Sustainable Development Flashcards
How was wealth distributed in the 1970s
Richest 20% had 70% of global income
Poorest 20% had 2.3%
How was wealth distributed in 2000?
Richest 20% had 86% of wealth
Poorest 20% had 1.3%
What is the trend of wealth distribution?
The 1% is gaining a greater share of the wealth over time.
Explain the divide between “North and South”
Roughly speaking, geographical maps divided North to South has northern countries the most developed and southern countries less so. The North imports raw goods from the South, and manufactures products out of them at greater profits.
What is a TNC and how do they operate?
Transnational Corporation. Global trade can have products made in poor countries with lower wages, poorer environmental and labour regulations, shipped to wealthiest countries
Explain common ownership
It leads to misuse of resources because no one feels responsible for its upkeep. People can abuse it disproportionately. Undervalues the resource
Explain no ownership
Resources get used quickly and no one invests in an uncertain future
Private ownership
Concentration of resources into fewer hands
What was the WCED?
World Commission on Environment and Development. In 1983 the UN Secretary General appointed Gro Harlem Brundtland to lead the commission. They documented the world’s environmental issues and suggested their mitigation or elimination.
What is sustainable development, traditionally.
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.
What are the principals for sustainable development?
Basic needs must be met: food, clothing, shelter, jobs. People without these are priority (poorest)
Continued maintenance of environment and biological resources
Economic systems and ecological systems must be connected
Which country first signed the international call to action on sustainable development?
Canada under Mulroney 1987
What did the World Summit on Sustainable Development lay out (Johannesburg 2002)?
Economic growth and equity is needed to achieve long-term growth.
We need and economically viable solution to reduce consumption, stop pollution, conserve nature.
provide social services like jobs, food, healthcare.
What was the UN 2010 strategy for Sustainable Development?
A coordinated and participatory strategy - every country needs to be involved.
An adaptive system that can improve.
Manage progress instead of setting a fixed plan.
What is the current sustainability strategy in Canada?
Climate change, air quality
Water quality
Protecting nature, Canadians
Shrinking our footprint
