education and the environment.

As governments and major institutions work to improve environmental conditions
and sustainability, The Sustainable Future Initiative will lead a yearlong
effort to introduce tangible steps the world’s youth can take to support
the success of this Millennium Development Goal

Sustainable Future Campaign Objectives:

Creation of political awareness of the policy needed for communities to support sustainable development

Analysis of sustainable development and its regional, national and international impacts

Sensitization of opinion leaders and the general public for the concern the United Nations maintains on the issue of sustainable development.

Support of the UN Millenium Development Goals