The idea of sustainability is heavily contested amongst different groups of people for a multitude of reasons. It is generally accepted that sustainability consists of three factors that contribute to an ideal society: financial, environmental and social stability. However, on a larger scale, it is often not considered by governments and other decision makers, who focus on sustainability of their own people almost exclusively, while letting other communities suffer. Often, this involves prioritizing social and financial stability, while neglecting the environmental aspect. The effect of this view is seen in disadvantaged communities that are suffering the consequences of our disregard for global sustainability. People of smaller island nations
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Locations such as the Marshall Islands and Kiribati are extremely low lying and are especially subject to sea level rise, particularly because of the large proportion of their populations living coastally. Homes, farming and infrastructure are all under threat because of sea level rise, putting the entire population, even those living inland, at great risk. Another effect of climate change for the locals is coral bleaching. Not only does this impact the rich culture and history of the people who hold the coral dear and decrease tourism to the area, but coral bleaching also means that there are less fish in the surrounding waters. This is an issue because these fish are the main source of protein for most of the people in Kiribati and other pacific islands. Other effects of climate change for the region include more intense droughts and cyclones, as well as more severe outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, coming from contaminated drinking water caused by differences in rainfall patterns and an increase in temperatures. According to James J. McCarthy, a Harvard University oceanographer, “They didn 't cause the problem, but they are among the first to feel it." This kind of neglect for our neighbors is not only unsustainable, but also inhumane. It is also where our stakeholder’s view on climate change becomes problematic, because of the fact that our actions are leading to the suffering of others, but also because the Pacific islands are "like the canary in the coal mine in terms of the dramatic impact of climate change on a whole civilization of people”. What we see happening currently in Kiribati and other similar nations is extremely indicative of what we can expect to see in a country like Australia in the future, due to climate change. It is because of this that governments’ and power
Locations such as the Marshall Islands and Kiribati are extremely low lying and are especially subject to sea level rise, particularly because of the large proportion of their populations living coastally. Homes, farming and infrastructure are all under threat because of sea level rise, putting the entire population, even those living inland, at great risk. Another effect of climate change for the locals is coral bleaching. Not only does this impact the rich culture and history of the people who hold the coral dear and decrease tourism to the area, but coral bleaching also means that there are less fish in the surrounding waters. This is an issue because these fish are the main source of protein for most of the people in Kiribati and other pacific islands. Other effects of climate change for the region include more intense droughts and cyclones, as well as more severe outbreaks of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, coming from contaminated drinking water caused by differences in rainfall patterns and an increase in temperatures. According to James J. McCarthy, a Harvard University oceanographer, “They didn 't cause the problem, but they are among the first to feel it." This kind of neglect for our neighbors is not only unsustainable, but also inhumane. It is also where our stakeholder’s view on climate change becomes problematic, because of the fact that our actions are leading to the suffering of others, but also because the Pacific islands are "like the canary in the coal mine in terms of the dramatic impact of climate change on a whole civilization of people”. What we see happening currently in Kiribati and other similar nations is extremely indicative of what we can expect to see in a country like Australia in the future, due to climate change. It is because of this that governments’ and power