Lecture 2 - Sustainability

Question 1

When was sustainable development coined for the first time?

Answer 1

In the Brundtland Report in 1987

Question 2

What is the widely used definition of sustainable development?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

What are two key concepts of sustainability?

Answer 3

1. The concept of ‘needs’, in particular, the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given
2. The idea of ‘limitations’ imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.

Question 4

What factors does sustainable development balance?

Answer 4

1. Economic development
2. Environmental protection
3. Social well-being

Question 5

What are aspects of social economic factors

Answer 5

1. Business ethics
2. Fair trade
3. Worker’s benefits
4. Fair taxation

Question 6

What are aspects of social environmental factors?

Answer 6

1. Conservation policies
2. Environmental justice
3. Global stewardship

Question 7

Aspects environmental economic

Answer 7

1. Energy efficiency
2. Renewable fuels
3. Subsidies, incentives
4. Green technology

Question 8

What are the three ‘P’s of sustainability?

Answer 8

People, planet, profit

Question 9

What did the attitude behavior-gap experiment measure? (Park & Lin)

Answer 9

Measured: the reported intention to buy sustainable products, and the amount of sustainable products actually purchased

Did this differ in developed vs developing countries?

Question 10

Recycling

Answer 10

Re-using products

Question 11

Upcycling

Answer 11

Convert waste into new products

Question 12

Results of Attitude-Behavior gap

Answer 12

1. Purchasing decision process for sustainable products is not well understood
2. Sustainable vs fashionable choice?

Factors influencing results:
* Individual characteristics: environmental concerns, PCE, normative expectations of others
* Product characteristics: perceived product value, desire for individuality
* Socio-demographic variables

Question 13

The Sustainable Development Goals

Answer 13

The main purpose of the SDGs is to address global challenges and
work towards ending poverty, protecting the planet, and ensuring
prosperity for all.

Question 14

How many SDGs are there and in which year were they founded?

Answer 14

17 SDGs

Founded: 2015

Question 15

Systems Thinking: The problem for SDGs

Answer 15

The SDGs are deeply interconnected – a lack of progress on one goal
hinders progress on others.

Question 16

Wicked Problems

Answer 16

• are problems with many interdependent factors making them
  seem impossible to solve.
• often lack clarity in both their aims and solutions.
• require thoughtful and holistic collaboration on solutions.

Because the factors are often incomplete and difficult to define,
solving wicked problems requires a deep understanding of the
stakeholders involved, and an innovative approach provided by
design thinking.

Question 17

Systems Thinking

Answer 17

• Systems thinking looks at connected wholes rather than separate parts.
• Systems thinkers are curious, have open minds, are good listeners and seek out root causes.
• A systems thinker tries to expand the range of options available for solving a problem.

Question 18

System Leadership

Answer 18

Systems leaders set the tone for an organization to work more systemically and encourages staff to embed systems approaches in their work.

Question 19

What are four things a system leader does?

Answer 19

• Influence other leaders to shift to collective focus in the right direction
• Encourage the use of systems principles
• Think about wider systems and ask questions
• Ensure positive change towards shared goals

Extended version
* Influence other leaders to shift the collective focus in the right direction and
develop and maintain cross-departmental and cross-directorate relationships
so there are shared understanding of goals and of the system.
* Encourage the use of systems principles and tools for complex problems by
promoting collaboration across traditional siloes, within or outside the team.
* Think about the wider system and ask questions that explore the possible
impact of certain actions on the wider system.
* Ensure positive changes towards shared goals are sustained through
monitoring and evaluating progress towards them.

Question 20

Corporate Social Responsibility

Answer 20

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) means taking responsibility for the impact of the business on the environment, society, employees and animal welfare while striving for economic success.

Question 21

Top-down CSR

Answer 21

1. Reputation
2. Regulation
3. Non-financial reporting
4. Full integration in the business

Question 22

Bottom-up CSR

Answer 22

1. Employee engagement
2. Best knowledge of their own job
3. Purpose
4. Community building

Question 23

Greenwashing

Answer 23

Disclosing negative information and disseminating
positive information about an organization’s
environmental and/or social efforts

Question 24

The non-financial reporting directive

Answer 24

1. Environment: Environmental protection
2. Social: Social Responsibility, and Treatment of Employees, Respect for Human Rights, Company Board Diversity, Education & Profession
3. Governance: Anti-Corruption and Bribery

Question 25

What is the purpose of the Non-Financial Reporting Directive?

Answer 25

To encourage transparancy and accountability by requiring companies to produce corporate responsibility disclosures at regular intervals, and outline their specific polies on them

Question 26

Limitation of Non-Financial Reporting Directive

Answer 26

Legal Implementation Deficit:
* The failure to transpose EU legislation into national laws