Systems Thinking Is Critical in Developing Solutions to Sustainability Challenges - Coursework Example

Systems thinking Name: Course Instructor’s name Institution Date Systems thinking is critical in developing solutions to sustainability challenges The challenges that the world faces can only be solved by employing systemic thinking. The aim of the essay is to present the need to maintain pristine ecosystems in the oceans. This is because human beings are starting to see the myopic nature of the dilution philosophy. In addition, there is the need for isolated efforts in restoring the ocean ecosystem so to meet the success. Therefore this essay suggests a method of using the critical thinking to solve the problems of ocean pollution. First the essay introduces the background to the problem, and then gives specific facts and sustainable development solutions of solving the problem. That is equal to one municipal trash truck taking to the beach and dumping its contents there each minute (Kennish, 1996). Although the oceans may look extensive enough to accommodate much of plastic, the waste level is beginning to reach point of crisis. As per the Ocean Conservancy report, by 2025, the ocean may have a ton of plastic in every three tons of finfish (Barboza and Gimenez 2015 p11). All the floating plastic bits, beginning from plastics of micron size to the ones like can rings of six pack, disrupt the ocean ecosystem as well as poisoning seafood global supply. Plastics break down to fine pieces which resemble planktons and are consumed by each one from planktons to the whales. Plastics behave like pollution sponge while in the ocean (Sammarco, et al, 2013 p131). in as much as plastic enters the ocean; approximately 20% of the garbage originate from offshore platforms and ships. The other percentage is from trash that is blown into the ocean, picked from the beach by the tides, deliberate dumping of trash, careless handling, accidentally lost, or left behind by those that go to the beach. Garbage can also end up in the ocean by being carried by rivers or drainage systems from municipals. Major plastic trash inputs is from sources based on land especially densely populated areas or areas that are industrialized (Rios and Jones 2015). mostly in the likeness of packaging. Chemicals from the plastics get released into the water and also the atmosphere. These chemicals easily contaminate the fish in the water. Worse of it is that plastics are non-biodegradable, therefore they break down to very small pieces which sea mammals and fish consume. This leads to death of many of such creatures. The critical question then is how can nations stem the leakage of plastic wastes into the oceans yet it is coming from numerous sources? The report from the ocean conservative put forward five options: services for waste collection, incineration and gasification of wastes, recycling facilities and closing the leakage loops in the collection system. Average waste collection is hardly above 40% implying that most of the wastes end up as trash. Plastic leakage can be cut by about 50% by 2020 (Sale et al, 2014, p 21) just by stretching systems of collection and closing up their points of leakage. Averagely approximately 40 per cent of garbage is in fact collected for dumping. However it is not just the waste not picked up that floats around, although this is only three quarter of the challenge. The other one fourth of the plastics in the ocean is from after- collection activities. Also at cases where the waste is collected by the management company to landfill it, the garbage still may end up in the oceans if the landfill is not insulated or damping is done illegally. We need to understand that a country cannot recycle its way out of the challenge. This is because about 20% only of the trash can be valued enough to be justify the worth of recycling; the remaining requires to taken to plants of waste- to-energy or sanitary landfills. This therefore means that a country needs to focus on the basics of trash management (Birnie and Boyle, 1992). Though it may not be pretty to build incinerators and landfills, but this option is fur much better because it is more eco- friendly than just letting the garbage into the oceans of the world. The challenge of plastic pollution in mankind is spread globally and there is no one who is not exposed (Eriksen, et al, 2013 p179). Though, as members of this delicate ecosystem, the one and most effective thing we can do is to be very accountable with our garbage. At the moment we have the chance, as much as possible we should try not to buy products which are packaged in plastic. In addition it would be wise if we after we use plastics we recycle them. Further at the shop, ask for a paper bag rather than plastic, or even come with your own. Try to use water bottles that are reusable and most importantly do no litter. The tendency of humans not to be accountable concerning cleaning up is likely to lead us into trouble. There is the risk of losing many ocean species in addition to affecting ourselves negatively. This is due to the fact that an average individual generates plastic garbage of about half a pound every day. This is perhaps the reason why the oceans are filling up. It can be supposed that a portion of the problem is that we do not recognize how this problem starts with an individual. Obviously there are styles of life that we need to change so as to solve such problem (Kennish, 1996). We only need to have the will to accept the problem and look past our negligence. The state also has to make legislations on plastics in case anything is going to change (Birnie and Boyle, 1992). But what surprises most is that there very little or no information is on the websites of the government concerning ocean pollution. Therefore it can be thought that they are not ready to face or address the issue because it is very costly. Nevertheless, treaties can be formed to reduce the quantity of garbage getting into the oceans. Such grassroots organization will be critical towards the oceans preservation by attempting hard to get information regarding this disastrous pollution. It is also very crucial that all of us should actually be involved because this is the responsibility of every individual. It is therefore very significant that we need to make such changes before it becomes very late when all life in the ocean gets killed or our own selves. Education is the most powerful tool when it comes to addressing the problem of ocean pollution particularly when the discussion is done in schools. Young people can change the habits relatively easy as well as spreading awareness to families and the community at large and can speed up for change. Because land based sources generate significant input of ocean’s plastic debris, then if a society develops awareness of the menace, and have the will to respond to it, then it will truly make an important change (Sale et al, 2014 p13). The power that education can impart is more strong and can be very effective than firm laws, and therefore it should never be undervalued. Also there may be necessity for financial incentives as there can be no strength that can be put to conserve pollution of the oceans in the absence of public and economic policies that propel the current world. Also there are other more complex aspects of the plastic pollution problem. As this could be viewed as a side- effect of advancement, countries that are undergoing development in their economy will look for their growth share, while putting growing pressure on the ecosystem (Birnie, and Boyle, 1992). There is therefore no likelihood of such countries to carry out any step so as to reduce plastic use or its dumping to the oceans, in the event that it could compromise economic gain in the short- term. Particularly, when countries from developed world become careless themselves and fail to abide with the requirements. One probability to alleviate the problem is the generation and use of photodegradable and biodegradable plastics (Derraik, 2002). For example, the US Navy was experimenting on a biopolymer that was promising for the construction of disposable marine garbage bags. Unluckily, the impacts of the last degradation products the materials were unknown and hence there was the danger of replacing one problem with another. Hence the studies were conducted, for instance to close check degeneration of the polymers under actual life conditions in natural water and also assess the effect of the products of degradation on estuarine benthos. Finally every sector of the society needs to take its own steps. Global thinking and local acting is a key attitude towards reducing such a threat to the ecosystem. A combination of the improvement of ecological awareness by means of education and legislation probably is the ultimate way to find answers to such ecological problems. The common public as well as the scientific community also has the accountability of making sure those businesses and governments change their approaches towards the issue of pollution in oceans. It is however sure that ecological threats that threaten the biodiversity of the oceans such as plastic debris pollution ought to be addressed with urgency. References Barboza, L. and Gimenez, B. (2015). Microplastics in the marine environment: Current trends and future perspectives. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 97(1-2), pp.5-12. Barboza, L. and Gimenez, B. (2015). Microplastics in the marine environment: Current trends and future perspectives. 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Impacts of pollution on coastal and marine ecosystems including coastal and marine fisheries and approach for management: a review and synthesis. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 48(7-8), pp.624-649. Read More