Sustainability Flashcards
Define sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainability was first expressed in the form of environmental objectives to:
- maintain ecological processes and life support systems
- preserve genetic diversity
- ensure the utilisation of species and ecosystems without destroying them
What does economic sustainability examine
The ability of economies to maintain themselves when resources decline or become too expensive, and populations are dependent on those resources are growing
Environmental principles (1992 UN’s Rio Earth Summit principles)
- environmental protection
- people should be informed
- laws and standards to protect, but not affect other countries
- relocation and transfer of activities/substances that are harmful to health should be prevented
- environmental impact assessment should be undertaken
- states notify other countries on natural disasters
Economic principles (1992 UN’s Rio Earth Summit principles)
- all states should try to eliminate poverty
- developing countries given priority
- cooperate to restore the earths ecosystem
- unsustainable production and consumption should be eliminated
- transfer of technology and information
- supper an open economic system
- promote the internationalism of environmental costs
1992
UN’s Rio Earth Summit principles for sustainability
Who has set up an environmental sustainability index (ESI)
CIESIN and Columbia university, and Yale and European agencies
What does the ESI suggest
That sustainability has multiple dimensions and distinct challenges for developed versus developing countries
Facts of the ESI
Richer countries score better on social issues, while poorer countries have lower environmental impact
What two countries have the same ESI score
Spain and Indonesia - 48.8
