Sustainability Flashcards
Give a definition of sustainability
-Dr Brundtland defined it as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future”
-Dr Hopkins defined it as “enough for all, forever”
-and Dr Ehrenfeld described it as “possibility for life on Earth to flourish forever”
We can also see it as the 4 pillars, of CULTURAL VITALITY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIAL EQUITY, and ECONOMIC HEALTH
Who said that sustainability is “enough for all, forever”?
Dr Hopkins
Who said that sustainability is “possibility for life on Earth to flourish forever”?
Ehrenfeld
Who said that sustainability is being able to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future?
Dr Brundtland
What are some core concepts of sustainability?
- intergenerational responsibility
- systems thinking
- socio-economic justice
What is the strong view of sustainability?
A strong view focusses on the environment and “ecological sustainability” (rather than economic), while relying on physical measures, and without considering financial costs of interventions and activities.
What is a weak view of sustainability?
A weaker view of sustainability takes financial costs into consideration, and allows for “trade-offs” through cost-benefit analysis. As it focusses on economic sustainability (over ecological), it also considers resource allocation and level of consumption.
What is the Triple Bottom Line?
- A theory of sustainability from the 1980s, where the 3 “bottom lines” of environment, social, and economic, combine to give sustainability where they meet. -It mostly saw these three factors in terms of “capital”.
- In order to be full sustainable, the social-economic-environmental factors need to be equitable, feasible, and liveable.
- the biggest porblem with this perspective is that each of the 3 factors were seen as parallel or broadly separate from each other, with only a little overlap.
How was sustainability seen in the 1990s?
It evolved from the 3 separate factors of the triple bottom line, by seeing these factors as being concentric and contained within each other. So the economy is a part of social factors, and social factors are within the environment.
How can we see sustainability?
It has evolved from the triple bottom line of the 1980s, and now we can see 4 pillars, of CULTURAL VITALITY, ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, SOCIAL EQUITY, and ECONOMIC HEALTH. There are also some moral/ethical foundations, like core virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance, and justice (which influence how we see issues like population growth).
How are human health and biodiversity related?
The WHO has recognised that by well-being is dependent on ecosystem goods and services, which in turn depend on biodiversity. So while they focus on health issues, they are also willing to work in an interdisciplinary way to combat biodiversity loss and tackle environmental problems, to ensure good human health conditions.
How can environmental problems affect human health?
- Land use change, pollution, poor water quality, chemical and waste contamination, climate change, and general ecosystem degradation can all contribute to biodiversity loss and of course have negative effects on human health.
- 2 thirds of infectious diseases are shared by animals and humans, exacerbated by poor living conditions between animals and humans.
How are infectious diseased, economic inequality, and biodiversity linked?
Poor living conditions from environmental stresses and biodiversity loss and unhealthy animal-human interactions can cause infectious diseases, which can’t always be treated or addressed properly if populations don’t have access to good healthcare (even in rich countries). These inequalities are also linked to gender, minority status, and so on.
How does the WHO recommend a healthy COVID19 recovery for humankind?
- Protect and preserve nature for human health
- invest in essential services (water, sanitation, clean energy)
- Ensure a quick “healthy energy” transition
- Promote healthy, sustainable food systems
- Build healthy, liveable cities
- Stop using taxpayers money to fund pollution
Many of these relate to the environment, e.g. through pollution, energy sources, and protecting nature, because of humans dependency on a healthy living environment.
