Task 1: Conceptualising SD

Question 1

What is the conventional model of development?​

Answer 1

The conventional model of development assumes a linear progression where development is seen as the modernization of global society along Western lines, focusing on economic growth. ​

It emphasizes that Third World societies need to catch up with Western-style development through capitalism and integration into global market systems.​

Question 2

What is the conventional model of development according to Rostow?​

Answer 2

Countries pass through 5 linear stages of economic development, where industrialization through capitalist growth is a central requirement.

The stages are: i) traditional society (subsistence, barter, agriculture); ii) transitional stage (specialization, surpluses, infrastructure); iii) take-off (industrialisation, growing investment, regional growth, political change); iv) drive to maturity (diversification, innovation, less reliance on imports, investment); v) high mass consumption (durable goods flourish, service sector becomes dominant).

Question 3

What were/are the (7) critiques on the conventional model of development?​

Answer 3

1. Limits of Economic Growth – planets limited carrying capacity ​
2. Impossible Global Replication – Resource are scarce ​
3. Exploitation of Third World Countries – exploitation of natural resource base ​
4. Social stability requires maintenance of natural resources​
5. False understanding of Progress – progress in terms of domination over nature​
6. Value of Nature as Instrumental not intrinsic ​
7. Consumption as most important contributor to human welfare – Individual standard of living vs. collective quality of life ​

Question 4

Finish the following quote: ​

“the post-World War II experience of economic growth and prosperity was both…”​

Answer 4

Exceptional: ​

It cannot be replicated across space (from the West to the global level) or across time (into the future). ​

​

Contingent:​

Depending upon a short-term perspective, the prioritization of one region of the globe over another, and upon giving preference to one species (humans) over the system as a whole.​

Question 5

What is the Brundtland Report?​

Answer 5

A report that explicitly for the first time mentions the links between social, economic and ecological dimensions in development.​
- December 1983: the UN asks the Prime Minister of Norway, Gro Harlem Brundtland, to lead a commission independent of the UN to focus on environmental and developmental problems and solutions​
- In 1987, the Brundtland Commission published their report “Our Common Future”​
- Puts development (traditional economic and social goal) and sustainability (an ecological goal) together​

​Reconciling what had hitherto appeared to be conflicting societal goals​

Question 6

How does the Brundtland Report define Sustainable Development?​

Answer 6

​

Sustainable Development refers to:​

​”development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” ​

​- (Brundtland Report)​

Question 7

What are the two key concepts in the Brundtland definition of SD?​

Answer 7

The concept of need, prioritizing the world’s poor.​

The concept of limitations imposed by technology and social organization on the environment’s ability to meet future needs​

Question 8

Concept of needs-based approach ​

Answer 8

Satisfaction of human needs and aspirations is the major objective of development ​

Sustainable development requires meeting the basic needs of all and extending to all the opportunity to satisfy their aspirations for a better future; including Worlds poor ​

Does not exclude economic growth​ - Use of innovation and technology for economic growth within the limits of the biosphere ​

Question 9

Concept of Limits ​

Answer 9

SD implies limits:​
- Not absolute limits but limitations imposed by the present state of technology and social organizations on environmental resources​
- By the ability of the biosphere to absorb the effects of human activities​

Notion of limits is linked to other concepts/approaches: ​
- The notion of “ecosystem health” and critical natural capital ​
- The planetary boundary work by Rockstrom et al (2009) ​
- Ecological footprint and planetary overshoot​. Ecological footprint > planetary bounds = planetary overshoot​

Question 10

What are the three pillars of the Brundtland Report?​

Answer 10

Social​
Environmental​
Economic​

Question 11

Why was the Brundtland report so timely successful ?​

Answer 11

Combines development (traditional economic and social goals) and sustainability (environmental goals) together, thus reconciling what was thought to be conflicting societal goals .

Environmental degradation was on the political agenda ​
Global focus​
- Fulfillment of the needs of the world’s poor and the reduction in the wants ​
- Optimistic outlook ​

Question 12

Would the Brundtland Report be considered a strong or weak sustainability?​

Answer 12

Weak Sustainability Aspects: It allows for some substitutability of natural capital through technology and economic development, emphasizes economic growth for poverty alleviation, and stresses the role of technological innovation in managing environmental degradation.​

Strong Sustainability Aspects: The report emphasizes intergenerational equity, recognizing environmental limits, and the need to balance social, economic, and environmental goals, with a strong focus on preserving essential natural resources.​

Assessment: It incorporates both weak and strong sustainability elements, advocating a middle-ground approach to development within the planet’s limits.​

Question 13

How does SD challenge the conventional development model?​

Answer 13

SD emphasizes the integration of ecological, social, and economic dimensions, rejecting the idea that development can solely focus on economic growth​.

Question 14

What is the significance of the Holocene epoch in sustainability?​

Answer 14

The Holocene represents a stable period that has been ideal for human development, and SD aims to maintain similar conditions to prevent catastrophic environmental changes ​

Question 15

What are the limits to economic growth according to SD?​

Answer 15

Economic growth is limited by the planet’s carrying capacity and finite resources, which cannot be overcome by technology alone​

Question 16

What role does the UN play in promoting SD?​

Answer 16

The UN organizes world summits, like the UNCED, and advances the understanding of sustainable development through agreements like the Rio Declaration​

Question 17

What is the SD Paradigm?​

Answer 17

• Ultimate, biophysical limits to growth​
• Protecting the natural resource base upon which future development depends​
• Creating an ecological society that lives in harmony with nature​
• Reconciling economic activity, social progress and environmental protection.​
• Integrate environmental, economic and social considerations into a new development paradigm.​
• More optimistic: a new belief developed that environmental protection and economic development could become mutually compatible, not conflicting, objectives of policy​

Question 18

What is the Ladder of Sustainable Development?​

Answer 18

Way to organize the many different interpretations and to relate them to specific policy imperatives.​

The ladder represents a broad spectrum on which different approaches can be mapped​ from anthropocentric to ecocentric.

Question 19

What assumptions does the Ladder of Sustainable Development make about the human-nature relationship?​

Answer 19

pollution control: nature is seen only in relation to its use to human beings.​

weak approach: sustainable development becomes a challenge to develop a more environmentally friendly approach to planning and resource management.​

strong approach: nature is allowed to set the parameters of economic behavior, so that sustainable development becomes an `externally guided’ development model, based on planetary limits.​

ideal approach: green philosophy, sustainable development is viewed as managerial interference with nature and her natural cycles (and nature has intrinsic value).​

Question 20

What is meant by the weak approach to sustainability?​

Answer 20

Definition: ​
- aim to integrate capitalist growth with environmental concerns​
- Precondition economic development for environmental protection​
- Total sustainability by technology ​

Argues: ​
- Preserve critical “natural capital” is to give it economic value and price​
- Price based on what people are willing to pay to protect natural capital ​
- “cost-benefit-analysis” => gains and loss natural capital​
- “ putting a price on the planet” ​

Objective of policies to promote weak SD​
- Economic growth but environmental costs are taken into account​
- Environment considered measurable resource ​

Question 21

What is the critique of weak sustainability?​

Answer 21

Weak sustainability is criticized for being anthropocentric, assuming that all natural capital can be valued in economic terms, which may ignore the intrinsic value of nature​

Question 22

Explain the strong approach to Sustainability​

Answer 22

Environmental protection is a precondition for economic development ​

Major Difference: ​
- Relation whether natural capital can be drawn down and technology is a substitute or whether there is such a thing as “critical” natural capital which cannot be substituted for by technology and needs to be preserved​
- Assumes strict limits on how human capital cannot compensate for natural capital ​

Precautionary principle​
- Uncertain scientific knowledge => policy makers must err on side of caution ​
- Requirement of strong intervention (government) combined with new forms of participation (governance)​

No free rein of market force Shift from quantitative growth (material terms) to qualitative development (quality)​

Development of new indicators e.g. Index of sustainable economic welfare​

Growth only under certain limit conditions​

View development over the long-term and at the global level​

Question 23

Explain the Pollution Control Approach according to the ladder of Sustainable Development​

Answer 23

• Freedom to innovate​
• Technology can solve environmental problems Environmental protection is an integral part of development​
• Should not put limits upon development​
• Environmental protection nor should it form the main priority​
• Empirical Approach: pollution arises in early stages of industrial development and later stages no longer regarded acceptable side effect of economic growth thus control policies ​

Question 24

Explain the Ideal Approach according to the ladder of Sustainable Development​

Answer 24

Profound vison aimed at structural change in society, economy and political system​

Some reject Brundtland formulation and modify it injecting radial/social considerations Radical position e.g. deep ecology ​

Three characteristics ​
- Attributing equal value to all life forms​
- Identification with non-human natural entities and systems ​
- Advocating the development of policies that stress non-interference and the harmony of human life and nature ​

Question 25

What is the “Keeling Curve”?​

Answer 25

A graph that represents the steady increase in atmospheric CO2 levels, highlighting the magnitude and urgency of climate change. As of 2024, CO2 levels reached 422 ppm ​

Question 26

What is the Great Acceleration?​

Answer 26

The rapid increase in human activities (like GDP growth and population) and their impacts on Earth systems, leading to environmental degradation​

Question 27

What is the difference between “Instrumental Value” and “Intrinsic Value” of nature?​

Answer 27

Instrumental Value: Nature is valued only for its utility to humans.​

Intrinsic Value: Nature is valuable in its own right, regardless of its usefulness to humans ​

Question 28

What is the Planetary Boundaries framework?​

Answer 28

A framework identifying nine critical processes (e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss) that regulate Earth’s stability. Crossing these boundaries could lead to catastrophic environmental changes​

Question 29

What is the Precautionary Principle in SD?​

Answer 29

It advocates caution in using natural capital, especially when there are uncertainties about the potential impacts on future generations​

Question 30

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?​

Answer 30

A set of 17 interconnected global goals established by the United Nations in 2015.​

They aim to address global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice​

Question 31

Name at least three SDGs​

Answer 31

1. No poverty.
2. No hunger.
3. Good health.
4. Quality education.
5. Gender equality.
6. Clean water and sanitation.
7. Renewable energy.
8. Good jobs and economic growth.
9. Innovation and infrastructure.
10. Reduced inequalities.
11. Sustainable cities
12. Responsible consumption
13. Climate action.
14. Life below water.
15. Life on land.
16. Peace and justice.
17. Partnerships for the goals.

Question 32

What is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)’ relationship to the SDGs?​

Answer 32

The MDGs, which ended in 2015, focused on poverty alleviation, and were the precursor to the broader and more integrated SDGs​.

Question 33

How are the SDGs different from the MDGs?​

Answer 33

SDGs have a broader scope, covering not only poverty but also environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social equality​

Question 34

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?​

Answer 34

A set of 17 interconnected global goals established by the United Nations in 2015.​

They aim to address global challenges like poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice​

Question 35

What is the target year for achieving the SDGs?​

Answer 35

The SDGs are part of the 2030 Agenda, with the goal of achieving the objectives by the year 2030​

Question 36

Briefly explain the process of how the SDGs came to be​

Answer 36

Rio+20 Conference: agreement to launch a process to develop a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)​

After RIO+20: UN General Assembly set up an Open Working Group to develop a proposal on the SDGs.​

Contrary to the MDGs, the SDGs were formulated in a broad participatory process; the largest consultation program in UN history encompassing series of “global conversations”.​

Question 37

What is the significance of global partnerships in the SDGs?​

Answer 37

The SDGs emphasize the importance of global partnerships (SDG 17), which involve collaboration between governments, civil society, the private sector, and international organizations to achieve the goals​

Question 38

What are the key challenges in implementing the SDGs?​

Answer 38

Major challenges include funding, political will, institutional capacity, and coordinating efforts at global, national, and local levels to ensure that the SDGs are effectively integrated into policies and actions​