chapter 1 sustainability and future development PP Flashcards
Understand how the increasing world population affects demand for Earths resources (Fuel, water, food and shelter)
as a nation becomes more affluent, their energy demand increases, and the nation seeks to become more successful in terms of education, employs adequate health services and needs the infrastructure for these. increasing population leads to an increased need for food and water, as well as fuel as more transport is active. additional shelter is also needed due to increased family sizes and the number of families.
debate the role of technology in meeting global requirements in context of I=PAT
I=PAT
I = impact
P= Population
A= Affluence
T= damage caused by Technology
Explain A
a is affluence, the level of consumption by a given population
explain P
p is population, refers to the amount of people consuming goods and creating waste
Discuss two ways in which T, Technology, increases the
environmental impact
Older technologies are more polluting/less efficient so have a greater economic impact. Developing countries are more likely to use older technologies thereby increasing the environmental impact.
Even if a population uses renewable technologies to produce goods and services, non-renewable resources are still required during manufacture which are expensive and/or energy intensive thereby causing an
increase in environmental impact.
Discuss two ways in which T, Technology, can be used to decrease the environmental impact.
Technology design should be sustainable. Raw material inputs and processes can be used which do not damage the environment, e.g. solvent-free inks and paints are used.
Consideration also needs to be given to what happens to the manufacturing equipment itself when it is no longer required, e.g. minimise waste and recycle end-of-life materials and equipment.
Discuss the concept of One Planet Living (OPL), making specific reference to water
One Planet Living is a vision of a world in which people enjoy happy, healthy lives within their fair share of the earth’s resources, leaving space for wildlife and wilderness. This can be achieved through sustainable water use which involves using water more efficiently in buildings and in the products we buy; tackling local flooding and water course pollution.
each person is entitled to 1.84 hectares
Discuss the role of technology in meeting growing global need for resources. Your answer should include specific reference to the following issues;
* What trends you deduce from the figure above with relation to environmental impact of various countries and why this might be so.
* How ecological footprints are likely to change with economic progression in developing countries.
* Population: how population size affects demand for resources and waste generated.
* Affluence: how lifestyle / wealth affects demand for resources and waste generated.
* Technology: how counties convert natural resources into real good and services that we can use.
What trends you deduce from the figure above with relation to environmental impact of various countries and why this might be so:
* More economically developed countries have a higher ecological footprint per person than less economically developed countries.
* They consume more goods and services, have more energy intensive lifestyle and create more waste.
➢ How ecological footprints are likely to change with economic progression in developing countries:
* As countries become more economically developed their ecological footprint is likely to increase.
* This may be due to improved education, health / life expectancy, affluence, lifestyle etc which drives demand for resources.
➢ Population: how population size affects demand fro resources and waste generated:
* More population means greater demand for natural resources.
* More food and water required.
* More demand for clothing, shelter, goods and energy to produce these.
Less resources available for other species (wildlife, habitat etc)
➢ Affluence: how lifestyle / wealth affects demand for resources and waste generated:
* Greater affluence – greater consumption and more waste generated.
* It is unsustainable to continue living a high consumption western lifestyle.
* Developing countries wish to have a similar affluent lifestyle to the US.
➢ Technology: how counties convert natural resources into real good and services that we can use:
* Industrially-driven societies are energy intensive by nature.
* There are limits to how far we can improve technology in terms of resource use and reduce waste generation.
* Less advanced technology used in developing countries is likely to cause more environmental impact.
* Renewable resources still require non-renewable resources during manufacture and are expensive to harness.
Discuss the link between a nations Ecological Footprint and its Carbon Footprint.
A carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by a person, group or nation, this being mainly as a result of the combustion of carbon based fuels to meet their energy needs. {1}
The ecological footprint on the other hand considers the broader environmental impact of all the population of a nation by quantifying the amount of land that is required to support all the activities of that nation. Including food production, waste disposal etc, as well as energy production. {1}
Therefore the carbon footprint measures just one of the many environmental impacts that are included within the calculation of the ecological footprint. {1}
Define and explain the concept and measurement of an ecological footprint.
An ecological footprint is based on consumption over a specific year. Expressed as the amount of land and sea (bio-productive area) required to support the use of natural resources. A means of comparing usage of natural resources and lifestyles, and checking this against natures ability to provide for this {1}
Describe three approaches required by today’s society if One Planet Living is to be achieved.
Zero Carbon {1}. Making buildings more energy efficient and delivering all energy with renewable technologies {1}.
* Zero waste {1}. Reducing waste, reusing where possible, and ultimately sending zero waste to landfill {1}.
* Sustainable transport {1}. Encouraging low carbon modes of transport to reduce emissions, reducing the need to travel {1}.
