Sustainability not finished

Question 1

What is resource sustainability?

Answer 1

How fast a resource is used in relation to how fast it’s replaced.

Question 2

What is the life-support system sustainability?

Answer 2

Considering wider impacts (even if the resource can be replaced) if the activity reduced the ability of the planet’s life support systems to sustain life.

Question 3

How does increasing affluence increase environmental impacts?

Answer 3

• Increased material consumption.
• High energy use appliances.
• Holidays and travel.
• Food miles.

Question 4

What is planned obsolescence?

Answer 4

Some products are deliberately designed to have a reduced lifespan = buy new one = company gets revenue.

Question 5

Methods of planned obsolescence: Technical failure

Answer 5

Some devices fitted with components that are deliberately designed to wear out - like plastic.

Question 6

Methods of planned obsolescence: Built-in batteries

Answer 6

Items like portable media players may have built in rechargeable batteries that can’t be replaced.

Question 7

Methods of planned obsolescence: Lack of spare parts

Answer 7

When new models are introduced, manufacturers may stop providing spare parts for older models, so if there are any issues with older models, they’ll have to be fully replaced with a newer model.

Question 8

Methods of planned obsolescence: Throwaway society

Answer 8

Reusing items can be inconvenient and may require effort in order to do so. Might be easier to throwaway and get a replacement even if it is still functioning.

Question 9

What are some strategies as individuals to become more sustainable?

Answer 9

• Recycling
• Reuse items/update less often
• Energy saving devices
• Public transport/lift shares/walk
• Lower meat consumption/plant based diet
• Buying second hand
• Boycott certain companies by not buying anything of theirs.

Question 10

Define ecological footprint.

Answer 10

The area of the Earth’s surface needed to provide the resources and deal with the waste produced. We are currently needing the equivalent of 1.7 earths.

If everyone used their resources and energy like USA, we’d need 4 earths.

Question 11

Define carbon footprint.

Answer 11

The part of ecological footprint that is caused by the release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

Question 12

Define biocapacity.

Answer 12

The measure of biological productivity of an area - can be increased by good management.

Question 13

Define ecological debt

Answer 13

A measure of how much faster we are exploiting the planet’s resources that can be replaced. Earth overshoot usually occurs around July/August.

Question 14

Define Living Planet Index (LPI).

Answer 14

Calculated by WWF as a measure of the state of the earth’s ecosystems. It compares populations from a huge range of species in a range of ecosystems and compares to what they were in 1970.

A measure of the earth’s biodiversity.

Question 15

What is dynamic equilibria?

Answer 15

The movement from one reservoir to another is balanced out by the movement in the opposite direction.

Question 16

What is positive and negative feedback?

Answer 16

Positive - Processes that increase change.
Negative - Processes that resist change.

Question 17

What are tipping points?

Answer 17

They can be reached which lead to new equilibria e.g. increased forest fires can lead to self-sustaining changes.

Question 18

What is unique about diverse ecosystems compared to less diverse ecosystems?

Answer 18

Diverse ecosystems e.g. rainforests are less likely to change than less diverse ecosystems e.g. agroecosystems.

Question 19

What is a human activity that is an alternative for a natural process: nitrogen fixation?

Answer 19

Haber process.

Question 20

What is a human activity that is an alternative for a natural process: decomposition of waste?

Answer 20

Incineration.

Question 21

What is a human activity that is an alternative for a natural process: use of enzymes to facilitate reactions?

Answer 21

High temperatures.

Question 22

What is a human activity that is an alternative for a natural process: production of organic molecules?

Answer 22

Manufacturing processes.

Question 23

What is the Brundtland Commission?

Answer 23

Brundtland report (1987) defined sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.”

It studied many issues: Air, water and land quality, transport systems, waste management, and raised awareness of these.

Question 24

Circular economy principle: Cycling of materials.

Answer 24

Biogeochemical cycles illustrate how the build up of materials in one location is avoided by recycling.

Question 25

Circular economy principle: Energy derived from renewable resources.

Answer 25

Natural processes are driven almost exclusively by renewable sources.

Question 26

Circular economy principle: Human activities should support ecosystems.

Answer 26

Human survival depends on ecosystems so anything that degrades them impacts our survival.

Question 27

Circular economy principle: Diverse systems are more resistant to change.

Answer 27

Impact of change is smaller as each component is relatively less important.

Question 28

Circular economy principle: Connected systems.

Answer 28

Waste product from one system can be used by another.

Question 29

Circular economy principle: Design of products for extended use.

Answer 29

Reduces the opportunity for the loss of materials.

Question 30

Circular economy principle: Design of products for end of life.

Answer 30

Enables materials to be more easily identified, separated and recycled.

Question 31

Circular economy principle: Separation of technical and biological materials.

Answer 31

Different materials require different reprocessing methods.

Question 32

Circular economy principle: Optimum production rather than maximum production.

Answer 32

Overproduction from natural systems provides a surplus that the whole system relies upon e.g. pollination, seed dispersal.

Question 33

Circular economy principle: Technologies to design new products to improve effectiveness.

Answer 33

Improved designs can increase energy efficiency alongside ease of recycling and reducing material use.

Question 34

Initiatives to support circular economy and sustainability: Rio Summit.

Answer 34

• 1992. UN conference on Environment and Development.
• Finalised series of actions called Agenda 21. Governments of many countries have directed local authorities to implement plans on local scale.
• Summits followed in Johannesburg (2002) and Rio again (2012) to reaffirm commitment.
• Targets set: Halving proportion of people without access to safe drinking water, maintaining or restoring fish stocks, improves access (in developing countries) to technology needed to phase out ozone depleting substances.
• Implementation is voluntary, not legally binding. Progress has been limited.

Question 35

Case study on Sustainability: Ol Pejeta Game Reserve - Kenya.

Answer 35

• Private game reserve covering 360km^2. Used to be a cattle ranch, big herbivores and predators killed to protect livestock.
• Became a model of pragmatic wildlife conservation alongside commercial livestock farming.
• Cattle dipped in insecticides to kill ticks which reduced tick populations for wild herbivores.
• Dung left by cattle increased soil nutrient levels, increasing plant growth.
• Electric fences to stop poachers getting in and wildlife getting out.
• Biological corridors link Ol Pejeta to other conservation areas, exits allow animals to come and go.
• Drones to search for poachers.
• Populations of several endangered species have been established. Grevy’s Zebra, Northern White Rhinos.

Question 36

Case Study on Sustainability: Eigg - UK.

Answer 36

• Small island off the west coast of Scotland, an area of 31km^2.
• Not connected to national electricity grid and an island electricity grid was established in 2008, generated by renewable sources with diesel as backup.
• 3 HEP generators.
• 50kw solar PV systems.
• 4 wind turbines generate up to 24kw of electricity.
• Hen Harriers, Golden Eagles, and White Tailed Eagles nest here.
• Wood biomass for heating.
• Areas with important wild plants have been fenced for protection from grazing animals.
• Woodlands of indigenous trees planted like Rowan, Birch, Goat Willow etc.
• Recyclable waste collected and shipped off island for recycling.
• Garden and food waste composted and used as garden soil improver.