Test 1 : Sectoral sustainability, theoretical background

Question 1

What is the Bruntland Commission’s definition of sustainable development?

Answer 1

“Development that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (1987).

Question 2

According to Asheim (1994), what is the requirement for sustainable development?

Answer 2

The requirement for our generation is to manage the resource base in a way that ensures the average quality of life for ourselves can potentially be shared by all future generations.

Question 3

Why is it difficult to create a single answer for what sustainable development means?

Answer 3

Sustainable development has different meanings to different people and there are multiple aspects to it.

Question 4

When did sustainable development become a political buzzword?

Answer 4

Since the Rio Conference in 1992.

Question 5

What are the resources needed for sustainable development?

Answer 5

The resources needed for sustainable development include man-made or produced capital (Km), human capital (Kh), natural capital (Kn), and social capital (Ks).

Question 6

What is the formula for calculating the total capital stock needed for sustainable development?

Answer 6

K = Km + Kh + Kn + Ks.

Question 7

What is weak sustainability?

Answer 7

Weak sustainability is the rule that the real value of the total capital stock (K) should be non-declining. The run down of natural capital is allowed as long as man-made capital is increased sufficiently.

Question 8

What is strong sustainability?

Answer 8

Strong sustainability is the rule that the stock of natural capital (Kn) has to be prevented from declining. Reductions in Kn cannot be substituted for by increases in other forms of capital (Norton and Toman, 1997).

Question 9

Term: Levels of SD

Answer 9

Definition: Refers to the different levels at which sustainable development can be achieved, including global, macroregional (such as the European Union), national, and local/microregional levels.

Question 10

Term: NFFS

Answer 10

Definition: The National Framework Strategy on Sustainable Development in Hungary, which outlines goals and strategies for promoting sustainability in various areas.

Question 11

Term: Human capital

Answer 11

Definition: Refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities of individuals that contribute to economic productivity and growth.

Question 12

Term: Natural capital

Answer 12

Definition: Refers to the natural resources and ecosystems that provide goods and services essential to human well-being, such as air, water, and biodiversity.

Question 13

Term: Social capital

Answer 13

Definition: Refers to the networks, norms, and social relationships that facilitate cooperation and coordination among individuals and groups.

Question 14

Term: Ecological Footprint (EF)

Answer 14

Definition: A measure of human demand on nature, representing the amount of biologically productive land and sea area required to produce the resources consumed by humans and absorb the waste produced.

Question 15

Term: Biocapacity

Answer 15

Definition: Refers to the amount of biologically productive land and sea area available to support human activities and absorb the waste produced.

Question 16

Term: Earth Overshoot Day

Answer 16

Definition: Refers to the date on which humanity has used up its yearly allotment of natural resources and services, beyond which the Earth’s resources are being depleted faster than they can be replenished.

Question 17

Term: Environmental Performance Index (EPI)

Answer 17

Definition: An index that measures a country’s environmental performance based on various indicators, including natural resource use and pollution.

Question 18

Term: Carbon dioxide emissions

Answer 18

Definition: Refers to the release of carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere, primarily through the burning of fossil fuels and other human activities, which contributes to climate change.

Question 19

What are the Goals for Businesses to Promote Sustainability (NFFS) ?

Answer 19

Human Resources
Economic Resources
Social Resources
Natural Resources

Question 20

Environmental Awareness (NFFS)

Answer 20

• Rate of people that consider environmental protection is very important
• Hungarian public opinion is supportive of environmental protection
• Participation rate in environmental protection activities is low in international comparison

Question 21

Indicators

Answer 21

• Natural Capital of Vegetation (Source: KSH, 2015)
• Ecological Footprint (EF) - measures human demand on nature (Wackernagel et al, 2001)
• Biocapacity - planet’s biologically productive land areas including forests, pastures, cropland, and fisheries
• Environmental Performance Index (EPI) - quantifies the use of natural resources and pollution of different countries (University of Columbia and Yale, 1999/2005)

Question 22

EF and EPI Ranking

Answer 22

• EF and EPI indicators use the same data, but rankings can contradict each other
• Difference is caused by the aggregation and normalization of elementary data and methodological background