what does it mean for a society to be envoronmentally sustainable?

Question

Do you feel that the USA is an environmentally sustainable society? (support with specifics)

Answer 1

For a society to be environmentally sustainable, they have to be able to support themselves with their own resources, and live in such a way that it does not greatly impact the environment. The US is far from being environmentally sustainable. We are cutting down forests and destroying wetlands to build subdivisions and shopping centers. We are destroying forests to build furniture, or burn wood for fuel. We are thinking of drilling oil in Alaska, because we have nearly depleted almost all our other sources. We rely on foreign oil, which has passed its peak production. To be sustainable, one thing we must do is find other energy sources besides oil and natural gas. These products will not be readily available in the future. Sure, there will still be some, but it will be too expensive to use. That, and our society is focused on convenience, not on what has the most minimal impact on the environment.

Answer 2

No we are not Environmentally sustainable! We pour pollutants into the environment constantly! We cut down trees and slash and burn for farm land.
The rain forests are disappearing. Animal habitats are shrinking and animals are encroaching on man.
The air is bad and getting worse, the water is badly polluted. Toxic waste dumps are proliferating, and radioactive waste is still not being handled. Cars and trucks spew noxiuos fumes everywhere.
Power plants pour out 8lbs of pollutants for every hour a 100 watt light bulb burns. Natural gas plants belch hot gases and run the gas price through the roof.