Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
192
INCREASING ROLE OF THE NATURAL FACTOR IN
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Rakhmatova Zilola Yurevna
New Uzbekistan University
Westminster International University in Tashkent
ORCID: 0009-0000-4077-2169
Abstract.
This article examines the escalating importance of natural factors in sustainable
development, spotlighted by the adverse consequences of historical exploitative environmental
practices. These practices have generated a colossal ecological and social debt, manifesting as severe
environmental crises that undermine global stability. A paradigm shift towards sustainable
development is imperative for fostering security, equality, and harmony between human societies
and the biosphere. Sustainable development, though conceptually elusive, fundamentally aims to
redefine the interaction between human civilization and the natural environment for enduring
coexistence.
Keywords:
sustainable development, natural factors, ecological debt, renewable energy,
biodiversity conservation, non-renewable resources, economic development, climate regulation
BARQAROR RIVOJLANISHDA TABIIY OMIL ROLINING ORTISHI
Raxmatova Zilola Yurevna
Yangi O‘zbekiston universiteti
Toshkent xalqaro Vestminster universiteti
Annotatsiya.
Ushbu maqolada barqaror rivojlanishda tabiiy omillarning ortib borayotgan
ahamiyati ko'rib chiqiladi, tarixiy ekspluatatsion ekologik amaliyotlarning salbiy oqibatlariga
e'tibor qaratiladi. Ushbu amaliyotlar global barqarorlikka putur yetkazadigan og'ir ekologik
inqirozlar sifatida namoyon bo'ladigan ulkan ekologik va ijtimoiy qarzni keltirib chiqardi. Barqaror
rivojlanish sari paradigmaga oʻtish insoniyat jamiyatlari va biosfera oʻrtasidagi xavfsizlik, tenglik va
uygʻunlikni mustahkamlash uchu
n zarurdir. Barqaror rivojlanish, garchi kontseptual jihatdan qiyin
bo'lsa-da, inson tsivilizatsiyasi va birgalikda yashash uchun tabiiy muhit o'rtasidagi o'zaro ta'sirni
qayta aniqlashga qaratilgan.
Kalit so'zlar:
barqaror rivojlanish, tabiiy omillar, ekologik qarz, qayta tiklanadigan energiya,
bioxilma-xillikni saqlash, qayta tiklanmaydigan resurslar, iqtisodiy rivojlanish, iqlimni tartibga
solish.
UO
‘
K: 504.06
IV SON - APREL, 2024
192-198
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
193
ВОЗРАСТАЮЩАЯ РОЛЬ ПРИРОДНОГО ФАКТОРА В УСТОЙЧИВОМ РАЗВИТИИ
Рахматова Зилола Юрьевна
Университет Новый Узбекистан
Вестминстерский международный университет в Ташкенте
Аннотация.
В этой статье рассматривается растущая важность природных
факторов в устойчивом развитии, подчеркнутая неблагоприятными последствиями
исторической эксплуатации окружающей среды. Эта практика породила колоссальный
экологический и социальный долг, который проявляется в виде серьезных экологических
кризисов, которые подрывают глобальную стабильность. Смена парадигмы в сторону
устойчивого развития необходима для укрепления безопасности, равенства и гармонии
между человеческими обществами и биосферой. Устойчивое развитие, хотя и
концептуально неуловимое, по своей сути направлено на переосмысление взаимодействия
между человеческой цивилизацией
и природной средой для обеспечения устойчивого
сосуществования.
Ключевые слова:
устойчивое развитие, природные факторы, экологический долг,
возобновляемые источники энергии, сохранение биоразнообразия, не возобновляемые
ресурсы, экономическое развитие, регулирование климата.
Introduction.
This was largely due to an extractive and exploitative attitude towards the natural
environment, treating its resources as though they were infinite, and relying upon a sharp inter-
generational inequality such that the interests and welfare of the currently existing generation
could be advanced at the expense of future generations. This has led to the erosion of sustainable
systems and the massive buildup of global ecological and social debt, which manifests as a series
of interlocking and increasingly severe environmental problems that threaten global stability and
security. This recognition of unsustainable development has led to the search for a new
development path that can provide greater security and equality for the world's oppressed
peoples, and greater harmony within human society, and also between human society and the
biosphere. This must involve a long-term strategy of transition to sustainable social, economic,
and ecological systems, and it is this transition to sustainable systems that we refer to as
sustainable development.
A more exact definition of the overall goals for sustainable development has proved
remarkably elusive. There are several reasons for this, not least that the concept has proven to be
politically and rhetorically extraordinarily useful, and so has been stretched and adapted to a
variety of different purposes. Nevertheless, it is widely agreed that at its core, sustainable
development represents a new approach to the relationship between the natural biosphere and
human society, one that is intended to last into the indefinite future. It is now widely understood
that the earlier modern period of industrialization, and in general the development strategy of the
industrial revolution that is still being played out in many parts of the world, has resulted in
massive social, economic, and environmental change, much of it negative in terms of the interests
of future generations (Meadows & Meadows, and other, 1972).
Natural factor is one of the important aspects in sustainable development. Thus, the first
question is why it is so important. The answer is, because without nature, sustainable
development will not be held. Sheng (2002) stated that nature is something that can provide
foundations for life and living. And living or human life is included as a part of nature. In this case,
what Sheng meant by it's the home for every living creature and life foundations. Life foundations,
which can be obtained in many forms, are ironic if we know that until nowadays we still try to find
a way to create an artificial way for a certain life foundation that can be obtained in nature.
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
194
"In terms of larger human societies, and the enormous heterogeneity that has prevailed
throughout the period of our habitation of the earth, it is factually known that the conditions of
well-being and welfare have been reflected in an incredible diverse number of forms." This
incredible diverse number is proof that nature can provide everything that humans need, which
sometimes in unexpected ways. As something that can provide everything that humans need, it's
clear that it will be difficult to find something that has the equivalent value with nature.
This part of the series of articles about the natural factor on sustainable development will
try to explain why nature is an important factor for sustainable development. This is the
importance of the natural factor. We can think of the importance of nature in sustainable
development as a reverse of the concept of sustainable development itself, which sustainable
development is about how to make development can maintain the current needs without
sacrificing future needs. So, the importance of nature is how to maintain future needs of nature
itself, because we must realize that until nowadays, the nature now is not the same as the past
nature.
Literature review.
Sustained Poverty Reduction (SPR) theories have attempted to explain development in
terms of unsustainable traditional and modern (sustainable) sectors. In these sectors, traditional
activities outweigh the carrying capacity of the environment and degrade the natural resource
base, leading to a declining trend in real per capita income.
An extension of this approach has been to use the "resource curse" theory, which claims that
the abundance of natural resources can be a curse on a nation by crowding out investment in
human capital and infrastructure. This leads to the development of a "Dutch disease," where an
increase in natural resource exports appreciates the local currency and reduces the
competitiveness of other exports, such as manufacturing.
Economists have used various approaches in attempts to show the role of natural resources
in economic development. Early development theories, Gerschenberg (1987), argued that the rate
of economic development of a society depended on the speed at which it transferred resources
from "primary" to "secondary" activities. Here, primary activities were considered to revolve
around the use of natural resources. Gerschenberg postulated that societies that were able to
"save" a higher proportion of their surplus from primary activities and invest it in secondary
activities would be growing at a faster rate.
Natural resources are the basis of production in an economy, as acknowledged by a growing
number of economists. Economic development is directly dependent on the productivity of
natural resources, such as land and water. This important role of natural resources revolves
around the concept of sustainability, in the sense that the economy will be sustainable as long as
there is an adequate natural resource base (Stern, 2007).
Analysis and results.
Currently the most significant problem hindering the progress of sustainable development
is the increasing use of non-renewable energy. Fossil fuels provide around 80% of the world's
energy despite the fact that their reserves are being depleted at a rapid rate. It is the high energy
and low cost efficiency of fossil fuels which means they are more attractive to developing countries
than renewable alternatives. Once the energy from a fossil fuel is released it cannot be replaced
and so it is a finite resource. This has two implications, firstly there will come a point when the
cost of extraction will outweigh the benefit gained from using the fuel. A good example is UK coal
mining, coal reserves still exist in the UK but it is now cheaper to import the coal from abroad.
Secondly and most importantly it means that the use of fossil fuels is not sustainable.
When it is no longer a viable option to burn fossil fuels we will move to an age where the
only available energy is that from renewables but, if renewable resources are overused between
now and then it will leave a massive energy deficit and possibly lead to a global energy crisis. This
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
195
could be avoided if there was a greater understanding of energy conservation and efficiency and
if we were to make the transition to non-depletable energy sources (Costanza &
Arge, and other,1997).
Renewable resources are the backbone of sustainable development. So, to begin, we must
build an acceptable definition of a renewable resource. It could be described as something with
the potential to be replaced after it has been used, though the actual use and replacement may not
always occur. The Earth's resources of water, soils and vegetation are essential to human life and
are truly renewable. The output from them can be sustainable if it is within the regenerative
capacity of the resource, e.g. extraction of timber from a forest at a rate less than or equal to the
amount of new growth. However, the term renewable is perhaps most commonly associated with
energy resources.
Minerals are another form of non-renewable resource and are extracted from the earth's
crust. They have a wide range of uses and are often employed as raw materials to produce other
goods. Ores such as iron, copper, and bauxite are used to produce metal, while other minerals are
used in construction, electronics, and manufacturing. The abundance of mineral resources varies
and they are often a by-product of exploration for a more sought-after resource. Mineral extraction
can cause various forms of environmental damage, particularly open-cast mining which has left
vast scars on the landscape in many areas. The damage caused by mining is discussed in more
detail in a later section.
Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas are the most commonly used resources on the
planet. They were formed from organic matter over millions of years and in some cases up to 650
million years ago. Fossil fuels are high-density resources which produce a lot of energy when they
are burnt. This has made them highly sought after and they have been exploited at a great rate,
particularly since the industrial revolution. Because fossil fuels are so energy-rich and reserves
are being used up so quickly, it is likely that they will be depleted in the near future. This is
particularly the case for oil, which is the most versatile of the fossil fuels. Once oil reserves begin
to decline, it is likely that intense competition and conflict will occur between nations to secure
the last remaining oil supplies. This has the potential to greatly disrupt global stability and security
(Sachs, 2015).
Non-renewable resources consist of minerals and fossil fuels. They are considered non-
renewable because they take so long to form, and once they have been depleted there will be no
more available. This is in contrast to renewable resources which can reform given enough time,
which enforces the concept of sustainable development. Some non-renewable resources are
classified as 'exhaustible', which means that they will eventually run out. This has obvious
implications for future generations who will not benefit from the resources that have been
depleted.
The conservation of biodiversity is one of the most important tasks of sustainable
development. At the latest since the initiation of a "Convention on Biological Diversity," the
conservation of biodiversity has become a main theme on the UN's agenda for sustainable
development and, thus, member states of the United Nations have made a commitment to
"conserve biological diversity, use biological resources sustainably and share fairly and equitably
the benefits from the utilization of genetic resources." The efforts of the international community
are to be further specified in a "Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020" with 20 Aichi Targets,
which has been adopted in the context of the mentioned convention (Sachs, 2015).
The first, and most important, action for the conservation of biological diversity is to create
the set conditions, in order to avert a continued loss of species. Should the extinction rate remain
high, later generations would be forced to predominantly utilize future natural resources that are
today's common supply and mankind would be prevented from accessing as of yet unknown
possibilities for new technologies in various fields such as pharmaceuticals or biotechnology. With
these reasons in mind, and having noted the fact that habitat destruction is the primary cause of
species loss, it becomes imperative to lessen the expansion of arable land and increase the
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
196
efficiency of resource use in both agriculture and forestry. This would lead to the decrease in
global food supply demand, and reduce the areas of land that are abandoned and left to regenerate
or develop new uses. The effects of this action are categorically explained by the IPAT model, using
an identity describing an environmental impact as a function of population, affluence, and
technology. Here it is predicted that increased efficiency of resource use will directly affect the
reversing of cultivated land to natural land, as it will alter the amount of land which is needed to
sustain a particular population and level of affluence. However, reducing the expansion of arable
land will also require an effort to prevent land use change in tropical regions where soil conditions
allow for cultivation of cash crops. This can be done by increasing the revenue on such land whilst
providing an improved cost-effective alternative, in order to reduce rapidly increasing rate in
cultivated land area (IPCC, 2014).
Climate regulation
Carbon storage is vital in mitigating the impacts of greenhouse gases and global warming, a
service provided by forests and peatlands. By using a generic social cost of carbon estimate, the
value of carbon stored in the vegetation of the 3.7 billion hectares of tropical forests is about $2.5
trillion a year. At current global rates of deforestation, over 31.5 million hectares of tropical forests
are lost annually. This is an alarming figure when considering the importance of carbon storage in
climate regulation, and the potential economic benefits which are being wiped out. Changes in
temperature, resulting from greenhouse gas emissions, have led to an increased frequency of
weather-related natural disasters. The economic losses associated with the damage caused equate
to billions of dollars a year. It has been calculated that a 10% decrease in the frequency of natural
disasters would save between $600 million and $3.4 billion annually (Ruggerio, 2021).
Despite the release of carbon through land use change, the increase in atmospheric CO2 has
led to the enhanced growth and carbon uptake of many ecosystems, particularly temperate and
boreal forests. In time, the rate of carbon uptake will slow in response to a saturation of carbon
storage, and carbon release will occur when the ecosystem is disturbed or subject to further
environmental change. The impact of climate change itself may be the most important yet
uncertain factor in the future carbon balance of the global ecosystems. High latitude regions and
high altitude regions are most likely to experience increased ecosystem productivity and carbon
uptake. In contrast, areas which are already drought-affected or have a limiting water balance may
experience reduced productivity and increased tree mortality. The carbon released by these and
other climate-induced ecosystem changes has the potential to act as a positive feedback on the
climate system, further increasing the rate of climate change. The overall effect of the change in
carbon balance of terrestrial ecosystems on the future climate is still highly uncertain. Simulation
of the future carbon cycle is an area of ongoing model development and an important part of
climate prediction and the assessment of climate mitigation strategies.
Over climate regulation, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere has been hugely affected by
human activity, particularly through land use change. The most significant impact has been the
conversion of forest to cropland, in particular the tropical forest areas. This process has led to the
release of carbon that was stored in biomass and soil. In temperate regions, the main impact has
been through Urbanization and the abandonment of agricultural land. These activities have
released carbon and also decreased carbon sequestration. Global scale land use change has also
led to an increase in atmospheric CO2 through the burning of biomass. Peatlands have been
particularly subject to this kind of land use change. The release of carbon from these diverse
activities has been a key factor in the elevated levels of atmospheric CO2. The Kyoto protocol has
initiated research into ways to use land management and reforestation to mitigate CO2 levels
(Bhutta & Tariq and other, (2022).
The role of ecosystems in regulating climate through the exchange of carbon dioxide and
water, and through their influence on the physical properties of the earth surface, is a major and
complex area of research. The carbon cycle is a well understood global scale ecosystem process
that has direct relevance to the climate system. The cycle is characterized by the processes of
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
197
photosynthesis and respiration, by which green plants and other organisms use atmospheric CO2
to produce organic compounds during plant growth, then return CO2 to the atmosphere through
respiration, and finally carbon release occurs through the decomposition of organic matter.
The global climate is not only a result of human activity but is also hugely affected by the
various interactions of the natural environment. Two main factors of the climate system are the
radiation balance and the circulation of atmosphere, which create a complex feedback interaction
between the atmosphere and the other components of the earth system. Analysis of how
vegetation and the atmosphere interact, with the aim of developing ways to use this knowledge to
improve climate prediction, climate modelling and development of mitigation strategies, is the
focus of much current and future research.
The key to conceptualization of an ecosystem service is using an appropriate ecosystem
structure having a potential of producing a good or service which can then be valued by society.
According to the MA, a service is defined as the benefits provided to human beings from
ecosystems drawing on four categories which are: provisioning services, regulating services,
cultural services, and supporting services. The role of any ecosystem in water purification can be
valued as an ecosystem service as it can provide a benefit to humankind in terms of reducing the
cost on the society of taking pollutants back out of the water once they have caused degradation
and reducing the health impacts and costs on society of contaminated drinking water. This can
further be valued in terms of human health, reduced economic costs, and increased recreational
benefits provided by clean water.
Water purification can occur in many different ecosystems ranging from completely natural
to highly artificial. Although artificial ecosystems can provide purification services by using
natural processes, it is inclined that the more natural an ecosystem is, the better it is at purifying
water due to the native species and the more complex interaction between the organisms and the
abiotic environment. This is due to the fact that more natural ecosystems have faced less
environmental stress and disturbances. Many studies have shown that any natural ecosystem can
provide some benefit of water purification, but a research project conducted by Costanza et al.
sought to value the relative importance of different ecosystems and landscapes (Wang & Hu and
other. 2020).
Conclusion.
The research unequivocally underscores the critical role of natural factors in the pursuit of
sustainable development. The historical trajectory of resource exploitation, primarily driven by
an extractive economic ethos, has precipitated a global environmental predicament characterized
by the depletion of non-renewable resources, escalating CO2 levels, and loss of biodiversity. This
unsustainable path has highlighted the urgent need for a systemic transition towards sustainable
practices that respect the natural limits and ensure the well-being of future generations.
The analysis reveals that the cornerstone of sustainable development lies in prioritizing
renewable over non-renewable resources, conserving biodiversity, and implementing effective
land use strategies to mitigate climate change. Moreover, the intrinsic value of natural ecosystems
in providing essential services, such as water purification and carbon storage, further reinforces
the indispensable role of the natural factor in achieving sustainable development goals.
In conclusion, fostering a symbiotic relationship between human activities and the natural
environment is paramount. This necessitates a holistic approach that integrates economic, social,
and environmental considerations to devise sustainable development strategies. The future of
global stability and security hinges on our collective ability to embrace sustainable practices and
ensure
that the natural world can support the diverse needs of all life forms, now and in the future.
Iqtisodiy taraqqiyot va tahlil, 2024-yil, aprel
www.e-itt.uz
198
Reference:
Bhutta
US, Tariq A, Farrukh M, Raza A …
-
… (2022) Forecasting and
Social …,
- Elsevier. Green
bonds for sustainable development: Review of literature on development and impact of green bonds.
Costanza, R., d'Arge, R., de Groot, R., Farber, S., Grasso, M., Hannon, B., ... & van den Belt, M.
(1997). The value of the world's ecosystem services and natural capital. Nature, 387(6630), 253-260.
Gerschenberg, I. (1987) ‘The Training and Spread of Managerial Know How, a Comparative
Analysis of Multinational and other F
irms in Kenya’, World Development, 15, pp. 931–
939
IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). (2014). Climate Change 2014: Synthesis
Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fifth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCC.
Meadows, D. H., Meadows, D. L., Randers, J., & Behrens III, W. W. (1972). The Limits to Growth.
Universe Books.
Ruggerio CA (2021) - Science of the Total Environment, - Elsevier. Sustainability and
sustainable development: A review of principles and definitions.
Sachs, J. D. (2015). The Age of Sustainable Development. Columbia University Press.
Sheng, C. (2002) Elementary, Pressure Dependent Model for Combustion of C1, C2 and Nitrogen
Containing Hydrocarbons: Operation of a Pilot Scale Incinerator and Model Comparison. Ph.D.
Dissertation, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark.
Stern, N. (2007). The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University
Press.
Wang P, Hu M, Wang H, Chen Z, Feng Y …
-
Advanced …, (2020
) - Wiley Online Library. The
evolution of flexible electronics: from nature, beyond nature, and to nature.
