Lecture 1: Introduction to Sustainable Development Flashcards
What is the definition of Sustainable Development?
Sustainable Development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future.
– Bruntland, G. (1987)
Define Strong Sustainability compared to Weak Sustainability?
Strong Sustainability - acknowledges that economy is part of society which exists alongside environment.
Weak Sustainability - gives rise to Trade-offs.
What 5 principles are covered in the ‘UK’s Sustainable Development policy - Securing the future’ ?
LEAPU
Living within the environmental limits Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society Achieving a sustainable economy Promoting good governance Using sound science responsibly
Explain the ‘UK SD policy - Securing the future’ point;
Living withing the environmental limits
Living within the environmental limits
Respect the limits of the planets environment, resources and biodiversity. to improve our environment – ensure that natural resources needed for life are unimpaired now and for future generations.
Explain the ‘UK SD policy - Securing the future’ point;
Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
Meet diverse needs of all people now and in future; promote personal well being, social cohesion/inclusion and create equal opportunity for all.
Explain the ‘UK SD policy - Securing the future’ point;
Achieving a sustainable economy
Achieving a sustainable economy
Build a strong, stable and sustainable economy which provides prosperity and opportunities for all.
Environmental and social costs fall on those who impose them (Polluter pays)
Explain the ‘UK SD policy - Securing the future’ point;
Promoting good governance
Promoting good governance
Actively promote effective participant systems of government in all levels of society; engage peoples creativity, energy and diversity
Explain the ‘UK SD policy - Securing the future’ point;
Using sound science responsibly
Using sound science responsibly
Ensuring policy is developed and implemented on the basis of strong scientific evidence, whilst taking into account scientific uncertainty (precautionary principle)
Which of the 17 UN SD goals can be impacted by Civil Engineers collectively?
9 of them;
Good health and well being Clean water and sanitation Affordable and clean energy Decent work and economic growth Industry, innovation and infrastructure Sustainable cities and communities Responsible consumption and production Climate action Life below water
What can an engineer do day-to-day to contribute towards SD?
Not only environmentally but also; poverty, social injustice and global connectivity.
Do more than just comply with legislation and codes - strive beyond the bare minimum.
Use resources efficiently and effectively - understand there are environmental limits and finite resources.
Example of something that is unsustainable?
3 examples
The use of finite resources at current rates
Growing population
Poverty and inequality
What are the socio-economic priorities?
6 answers
Construction C02 contribution
Biodiversity
Ecological footprint
Population
Inequality
Economics of Ecosystems
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Construction C02 contribution
Construction industry account for almost 47% of total C02 emissions in UK.
Manufacturing (of construction products and materials) accounts for largest amount of emissions within process of construction.
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Biodiversity
From 1970 to 2012 the Living Planet Index showed a 58% decline in vertebrate population abundance.
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Ecological footprint
Ecological Footprint definition;
‘Humanities demand on the planet’s living resources.
Humanities ecological footprint now exceeds the planets regenerative capacity by about 50%. This is an OVERSHOOT
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Population
Population of the world in 2019 is approximately 7.7 billion.
Population of the world today is about 200,000 larger than yesterday.
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Inequality
Richest 1% own more than the rest of the world.
48% owned by richest 1% in 2014
54% owned by richest 1% by 2020
£1.9 trillion wealth of 80 top billionaires; more than the bottom 50% of the rest of the world.
Socio-economic priorities;
Statistics about;
Economics of Ecosystems
UN Environmental Programme report; The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, valued damage done by human activity to be $4.5 trillion.
Quality of life definitions;
Human Development Index (HDI):
Human Development Index;
A composite index measuring average achievement in 3 basic dimensions of human development;
A long and healthy life
Knowledge
Decent standard of living
Quality of life definitions;
Life expectancy at birth
Life expectancy at birth;
Number of years a newborn infant could expect to live.
Quality of life definitions;
Mean years of schooling
Mean years of schooling;
Average number of years of education received by people aged 25 or above.
Quality of life definitions;
Expected years of schooling
Expected years of schooling;
No. of years of schooling that a child of school entrance age can expect to receive.
Quality of life definitions;
Gross National Income - GNI
Gross National Income GNI;
Aggregate income of an economy, divided by population
Quality of life definitions;
Inequality-adjusted life expectancy index
Inequality-adjusted life expectancy index;
HDI life expectancy adjusted for inequality in distribution of expected length of life.
