Sustainability Flashcards
What is the purpose of sustainability?
meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations meeting their own needs. Three interdependent, mutual objectives:
Economic – strong and competitive economy, land used in most efficient manner, profits vs ethics, job creation and stability
Social – meeting housing needs, community requirements, employee needs
Environmental - responsible use of resources, waster management, carbon emissions
Why do we need to act?
Burning fossil fuels – emission of greenhouse gases that increase global temperatures.
IPCC report showing that if we fail to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, we will get more frequent and fierce floods and fires, rising sea levels, melting of arctic frost
What are the government doing to tackle climate change?
Made a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 via emissions reduction and removal
The Net Zero Strategy 2021
- Sets out government policies and commitments to achieve net zero carbon by 2050.
- Covers industry, heating and buildings, transport, natural resources, waste and fluorinated gases and greenhouse gas removal
- Transport: £2bn investment - 50% journeys in towns and cities are walked or cycled.
- Heating - by 20235, no gas boilers sold
The Net Zero Growth Plan 2023
- sets out an update to the existing strategies, focusing on the scale up and deployment of technologies for decarbonising homes, power, industry and transport.
