Sustainability Sac

Question 1

Sustainability defintion

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Social sustainability

Answer 2

the concept of an inclusive and just
society where every individual’s needs are met, and where everyone has equal opportunities to contribute and participate in decision-making processes

Question 3

Economic sustainability

Answer 3

the ability of economic systems
to sustain a decent standard of living
and operate in a way that promotes long- term environmental
health and preserves natural
resources for future generations

Question 4

Environmental sustainability

Answer 4

a concept that prioritises the wellbeing of the environment, encompassing aspects like water and air quality, as well as the reduction
of environmental stressors such as
greenhouse gas emissions

Question 5

Critique: measuring sustainability

Answer 5

As the concept of sustainability is complex, it has complicated attempts to measure the effectiveness of
sustainability practices. There are no set criteria or universal measurement indicators. The calculation
of ecological footprints does provide a basic understanding of our reliance on the Earth’s resources;
however, this highlights the existence of problems rather than providing direction towards solutions.
With no universal system to measure whether so-called ‘sustainable’ practices are effective in ensuring
ongoing supply for future generations, it may be difficult to justify their continuation. With a
spiralling world population, the demands on the world’s resources are ever-increasing; therefore, it is
difficult to know the scale of resources future generations will require, nor to measure if our current
level of sustainability is sufficient

Question 6

Land degredation

Answer 6

Land degradation refers to detrimental changes in the condition of the land due to human interactions. These interactions include: older farming practices, industrial pollution, and urbanisation. This links to the reduction in the productive capacity, and subsequently its economic value.

Question 7

Urbanisation

Answer 7

Urbanisation refers to the growth of towns and cities and the increasing number of people who live in urban areas.

Question 8

Implementation to increase environmental sustainability

Answer 8

Wind power – wind energy generates electricity, which is free. Wind is a native source of energy that
does not need to be mined or transported, taking two expensive costs out of long-term energy expenses.