Module 3 Sustainable development (1st year) Flashcards
What are the 3 things needed in order to have sustainable development?
1) Long term planning
2)Desirable policies
3) Durable policies
Define sustainable development
According to the Brundtland report, sustainable development is development that meets the needs of future generations without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs.
Define ecological overshoot
Taking more from the planet more than it can replenish)
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
Social economic and environmental
What are Malta’s plans ?
1) Focus on energy-efficient buildings
2) Gradually reduce the country’s reliance on natural gas by 2050
3) Move to renewable emissions
Mention some sustainable practices that we need to introduce in our societies.
invest in renewable energy
efficient waste management
avoid pesticides and excess use of fertilizers
We need to adapt new environmentally friendly policies like recycling and alternative energy resources
What are the 9 principles of sustainable development?
They guide actions and policies to ensure long term sustainability and well-being
What do the principles highlight?
Principle 1 is the founding pricniple
Principles 2,3,4,5 : the criteria that should be met
Principles: 6,7,8,9: what action should we take towards a sustainable society)
Explain the principles
Principle 1: Respect and care for the community of life.
Refers to respecting and caring for the environment because it has intrinsic value. Everything in the environment is dependent upon each other to survive If we damage the environment we have a serious and detrimental impact on biodiversity life. +anthropocentrism
ex: making candy wrappers that are recyclable + thousands of elephants are killed each year for tusks so they can be made into religious objects
Principle 2: Improve the quality of human life
These include a healthy education, access to resources, and political freedom. The most important is education
Education is the most important because it provides citizens with knowledge awareness skills and values.
Principle 3: Conserve the Earth’s vitality and diversity
(Respecting biodiversity)
The majority of species that become extinct are due to habitat loss or overfishing
Misguided management may destroy an entire ecosystem because everything depends upon each other for survival
Principle 4: Minimize the depletion of non-renewable energy sources
We need to decarbonize our industries + we need to control our carbon footprint
According to Attenborough: the power sources that we should be using are the inexhaustible natural sources of energy which are wind, solar, and hydroelectric (Renewable sources of energy)
In 2019 fossil fuels provided 85 % of our global energy
In July 2014 Malta introduced its first ever solar farm. The system will be saving more than 3100 tonnes of carbon emissions which is equivalent to 520000 trees
Therefore we need to invest in renewables and educate the people on how much carbon emissions they are producing and to be careful
Principle 5:Keep within the Earth’s carrying diversity
Careful management is needed so that the Earth can withstand without dangerous deterioration.
If we are not responsible this can lead to ecological overshoot. Ex: producing more carbon dioxide faster than it can be absorbed
Ex: Malta has a problem with its natural aquifer, it can only be replenished according to how much it rains. This is challenging because Malta has a very dry climate
Principle 6: Change personal attitudes and practices
(to adopt ethical practices for a sustainable living)
example: reduce, reuse and recycle or buy locally grown food
Ex: marks and spencer (big company) has invested 200£ millio project so more recycling can be done(more waste is ennt to a lanfill)
Single used plastic has been banned
Why do we need to avoid single used plastic?
Because kills marine animals and birds,leaks toxins in the nevironment and it can enter our food chain (microplastics)
or avoid products that contain lots of packaging
Principle 7: Enable communities to care for their own environment
