MICROBIAL INTERVENTIONS TO ACHIEVE THE UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

In today’s world, the indiscriminate use of agrochemicals, natural resources and production of unmanageable waste has posed an intensive threat to sustainability on Earth. So, the adoption of green and clean technologies is need of hour to maintain the ecological balance of earth. Considering the importance of sustainable living, in 2015, United Nation along with 193 countries took step in this direction by making an agenda of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There are total 17 goals that make an effort for a developing the solutions for socio- economic development without harming environment. Besides, these goals stressed upon reducing insensitive exploitation of natural resources. The sustainability on earth can be developed through judicious use of microbes. Even though, microbes are usually regarded as infectious disease causing creatures, however there are number of positive roles played by microbes in the environment. Microbes have infinite potential that can play significant role in biogeochemical cycles and various industrial processes. Microbes are imperative component in environment that can harness the strength for generating healthy lifestyle, clean water, renewable energy sources, maintaining climate fluctuation and solving global hunger thus can help to achieve to the UN sustainable development goals. So, it is essential to explore the microbial world perceptively so as they can effectively contribute to sustainable development. Keeping this in mind, this book was an attempt to demonstrate the fundamental role of microbes in achieving sustainable development goals. The scope of microbial use in human health, clean water, green energy and climate energy are being discussed so as some significant problems faced by the world can be adequately taken care of. The book is structured in four main sections as good health and well-being, water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy and climate change. Each section entails the role of microbes in the achieving these four sustainable development goals. The chapters of this book describe the existing technologies and imperative role of microbes on recent advancement in context of each of four goals. This information is supplemented with illustrations, wherever these are appropriate and helpful. The editors feel that this book being a reasonably comprehensive guide regarding application of microbes in achieving sustainable living on earth. The book will tailor to the need of the faculty and students of different colleges and universities offering microbiology as a course for their undergraduate or postgraduate degrees. In a work of this nature, errors of omission and commission are inevitable. Therefore, constructive suggestions, if any, from the readers will be highly appreciated.