3Y: Sustainability

Question 1

What is sustainability?

Answer 1

Sustainability is the conservation of balance in the world’s ecology indefinitely.

Sustainability means that the Earth will continue to provide fresh air, food and clean water, and ensure a good quality of life for ourselves and for all future generations.

Question 2

What is sustainable development?

Answer 2

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 3

What are the three pillars of sustainability?

Answer 3

1. Environmental Pillar
2. Economic Pillar
3. Social Pillar

Question 4

What is the Environmental Pillar?

Answer 4

Environmental pillar:

This includes the area of environmental protection, such as

• addressing climate change,
• protection of resources and
• protection of biodiversity.

An example of environmental sustainability involves using natural resources (for example fuels) more sparingly.

Question 5

What is the Economic Pillar?

Answer 5

Economic Pillar:

This involves planning economic development, for example:

• setting up new industries to provide employment, and
• developing the agricultural industry.

An example of economic sustainability involves avoiding the transportation of food over long distances throughout the world.

Question 6

What is the Social Pillar?

Answer 6

Social Pillar:

This involves social sustainability in the areas of:

• international and national laws,
• careful planning for future developments in cities and towns,
• and planning transport systems.

An example of social sustainability is providing better education and training opportunities to help people choose sustainable lifestyles

Question 7

The Earth is often referred to as a ‘closed system’. What does this mean?

Answer 7

Planet Earth is often referred to as a ‘closed system’, that is, it has limited resources.

Question 8

How are sustainability and population growth related?

Answer 8

• The population of the world is growing rapidly. It is predicted that it will be as high as 9 billion by 2050.
• The growth in population increases the demand for clean air, clean water and food.
• An increased population puts greater pressure on land and raw materials. More land is needed for building new houses and for increasing the sizes of towns and cities.
• An increase in population also means an increase in the consumption of natural resources.

Question 9

How are high levels of consumption in the developed world threatening
sustainability?

Answer 9

• In the developed world, the increase in ife expectancy contributes to an increase in population.
• The growth in population increases the demand for clean air, clean water and food and other natural resources.

Question 10

What is a fuel?

Answer 10

A fuel is any substance that burns in oxygen to produce heat.

Question 11

What are fossil fuels? Provide examples.

Answer 11

• Fossil fuels are fuels that were formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago.
• Examples of solid fossil fuels are coal and turf.
• Examples of liquid fossil fuels are petrol, diesel and
• paraffin oil (kerosene).
• An example of a fossil fuel that is a gas is natural gas. Natural gas is mainly methane. You may recall that the chemical formula for methane is CH4.

Question 12

All fossil fuels consist of hydrocarbons. What are hydrocarbons?

Answer 12

Hydrocarbons are compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon only.

Question 13

What happens when fossil fuels are burned?

Answer 13

• When hydrocarbons are burned, carbon dioxide and water are formed.
• Since fossil fuels contain hydrocarbons, when these fuels are burned, carbon dioxide and water are always formed.

Question 14

What is the environmental impact of burning fossil fuels?

Answer 14

• As more fossil fuels are burned, increased levels of carbon dioxide gas are building up in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is one of the main ‘greenhouse gases’.
• Without these greenhouse gases, heat would be lost from the Earth and life on Earth could not exist. This natural trapping of the Sun’s energy by the atmosphere is called the greenhouse effect
• However, scientists are concerned that increasing concentrations of carbon
  dioxide are causing the Earth to get warmer. The extra warming that results from the extra greenhouse effect is called global warming.

Question 15

Explain how the development of biofuels is contributing to sustainability?

Answer 15

• There is also concern that the supply of fossil fuels on Earth is running out. Therefore, in order to have sustainable development, we must reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.
• Because of this, scientists are now developing biofuels. Biofuels are fuels made from plants, for example, rapeseed oil and sunflower oil.
• Biofuels can be used alone or mixed with other fuels such as petrol and diesel.
• These fuels are often described as ‘green fuels’ and are better for the environment.
• One of the big advantages of biofuels is that more plants can be grown to produce more fuel. Therefore, biofuel is called a renewable fuel.

Question 16

What are sustainable forests?

Answer 16

• Many forests throughout the world are disappearing as trees are cut down to produce timber. This timber is used to build homes and to make furniture. It is also used as a fuel.
• However, in some parts of the world, efforts are made to make sure that forests are sustainable, that is, no more timber is cut than can be regrown.
• In addition, sustainable forests are managed to make sure that:
  
  • Soil erosion is kept to a minimum.
  • Threatened species and habitats are protected.
  • Some trees are allowed to remain in order to provide seeds so that the forest can regrow naturally.

Question 17

How does the disposal and recycling of materials have implications
for sustainability?

Answer 17

• As the population of the world continues to rise, the demand for raw materials also continues to increase.
• This results in increased amounts of waste being produced.
• This leads to increased pollution.
• Pollution is the addition of harmful substances to the environment in quantities greater than can be dealt with efficiently by the environment itself.

Question 18

List some examples of Pollutants?

Answer 18

Examples of pollutants are:

1. Sewage: Raw sewage contains human waste, industrial water and different kinds of debris. If someone comes in contact with raw sewage, the microorganisms present can cause various diseases.
2. Fertilisers: Farmers use fertilisers to enhance crop yields and thereby to produce more food. However, if excessive amounts of fertilisers are used, they can be washed into streams, causing rapid, abundant growth of water plants. This increased growth rate can give rise to algal blooms that cover much of the surface of the water with a green scum.
3. Toxic substances: Some articles (for example batteries) contain dangerous metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium. Unless these are disposed of properly, they can cause pollution in rivers and lakes and in the sea.
4. Air pollution: This type of pollution commonly arises from the burning of fossil fuels. As well as forming carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide is formed. This causes acid rain, which is very harmful to the environment.
5. Landfill: Think of the amount of packaging and other waste materials that you put in your bin at home and which will end up in landfill. For sustainability to be achieved, this amount of material needs to be kept to a minimum.

Question 19

Why is the recycling of plastics important?

Answer 19

Recycling of plastics is important for a number of reasons:

1. It saves one of our most important natural resources – oil.
2. It helps keep the cost of plastics low when oil becomes too costly to be used as a raw material.
3. It keeps down the cost of waste disposal. Plastic materials make up about 20 per cent by volume of domestic refuse.
4. It helps reduce litter. Since most plastics are non-biodegradable, discarded plastics are among the worst forms of litter

Question 20

List some examples of contributions to sustainability with Travel and Leisure?

Answer 20

1. When possible, walk or cycle rather than drive.
2. Use public transport wherever possible.
3. Use a car-share system and a car of economical size.
4. Take holidays nearer home to reduce demand for air travel.
5. Live near your workplace.

Question 21

List some examples of contributions to sustainability at Home?

Answer 21

1. Insulate your home to conserve heat energy.
2. Turn off lights and other appliances when not needed.
3. Use low-energy bulbs.
4. Recycle as many materials as possible.
5. Do not allow taps to run continuously.

Question 22

List some examples of contributions to sustainability when Purchasing Goods?

Answer 22

1. Reuse shopping bags rather than getting new ones.
2. Purchase products that are made locally. This encourages economic development in your own region.
3. Complain to manufacturers when goods are supplied with excessive packaging.
4. Repair rather than replace items where possible.

Question 23

List some examples of contributions to sustainability with at School and at Work?

Answer 23

1. Treat your consumption of water, heat and electricity as if you were paying for them yourself.
2. Encourage the authorities at school and at work to implement initiatives that encourage sustainability.