There is no doubt that human activity has a significant impact on our environment. These environmental impacts include the depletion of our natural resources, air and water pollution, climate change, habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity. Because of these growing concerns, we must learn to live sustainably. Living sustainably will allow us to conserve our limited resources more wisely so that they are available for future generations (Withgott & Brennan, 2011, chapter 1). Even though more and more people are aware of the impacts we have on our environment, there are still people who choose to ignore scientific evidence or do not fully understand the consequences. Continuing education and research are essential elements in efforts to become more sustainable. Fortunately, younger generations are waking up to the need to tackle environmental issues so that changes can be made to ensure our way of life is sustainable. The increasing global population is hampering our ability to become sustainable, particularly in poorer and developing countries. Empowering women through educational opportunities and family planning programs has been shown to reduce the population in developed countries through demographic transition. Even though fertility rates are declining in developed countries, the consumption of resources and material goods and services has increased significantly (Withgott and Brennan, 2011, chapter 8). Although population control can be a touchy subject, it must be approached as a solution to our overconsumption and our need for sustainability. Getting involved in political affiliations or voting for candidates who support sustainability is another solution. We can also support companies that practice middle of paper......energy from things I don't use; however, I am still trying to teach my husband to turn off the lights. We currently use energy efficient appliances and light bulbs, but I would like to look into electric cars and solar energy in the future. These technologies have high upfront costs, but I would eventually like to use them. Finally, I would like to participate in volunteer activities, such as beach cleaning or tree planting. There are many things we need to change in society to become sustainable for future generations. One thing is certain, we must all do our part to contribute to this effort, and there is no time like the present to change our habits. Works Cited CDP. (2013). www.cdproject.net Withgott, J. and Brennan, S. (2011). Environment: the science behind the stories (4th ed.). San Francisco, California: Pearson Benjamin Cummings.