Sustainability

Question 1

What does sustainability mean?

Answer 1

Sustainable development is a concept that ensures meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.

Question 2

What is a resource?

Answer 2

Something of value to the human race. Resources are fundamental to our survival. Individual nations and entire social and economic systems are dependent on resources. To be classified as a resource it must be utilised in order to satisfy a requirement.

Question 3

What is the value of organic resources?

Answer 3

They hold intrinsic value (an end in themselves), biological value (yield or productivity) and wider ecological value (for their role within an ecosystem – Take one element out and the whole ecosystem could change).

Question 4

How are resources defined?

Answer 4

desires, needs and capacities

Question 5

What are the three categories of resources?

Answer 5

Renewable (i.e. solar energy)

Replenish (i.e. metals and minerals, also some plants and animals)

Non-renewable (i.e. fossil fuels, some plants and animals)

Question 6

What are the consequences of socioeconomic trends such as population growth and global access to resources?

Answer 6

Consequences include poverty, resource depletion, pollution and climate change.

Question 7

What is the answer to excessive resource consumption?

Answer 7

SUSTAINABILITY!!!

Question 8

What is the term given for resources that an ecosystem provides?

Answer 8

Resources from ecosystems are called ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. These services are related to the well being of the human population.

Question 9

What is the “triple bottom line” that drives the goal to sustainability?

Answer 9

Social, Economic, Environment. In an ideal world Economic, Social and Environment should all be interlinked, however it is often found that Environmental aspects are undervalued. In addition to this Economic is considered most important, then Social.

Question 10

What is the term given for someone who has strong environmental focus?

Answer 10

Ecocentric (Ecocentrism). Someone who is ecocentric believes that all biotic beings are of equal intrinsic value.

Question 11

What is the term given for someone who has weak environmental focus?

Answer 11

Technocentric (Technocentrism) Firm belief that technology can control nature.

Question 12

What levels of long-term strategic approaches to sustainability?

Answer 12

Global, Local and regional

Question 13

What is the purpose of environmental management in relation to sustainability?

Answer 13

Environmental Management is based on the assumption that there is an optimal balance of natural resource. Utilization of resources but to retain a life-supporting environment. It involves objectives, mitigation and protection in order to satisfy quality of life whilst minimising the environmental impact. It is a supportive mechanism for sustainable development

Question 14

How many people are there on earth, and how many are malnourished?

Answer 14

There are estimated to be 1 billion who are malnourished out of approximately 7 billion on the earth.

Question 15

What is the GEO, and its relation to environment and people?

Answer 15

Global environmental Outlook 5 highlights the vulnerability of people to environmental change

Question 16

What is the effect of poverty on the environment?

Answer 16

Poverty drives the destruction of the environment as those who have nothing try and make use of what is around them. That means land use change, over grazing, burning of forests. The impact of poverty on the world is devastating.

Question 17

What are the consequences of excessive resource consumption?

Answer 17

Leads to a crisis. Loss of biodiversity, resources, and ultimately global insecurity.

Question 18

What has conservation, culture, development and social needs got in common?

Answer 18

They are fundamentally linked. Nature, resources, people and culture. Poses a question on how we can be so happy over exploiting resources. Lack of education? Or willingness to accept?

Question 19

What are the prospects for achieving sustainable development?

Answer 19

It considers a number of key issues;

Politics – Compromise/ tradeoffs

Economics – economic models

Access to information

Funds from NORTH to SOUTH

Question 20

What are the priorities of developing countries and who is this outlined by?

Answer 20

Economic and social development and poverty eradication. These are the first, and overriding priorities of developing countries. Therefore to be sustainable. This was stated by the CBD.

Question 21

What did the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas say about future developments?

Answer 21

There should be an integration of conservation concerns in development agendas. To ensure sustainable human use.

Question 22

So what approaches should be implemented in a method to protect the environment during development?

Answer 22

Assigning value to the environment. Extending time horizons for development policies. Ultimately re-establishing relationships of human activities and the conservation of natural resources.

Question 23

How can it be shown whether development is becoming sustainable?

Answer 23

Through the use of sustainable development indicators (SDI). Social, economic, environment. Sustainable development indicators can facilitate decision making at a national level by guiding policy, alerting decision makers and the understanding of key trends.

Question 24

What is the name of the document that outlines the UK strategy on sustainable development?

Answer 24

Securing the future: Delivering UK sustainable development strategy (2011)

Question 25

What are the current priority areas for sustainability outlined in this document?

Answer 25

• Natural resource protection and enhancement of the environment
• Climate change
• Sustainable consumption and production
• Sustainable communities

Question 26

What should Sustainable development be integrated into?

Answer 26

Sustainable development should now be integrated into both economic and social agendas (linking to quality of life).

Question 27

How did the UK government provide an overview of the direction society was heading in terms of being sustainable?

Answer 27

Sustainable development indicators. These are used to determine whether sustainable development strategies were being met.

Question 28

What do the public need to do/ think to be sustainable?

Answer 28

Move away from the greed culture by changing life style. Population growth is a massive influence on this. Is it too late?

Question 29

What are the mechanisms for change in order to be more sustainable?

Answer 29

Clear lack of mechanisms. There is no real way of measuring it. Is it therefore just a concept? By not being sustainable ECOSYSTEMS ARE THREATENED, INCREASE IN POVERTY, GREATER INEQUALITY AND GLOBALISATION.

Question 30

What percentage of the earths terrestrial land has been modified?

Answer 30

50%

Question 31

What percentage of fisheries across the world have been over exploited or depleted?

Answer 31

75%

Question 32

The Earth is in the midst of its sixth what and who is caused by?

Answer 32

Extinction. Caused by homo sapiens

Question 33

What three key ingredients help to achieve sustainability?

Answer 33

Sustainability targets

Policy

Critical analysis of foundational and longer term issues

Question 34

Why are targets a key ingredient to achieve sustainability and example of targets?

Answer 34

They provide the means for evaluating the success of the actions taken
Millennium development goals

Question 35

Why is policy a key ingredient to achieve sustainability and example of policy?

Answer 35

Policies have the ability to change current societies that are not sustainable. Agri-environment schemes, or emissions trading.

Question 36

Why is Critical analysis of foundational and longer term issues a key ingredient to achieve sustainability?

Answer 36

A critical analysis is key because is can link shorter term policy with long term sustainability targets.

Question 37

What is the sustainability shift?

Answer 37

Sustainability demands that modern consumer culture shifts from paradigms of conquest, to paradigms of connectivity.

Question 38

What is ecological footprint?

Answer 38

The human impact on the earth

Question 39

If everyone enjoyed a North American living how many Earth’s would we need?

Answer 39

3, we are living beyond our biophysical needs

Question 40

Why should access of information be good for sustainable development?

Answer 40

– for sustainable development to be viable there needs to be accessible information for the public. Can be used to inform decision making on whether or not certain activities should be undertaken

Question 41

Why would funds from north to south help be more sustainable?

Answer 41

– for sustainable development to succeed a transfer of wealth from north countries to south as some southern countries are not able to provide basic needs to their citizens.

Question 42

How many people on the earth are living in poverty?

Answer 42

2 billion living in poverty.

Question 43

What percentage of the worlds population consume a majority of the resources? what percentage?

Answer 43

20% of the worlds population (WESTERN) consume 80% of the worlds resources and produce 80% of contamination. As population grows then resources will deplete.