3.9 Ethical and Environmental Concerns About Unsustainability Flashcards
3.9a local sourcing
localism
localism describes a range of political philosophies that prioritise local over regional and global
localism supports local production and consumption of goods, local control of government, and promotion of local history, local culture and local identity
3.9a local sourcing
sustainable development
sustainable development is meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
this includes environmental, economic and social sustainability (quality of life)
3.9a local sourcing
transition towns
transition town is a settlement where individuals and businesses have adopted ‘bottom-up’ initiatives with the aim of making their community more sustainable and less reliant on global trade
some local groups and NGOs promote local sourcing as a response to globalisation by increasing sustainability (re-localisation)
transition towns attempt to reduce their carbon footprints and increase their resilience
these follow the belief that healthy local economies are vital to healthy communities, and that change can be driven by ordinary people
transition towns build local resilience to the challenge of peak oil, by reducing dependence on fossil fuels
communities are encouraged to seek out methods for reducing energy usage, as well as reducing their reliance on long supply chains that depend on fossil fuels
transition towns promote
- reducing consumption by repairing or reusing items
- reducing waste, pollution and environmental damage
- meeting local needs through local production, where possible
by 2016 transition towns became a movement of communities in 50 countries
now a global network exists, using the internet and social media to spread the idea of ‘transition’
transition towns promote local currencies as a way to create sustainable economies
3.9a local sourcing
transition town pros
every £10 spent in local businesses is actually worth £23 to the local economy due to a multiplier effect
local people gain employment and involvement in the local economy
many small producers have adopted organic farming methods, using fewer pesticides, having health benefits
reduce carbon/ecological footprint size by fewer food miles
3.9a local sourcing
transition towns cons
some services, such as transport, are co-ordinated centrally so it is hard to influence them
locally-sourced produce is sometimes more expensive than globally-produced items because of the lack of TNC competition
farming in the UK’s conditions required heated greenhouses which can result in larger carbon footprint than imported produce
3.9a local sourcing
ecological resilience
ecological resilience is the ability of a natural area to maintain its normal patterns and processes without being damaged by a disturbance
3.9b fair-trade and ethical consumption
ethical purchase
ethical purchase is a financial exchange where the consumer has considered the social and environmental costs of production for food, goods or services purchased
the aim of ethical purchasing is to reduce the inequalities of global trade and improve the working conditions for disadvantaged groups
3.9b fair-trade and ethical consumption
globalisation causing ethical concerns
fears that consumer goods have been made using exploited labour
concerns that imported food products like tea, coffee, bananas and cocoa do not provide their farmers with a decent income due to low prices
concerns that consumer goods use excessive resources during their production, packaging, transport and use
worries that our consumer culture is contributing to global warming as ecological footprints rise
3.9b fair-trade and ethical consumption
FAIRTRADE CASE STUDY
3.9c recycling
a
3.9c recycling
pros
recycling reduces the rate at which new natural resources are used
3.9c recycling
cons
the carbon footprint of recycled materials emissions is potentially high because energy is required during the recycling process
3.9c recycling
emerging economies
Assisting with progress towards a circular economy and new materials technology are countries such as China and India
DIAGRAM IN HODDER TEXTBOOK REPRESENTING CIRUCULAR ECONOMY
while the populations of the world’s emerging economies have accelerated global consumption and waste production, they are aisles part of the solution
Chian especially is politically engage with trying to tackle the sustainability challenges we all now face
emerging economies are becoming leaders in resourcing efficient technology and renewable energy
China is the world’s largest manufacturer of solar panels
