Economic, Social And Enviornmental Sustainability Flashcards
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development refers to development that meets the current needs of humankind, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
Enviornmental sustainability
This refers to whether or not natural resources can be maintained into the future.
Economic activity isn’t environmentally sustainable if it doesn’t: result in excess pollution, result in damage to ecosystems, rely on non renewable sources of energy.
Economic sustainablility
This refers to ensuring that economic growth is not achieved at the expense of future generations.
Example: it is not economically sustainable to grow the economy while emitting high levels of greenhouse gases.
Social sustainability
This refers to creating equal opportunities for all citizens on the planet.
Example: access to healthcare, education, income, water and food for all
Environmentally unsustainable examples
Burning fossil fuels to generate electricity
The continued use of petrol/diesel vehicles
The production and use of single use plastics
Environmentally sustainable examples
Generating heat from solar and wind
The use of electric vehicles
The use of recyclable packaging
Economically unsustainable examples
Allowing large MNCs to continuously pay very little in corporation tax despite their huge profits
The use of child labour in some parts of the world in order to produce goods sold at cheap prices in developed economies
Economically sustainable
All members of society including profitable MNCs making a fair contribution to the state that reflects their ability to pay
Economic activity that does not involve the use of child labour, and which respects the human rights of all citizens.
Socially unsustainable examples
Gender inequality such as lower pay for women than for men doing the same work and/or lack of educational opportunities for girls
Exploiting resources indigenous people depend on e.g. cutting down the amazon rainforest
Socially sustainable examples
Equal pay and equal treatment of men and women in the workplace and equal access to education for all.
Protecting the environments that indigenous people depend on.
What is climate change
Climate change is the most significant environmental challenge facing the planet today. The climate is changing due to the unsustainable human activities resulting in the emission of greenhouse gases
Examples of greenhouse gases
- Carbon dioxide - emitted when fossil fuels are burnt
- Methane- emitted in the production/transportation of coal, natural gas and oil. livestock and certain agricultural practices are also a source.
What are sustainable development goals
Unsustainable development occurs when present progress is achieved at the expense of future generations.
In 2015, 193 countries came together and agreed on 17 sustainable development goals
Examples of the sustainable development goals
gender equality, no poverty, quality education, zero hunger
what changes can individuals make to their behaviours, choices and habits
- reduce consumption of fossil fuels
- reduce consumption of single use plastics
- reduce food waste
what changes can firms make to their choices
- offer environmentally sustainable options to consumers
- stock only items manufactured in a socially sustainable way
- engage in economic activity in a way that reduces a firms greenhouse gas emissions
what can the Irish government do to encourage sustainable development
use incentives, taxation, regulation and funding
provide grants for EVs
increase carbon tax on fossil fuels
introduce levies, e.g. the plastic bag levy
ensure safe working conditions for workers
what is national income
National income is the income accruing to the permanent residents of a country from current economic activity during a year
GDP,GNP,GNI,GNDI
GDP - gross domestic product
GNP - gross national product
GNI - gross national income
GNDI - gross national disposable income
SPI
social product index is a measure of the quality of life in countries. over 50 different indicators are used to generate a value of social progress on a scale of 0 - 100. basic human needs, foundations of wellbeing, opportunity
HDI
human development index brings three dimensions of human development together, health - long and healthy lives, education - a good standard of education, income - a good standard of living
index = 0 - 1
IHDI
Inequality adjusted human development index
Challenges of achieving the SDGs
*lack of political will
*lack of corporate social responsibility
* limited awareness
Kuznets Enviornmental curve
Damage up
Per capita income across
Decay
Turning point income
Improvement
