Reflection Questions 4 Flashcards
What is Anthropocene
Refers to epoch of time where human activity started significantly impacting the planet climate and ecosystems
How does Anthropocene demonstrate itself in key socioeconomic trends
Demonstrated in population, urban population, transportation, large dams; all have increased due to human influence
There was a linear change in 1950s, then great acceleration
How does Anthropocene demonstrate itself in key earth system trends
Demonstrated by carbon dioxide, marine fish capture, tropical forest loss; all increasing significantly
Used to be linear, then great acceleration
What are UN sustainable development goals
Commitment to world community to ensure sustained and economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection
People, prosperity, peace, partnership, planet
What are some sustainable development goals
End poverty [end poverty in all cases everywhere]
Zero hunger [end hunger and achieve food security]
Quality education [ensure inclusive and equitable quality education]
Gender equality [achieve gender equality and empower women]
What are key frameworks for understanding corporate sustainability’s ecological elements
UN sustainable development goals in wedding cake
Planetary boundaries
Doughnut economics
SDG wedding cake
Biosphere related goals related to life on land, life below water, clean water and sanitation, and climate action should be non negotiable and have priority over societal and economic goals
[biosphere bottom layer, society middle layer, economy top layer]
Planetary boundaries
Set of science based indicators aiming to determine a safe operating space for humanity
Some boundaries: climate change, ozone depletion, ocean acidification, etc.
Doughnut economics
Extension of planetary boundaries
Able to depict both social ambitions and planetary boundaries
Need to meet social floor without surpassing ecological ceiling
What are key trends in climate change
Global surface temperature increase
Arctic sea ice area decrease
Global ocean surface pH decrease
Global mean sea level change increase
What are key trends in climate change impacts?
Upper ocean acidification
Increase in hot extremes
Global sea level rise
Glacier retreat
What is a circular economy?
Industrial system that is restorative by design
Model of consumption and production which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible
Examples of a circular economy in practice
Fairphone and Roetz bikes
Reuse and repair of phones and bikes, reducing waste, researching recycling options
What are business models for sustainability
A model geared to solve ecological and social challenges through a company’s value creation activities
What are related principles to business models for sustainability
Sustainability orientation [what is guiding the business model]
Extended value creation [reflect stakeholders values and how they relate to desired outcomes]
Systems thinking [what is wider system the model is embedded in? How does it relate to different parts of system]
Stakeholder integration [who are stakeholders? How can they be integrated to help?]
