final exam Flashcards
Definition of sustainable development
‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Whats the WCED?
World Commission on Environment and Development
About Economic Growth?
◦ Economic Growth… traditionally equated with increases in GDP/GNP ◦ GDP… total output for final use produced by residents and non residents of a country.
GDP doesn’t include deductions for depreciation of
physical capital or
depletion/degradation of natural
resources
What is Unsustainable Development
Development which compromises future development
possibilities either (a) via excessive resource depletion and
waste generation or (b) imposing too heavy a burden of
environmental degradation or cleanup © not ensuring that the
rents that accrue from current exploitation are invested so that
future generations can share
Economic Growth (GDP)?
Increases in Material Output
Economic Development?
Greater emphasis on social objectives
e.g. poverty, education, health,
Sustainable Economic Development?
Recognising the need for environmental
Protection, inter
and intra generational
equity.
Relation between Sustainable development SD and economic development ED?
SD adds to our understanding of ED by:
◦
Providing an explicit recognition that development and the environment are not mutually
exclusive
◦
Integrating environmental concerns into traditional development economics
◦
Incorporating social and environmental concerns into economic decision making
◦
Seeking to ensure the economically efficient management of natural resources
What are the Tradeoffs among the Three Main objectives
of Sustainable Development?
Economic Efficiency
Preservation of the Environment
Social Equity
The Economic goal of Sustainable
Development?
The economic goal is: “… to maximize the net welfare of economic activities while maintaining or
increasing the stock of economic, ecological and sociocultural assets over time…. and providing a
safety net to meet basic needs and protect the poor.”
UK government’s principle of SD?
Living with environmental limits
ensuring a strong, just and healthy society
Achieving a sustainable economy
Promoting good governance
Using sound science responsibly
What about ecosystem
services?
◦
1. 60% of the ecosystem services degraded fresh water, capture fisheries, air
and water purification and the local climate, natural hazards. Many
ecosystem services degraded a due other services, such as food. These trade
offs shift the costs of degradation from one group of people to another.
◦
2. changes in ecosystems increasing the nonlinear changes in (potentially
irreversible changes) that worsen h uman well being. Ie ..‘dead zones’ in
coastal waters and shifts in regional climate.
◦
3. The harmful degradation of ecosystem services are being borne more by
the poor, are contributing to inequities causing poverty and social conflict.
What conference took place in 1972?
Stockholm, Sweden 1972
On human development, bringing together heads of state on a massive scale to adress environment and development
conference in 1987?
Brundtland “our common future”
Meeting in 1992?
Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit & Sustainable Development
Rio declaration Agenda 21 CSD CBD UNFCCC
meeting 1997?
The Kyoto Protocol & Sustainable Development Conference
meeting in 2000?
Millenium Summit & Sustainable Development Conference
meeting in 2002?
Johannesburg’s Conference on Sustainable Development
Johannesburg plan of implementation
meeting 2009?
(COP 15) Copenhagen Summit
meeting 2010?
COP 16 Cancun
meeting 2011?
COP 17 Durban
Who’s Jay Wright Forrester?
He suggested a
sort of graphical user interface for the
simulation of interactions between objects in
dynamic systems, called Systems Dynamics. He
further developed and applied this method in
books Industrial Dynamics (1961) and Urban
Dynamics (1969), which sparked debates on the
feasibility of modeling social, economic and
ecological problems in an even broader context.
In consequence, in 1971 he published the book
World Dynamics containing the first so called
World model, dealing with complex interactions
of the economy, the population and the ecology
of the World.
During the Brundtland report, Sustainiblity is presented as:
serious response to the chalenges posed to world sustainibility:
1) the anthropocene
2) the limits to growth
3) global crisis as interlocking natural, social, and economic challenges
report was mindful of burning forests and of climate change but doesnt simplify these concerns
How does the Brundtland report change the paradigm?
Ecology and economy are interlocked in our society and must be dealt with together
what was launched internationally in 1980?
IUCN, International union for the conservaton of natural resources (World conservation strategy)
Strategy asserted that conservation of nature can’t happen without reducing poverty
Whats The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development?
Over 150 Heads of State & Government are confirmed to attend the UN Sustainable Development
Summit in New York from 25 27 September 2015 for the adoption of an ambitious, bold and universal
sustainable development agenda that will end poverty and promote prosperity by 2030, while
addressing the environment.
The summit outcome document, entitled “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development,” was agreed on by the 193 Member States of the United Nations, and includes 17
Sustainable Development Goals
How did the Environment Change?
• Significant natural changes to the
environment long ago, but only relatively
recently humans can destroy the Earth’s
ecosystem
• The global population has risen considerably
during the XX century
• The expansion of industry - a major source of
pollution. This has
caused changes in the balance of our
environment
What about Greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases help to maintain the earth’s
temperature at a level suitable to support life
Human activities are increasing the amount of
greenhouse gases in the atmposphere, which
cause more heat to be trapped.
Predicted effects of global warming include: – Higher sea levels->tsunami – Higher temperatures – Variable climatic conditions – These changes are expected to cause a significant impact on agriculture and ecosystems.
What about Ozone Layer Depletion?
• The ozone layer protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet
(UV) light
• The use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other ozone
depleting substances as refrigerants, solvents and
insulation is destroying the ozone layer
• A ‘hole’ is observed over Antarctica every autumn
• Depleted ozone levels cause the following impacts:
– Increased penetration of UV light to earth
– Increased risks of skin cancer and eye diseases
– Damage to agricultural crops
– Disruption to marine food chains
what about Acid Rain?
• The burning of fossil fuels atmospheric emissions of NOx and SO2 • These gases +with water and oxygen sulfuric and nitric acids. Sunlight increases the rate of these reactions • Rain, snow and fog can be polluted with these acidic compounds, which is then deposited at the earths surface • The deposition of acids can: – Damage forests and soils – Causes acidification of lakes and other waterbodies – Disturb wildlife – Cause the decay of building and other structures – Impact on human health
And deforestation?
• The deforestation of tropical rainforests is a major global
problem-each year millions of hectares are lost
• Deforestation rates in some countries continue to increase
despite worldwide pressures
• Rainforests are destroyed for wood products, and to make
way for agricultural activities, mining and dams
• The impacts of deforestation include:
– Loss of livelihood for local inhabitants
– Variable environmental conditions (susceptability to flood, aggravated
droughts, soil erosion etc)
– Loss of biodiversity and disturbance to ecosystems
– Loss of carbon sink
What about Loss of Biodiversity?
• Biodiversity has three key components:
– Genetic diversity
– Species diversity
– Ecological diversity
• Approximately 2.1 million species are known to exist, but up to 50 million
still to be discovered
• Biodiversity is important for food, drugs, maintaining ecological stability,
aesthetic and cultural benefits
• Natural causes and human activity can threaten biodiversity
• The loss of biodiversity means ecosystems are destabilised, vital resources
are lost and genetic variation is reduced
Water Pollution?
• A change in water quality that impacts on living organisms • Types and effects of water pollution include: – Infectious agents, such as typhoid, cholera – Nutrients and eutrophication – Toxic materials, through mining – Organic chemicals – Sediments can disrupt -- aquatic ecosystems
Desertification?
• Removing ground cover and degrading fertile land
initiates desertification
• Water washes away nutrients, the land becomes
inhospitable
• The process is accelerated by expanding populations
and the need to overuse fragile areas of land
Waste Disposal?
Waste disposal methods include: • Open dumping and landfill • Ocean dumping • Exporting waste • Waste to energy plants
Minimising the waste stream: • 3R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle • Composting • Waste to energy
Hazardous waste disposal • Needs to be safely handled and disposed of to minimise threats to the environment and human health
Environmental Management?
• Environmental pollution is a serious burden on our
ecosystems and finances world-wide
• Administrations, commercial organisations and individuals are
affected by environmental change and its associated dangers,
long-term effects and liabilities
• Both legislative obligations and voluntary mechanisms can
address the environment and to integrate it into the
mainstream of business activity
• Consequently, environmental management is a crutial part of
all organisations’ operations
Regional Environmental Issues:
• From UNEP Global Environmental Yearbook 2003
• Major Environmental Issues in the Asia/Pacific
Region include:
– Land Degradation
– Loss of Biodiversity
– Air Pollution
Land Degradation?
• Many Asian nations, particularly India, China,
Afghanistan and Mongolia are facing the challenges
of desertification
• Desertification in these areas is caused by:
– Overgrazing
– Overploughing
– Vegetation removal
• These problems continue to intensify as human and
livestock numbers continue to increase
