“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
The three pillars of sustainability are based on sustainable growth: financial, environmental and social sustainability.

It can only be accomplished if these three elements have a balance or trade-off.
It is essential for a nation to achieve financial growth. But what if it goes down to the degradation of the environment? With globalization opening the doors to economic development for so many nations, there is severe concern about the extent to which we can save the environment and not hamper its constituents.
The environment performs four crucial functions:

Supplying Resources: The environment contains both renewable (air, water, land) and non-renewable (fossil fuels) resources. While the former are re-usable and do not get depleted soon, non-renewable resources come with the fear of depletion.
Assimilating Waste: Economic activities generate waste which the environment absorbs through natural processes.
Sustenance of Life: The environment comprises abiotic components that aid the living of biotic components. In the absence of elements such as air, water, land, etc. there would be no life on the planet.
Aesthetic Value: The environment adds aesthetic value to life. The mountains, oceans, seas, landmasses and other scenery of the environment enhance the quality of life.

Over the past few years, economic operations such as manufacturing and consumption have resulted to degradation of the environment. This can be recognized by the reality that the environment has a certain carrying capacity. If the rate of resource extraction exceeds the level of its regeneration, the environment will fail to carry out its activities.
The resulting phenomenon is called environmental degradation.

Resources are limited and therefore, their over utilization is leading to their extinction. The waste generated is also exceeding the absorptive capacity of the environment.

Due to excessive waste dumping, rivers and other waterways are becoming increasingly polluted. This has resulted to bad consumption water quality.

Global Environmental Crisis Environmental degradation can be divided into specific issues plaguing the worldwide community, as in the following:-
1. Global Warming

2. Ozone Layer Depletion