Blog 2- Sustainable Development in Switzerland

 

      For  this  blog  post,  the  UN  country  of Switzerland  will  be  the  main  focus.  The country  of  Switzerland  holds  few  of  the  world’s  natural  resources,  however,  the  country does  much  to  protect  the  natural  resources  it does  hold.  Among  the  few  natural  resources  in Switzerland  are  water,  supplying  water  power, granite,  limestone,  and  salt.  In  addition  to  these  natural  resources,  Switzerland  also  uses much  of  the  available  land  for  agriculture purposes,  which  makes  ensuring  responsible  consumption  and  production  all  the  more  important. 

       Currently, Switzerland uses several methods in an attempt to responsibly consume and produce these natural resources, among those methods are that of recycling (Switzerland 2020a). According to the latest reports, Switzerland citizens recycle 94% of glass, 81% of PET containers, and 90% of aluminum (Switzerland, 2020a). The Swiss citizens tend to view recycling as a way of ensuring both land and water will remain unpolluted, and continue to be usable.  In addition to this, Switzerland also has essentially electrified railways which run every 12 minutes throughout the country (Switzerland, 2020b). Not only is this mode of transportation widely used, but it also prevents from roadways being built on agriculture land, as well as air pollution (Switzerland, 2020b).

      The country of Switzerland is one of the most eco-conscious within the UN and in addition to the previously mentioned methods of responsible consumption and production, the country of Switzerland also works to educate and incentivize their citizens to be eco-conscious as well.  Due to these policies, the public sector of Switzerland is increasingly requiring environmentally friendly, and resource-saving products (House of Switzerland, n/d). Along with this, more Swiss companies are repairing products, or replacing components, as opposed to buying all new, as well as relying on locally generated renewable energy, in order to reduce environmental impacts (House of Switzerland, n/d).

      Although not all of the initiatives for responsible consumption and production in Switzerland are mentioned above, several of the methods are. As Switzerland has long since been viewed as one of the most eco-conscious countries, perhaps some other countries will begin to take a look at Swiss methods, and even consider modeling their own methods after it.

 

 

      

   References    

Switzerland. (2020a). Switzerland- a nation of recyclers. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/planning/about-switzerland/sustainability/switzerland-nation-of-recyclers/.

Switzerland (2020b), Railway network: every 12 minutes a train. https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/planning/about-switzerland/sustainability/sustainable-activities/railway-network-every-12-minutes-a-train/.  

House of Switzerland. (n/d). Key aspects of environmental protection in Switzerland. https://www.houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/environment/key-aspects-environmental-protection-switzerland.

Blog 1- Sustainable Development in Sweden

           The goal which will be focused on throughout this blog will be sustainable  development goal (SDG) number 12; ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns. Among the many goals of the SDG, goal number 12 focuses on the sustainability of the environment, and finding eco-conscious solutions to keep the environment clean. The current COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a great deal on why sustainability is such an important factor in today’s world.            Recently, an article was written comparing climate change to COVID-19, describing how the similarities show a necessity for more eco-conscious choice throughout the world. In this article, the authors begin by mentioning how both climate change and COVID-19 are similar in the way of being difficult to manage in a realistic long-term way (Manzanedo & Manning, 2020). In addition to this, the authors also demonstrate the similarities between the two in the regard of social inequality, neither the pandemic nor climate change equally effect social groups throughout nations (Manzanedo & Manning, 2020). Manzanedo and Manning (2020) also make the comparison as to how it is generally more cost-effective to work towards preventing, rather than curing both climate change, and COVID-19.         Given that the pandemic is ongoing, it is difficult to say definitively, however Manzanedo & Manning (2020) suggest that there is evidence which shows a correlation between a lowered spread of COVID-19, and a consistent public message, rather than inconsistent. Although this has not been proven in both the case of COVID-19, nor climate change, in taking a look at the consistent sustainability practices within the United Nations country of Sweden, one could see some evidence that this is the case with climate change in that country.               According to the official website of Sweden (2020a), the current sustainability practices used within the country began as an attempt to limit carbon emissions within the country. Attached is a photo which shows the carbon emissions in Sweden, versus those of other countries. Over time, this goal has grown and evolved, as has the country as a whole. Currently, Sweden has one of the fastest urbanization rates in Europe (Sweden, 2020b). In many countries, high rates of urbanization have led to the disappearance of green spaces, as well as clean air and energy. Instead of allowing for this, the country of Sweden decided to found the first urban national park, and redevelop industrial areas in to energy efficient housing, as well as extending tram routes (Sweden, 2020b).  Additionally, Sweden is currently partnered with energy companies, universities, and homebuilders in order to test a smart-energy grid system and other energy-efficient options (Sweden, 2020b).

The efforts of sustaining the land in Sweden are not the only sustainability practices in use within Sweden. Currently, multiple cities within Sweden promote the use of cycling, as well as urban gardening, and using trees as the main source of energy for heat and air (Sweden, 2016). Several cities also have also begun to use the body heat of people as a source of energy for small appliances and low-energy technologies (Sweden, 2016). In addition to the efforts of renewable energy sources, citizens within Sweden also employ tactics that United States citizens also attempt; that of recycling. According to the website of Sweden, 88% of aluminum cans and PET bottles are recycled in Sweden, as of 2019 (Sweden, 2019). Along with this, domestic food waste is rotted and eventually turned in to biogas, which fuels cars, and leads to less than 1% of household waste ending up in landfills (Sweden, 2019).

The time and thought which Sweden has put in to sustainability of land, finding renewable energy sources, recycling, and involving citizens have led to it being one of the greenest countries within the United nations. The emphasis put on the sustainable development goal of ensuring sustainable consumption and production within Sweden has also led to the current COVID-19 pandemic having less of a negative environmental impact. The sustainable technologies coming forth from this country are truly amazing, and incredibly impactful on the success of the sustainable development goals of the United Nations.

 

 

                                                            References

Manzanedo, R. D., & Manning, P. (2020). COVID-19: Lessons for the climate change emergency. Science of the Total Environment, 742, N.PAG. https://doi-org.ezp.twu.edu/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140563

Sustainable Development Goals Partnership Platform., (2020). Goal 12. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/partnerships/goal12/

Sweden. (22 July, 2020a). Safeguarding the future. https://sweden.se/climate/

Sweden. (29 April, 2020b). Climate-smart cities. https://sweden.se/climate/#climate-smart-cities

Sweden. (21 June, 2016). 7 examples of sustainability in Sweden. https://sweden.se/nature/7-examples-of-sustainability-in-sweden/

Sweden. (20 December, 2019). #4 Swedes are green. 10 Swedish Myths Uncovered. https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/10-swedish-myths-uncovered/