Sustainability and Human Development

Question 1

Economic sustainability

Answer 1

Ensuring that average incomes in all countries are adequate to sustain a decent standard of living and continue to rise in line with inflation and living costs in the future

Question 2

Aspects of economic sustainability

Answer 2

• innovation and diversity of industries
• job creation
• trade
• economic growth

Question 3

Sustainability

Answer 3

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 4

Social sustainability

Answer 4

Creating an equitable society that meets the needs of all citizens and can be maintained indefinitely

Question 5

Aspects of social sustainability

Answer 5

• elimination of poverty and the provision of social protection systems
• gender equality
• access to safe and decent working conditions
• promotion of political and legal rights
• peace and security

Question 6

Environmental Sustainability

Answer 6

Ensuring the natural environment is used in a way that will preserve resources into the future

Question 7

Aspects of environmental sustainability

Answer 7

• biodiversity
• use of natural resources
• waste removal and pollution
• climate change

Question 8

Biodiversity

Answer 8

The variety of different plants, animals and micro-organisms, their genes and the ecosystems of which they are a part

Question 9

Ecosystems

Answer 9

A community of living things and the non-living components of the environment in which they live. An ecosystem can include plants, animals, micro-organisms, water, air, soil and rocks

Question 10

Renewable

Answer 10

Resources that are replenished naturally and over a relatively short period, and include crops, water, oxygen, forests, and fish stocks

Question 11

Non-renewable

Answer 11

Resources that are not replenished in a short period, so once they are used, they are not available for future generations. Non-renewable resources include coal, natural gas, petroleum and nuclear substances

Question 12

Human development

Answer 12

Creating an environment in which people can develop to their full potential and lead productive, creative lives according to their needs and interests. It is about expanding people’s choices and enhancing capabilities, having access to knowledge, health and a decent standard of living, and participating in the life of their community and decisions affecting their lives

Question 13

Capabilities of human development

Answer 13

• lead long healthy lives
• lead productive and creative lives according to their needs and interest
• have access to knowledge and expand their choices and capabilities
• have access to the resources needed for a decent standard of living
• participate in the life of the community
• participate in the decisions that affect their lives

Question 14

Advantages of the HDI

Answer 14

• takes more than just average incomes into account
• makes comparison easier cos it provides a single statistic
• effective in analysing progress that’s made by countries over time
  -captured attention of media, policymakers, communities - raise awareness
• provides indication of opportunities for education
• average income reflects ability to access the resources required for a decent standard of living

Question 15

Disadvantages of the HDI

Answer 15

• based on avereages - doens’t provide indication of inequalities
• reliability of data is a challenge - cos collecting data is complex
• no survey data are collected, people’s feelings not reflected
• only reflects selected aspects of human development
• human dev has been equated with the 3 dimensions of HDI - neglects freedom, choices and capabilities

Question 16

Human Development Index

Answer 16

a tool developed by the UN to measure and rank countries’ levels of social and economic development. It provides a single statistic based on three dimensions - a long and healthy life, knowledge and a decent standard of living - and four indications - life expectancy at birth, mean years of schooling, expected years of schooling and GNI per capita

Question 17

Dimensions of the HDI

Answer 17

• a long and healthy life
• knowledge
• a decent standard of living

Question 18

Indicators the HDI

Answer 18

• life expectancy at birth
• mean years of schooling
• expected years of schooling
• gross national income per capita

Question 19

Life expectancy at birth

Answer 19

An indication of how long person can expect to live; it’s the number of years of life remaining to a person at birth if death rates do not change

Question 20

Mean years of schooling

Answer 20

The average number of years of education achieved by those aged 25 years and over

Question 21

Expected years of schooling

Answer 21

The number of years of education expected for a child of school entrance age

Question 22

Mass Migration

Answer 22

movement of large groups of people from one geographical area to another.

Question 23

Conflict

Answer 23

The absence of peace

Question 24

Asylum Seekers

Answer 24

People who have fled their country but for whom their request for protection in another country has yet to be processed

Question 25

Stateless persons

Answer 25

People who do not have the nationality of a country and are therefore not protected by the laws of any country.