U203 Environmental Sustainability Flashcards
types of environmental inputs
renewable resources
non - renewable resources
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
renewable resources
RENEWABLE RESOURCES FOUND IN NATURE THAT CAN BE REPLENISHED OR REPLACED OVER A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.
EG; PLANTS AND ANIMALS, SOLAR/WIND ENERGY.
non - renewable resources
NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES OR INPUTS THAT CANNOT BE READILY REPLACED ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN USED UP. THEY TAKE MILLIONS OF YEARS AND SPECIAL GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS FOR THEIR FORMATION
EG; MINERALS, OIL, COAL AND IRON ORE
environmental resources
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES THAT MAKE THE EARTH UNIQUE AND SUPPORT LIFE AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES.
EG; STABLE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, CLEAN AIR, UNPOLLUTED OCEANS AND RIVERS, VIGOROUS NATURAL FORESTS,
ENVIRO RESOURCES ARE KNOWN AS……
ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES ARE USUALLY FREE
UNLIKE OTHER RESOURCES, ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES ARE USUALLY FREE INPUTS THAT
CAN BE USED BY ANYONE.
THIS LEADS TO THEIR OVERUSE, ABUSE AND EVENTUALLY, DEPLETED QUANTITY AND QUALITY.
THESE RESOURCES ARE KNOWN AS PUBLIC OR COMMON ACCESS RESOURCES
CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMON ACCESS RESOURCES
NOT OWNED BY ANYONE* AND THUS DO NOT HAVE A MARKET PRICE.
THEY ARE NON-EXCLUDABLE - ANYONE CAN USE/CONSUME THEM WITHOUT PAYING I.E FREE
BUT THEY ARE RIVALROUS – IF USED/CONSUMED, ANOTHER CANNOT.
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
‘THE RATES OF HARVESTING RENEWABLE RESOURCES, CREATING POLLUTION, AND DEPLETING NON-RENEWABLE NATURAL RESOURCES AS A RESULT OF INCREASING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY THAT CAN BE CONTINUED INDEFINITELY INTO THE FUTURE’.
‘RESPONSIBLE INTERACTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT TO AVOID DEPLETION OR DEGRADATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ALLOW FOR LONG-TERM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY’.
‘THE PRACTICE OF INTERACTING WITH THE PLANET RESPONSIBLY, SO AS NOT TO DEPLETE NATURAL RESOURCES THAT WOULD UNDERMINE THE FUTURE GENERATION’S ABILITY TO MEET ITS DAILY NEEDS’.
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH?
‘A METHOD OF EXPANDING THE ECONOMY’S PRODUCTION LEVELS TO MEET THE NEEDS FOR GOODS AND SERVICES OF THE PRESENT POPULATION, WITHOUT UNDERMINING THE ABILITY OF FUTURE GENERATIONS TO MEET THEIR NEEDS’.
‘AN ECONOMY WHERE PRODUCTION IS IN EQUILIBRIUM OR BALANCE WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND ITS ECOLOGICAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS’.
HOW TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH?
FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH TO BE SUSTAINABLE
SO FUTURE GENERATIONS
DO NOT HAVE REDUCED OPPORTUNITIES,
THE USE AND DISPOSAL OF NATURAL
AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
NEED TO BE MANAGED VERY CAREFULLY.
WHAT LEVEL OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
IS CONSIDERED SUSTAINABLE?
DIFFERS FOR EACH NATION. IT DEPENDS ON MANY THINGS SUCH AS:
THE RATE OF POPULATION GROWTH
THE TYPES OF GOODS AND SERVICES THAT ARE PRODUCED AND, AT THE END OF THEIR LIFE, HOW THEY ARE DISPOSED
ADVANCES IN TECHNOLOGY AND NEW DISCOVERIES.
MEASURING LEVELS OF SUSTAINABILITY
SOME MEASURES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO
CO2 EMISSIONS AND SOURCE
TEMPERATURE
RATES OF RECYCLING
ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND SOURCE
POLLUTION
WASTE
PRODUCT END OF LIFE MANAGEMENT
why do we care
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE
bc it affects mls ansd nmls for both now and in the future
INTERTEMPORAL EFFICIENCY
THE RIGHT BALANCE OF USING RESOURCES BETWEEN CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS
THIS REQUIRES MAKING TRADE OFFS AND REVIEWING OPPORTUNITY COST
EG: DECIDING TO CUT DOWN MORE TREES TO INCREASE PRODUCTION NOW AT THE COST OF REDUCED OR NON PROFITABLE PRODUCTION LEVELS IN FUTURE WHEN AS A RESULT TREES WILL BECOME MORE SCARCE
EFFECTS OF DECLINING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
CLIMATE CHANGE
MORE EXTREME TEMPERATURES
MORE SEVERE WEATHER EVENTS
RISING SEA WATERS
OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, CORAL BLEACHING
LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY (FOOD CYCLE) & CROPS
LOSS OF TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES
IMPACT OF DECLINING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ON MATERIAL LIVING STANDARDS
CROP FAILURES & BIODIVERSITY LOSS = LESS ACCESS TO FOOD
FLOODS, RISING WATERS AND NATURAL DISASTERS = LESS ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER
LOSS OF HOMES & BUSINESSES DUE TO CLIMATE/WEATHER EVENTS
LESS RESOURCES = LESS PRODUCTION = LESS INCOMES = LESS CONSUMPTION = LOWER LIVING STANDARDS
IMPACT OF DECLINING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY ON NON-MATERIAL LIVING STANDARDS
STRESS & HEALTH ISSUES FROM EXTREME HEAT WAVES AND WEATHER CONDITIONS (NATURAL DISASTERS, CLEAN WATER, DISEASE)
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
LOSS OF NATURAL BEAUTY/RECREATION SPACES
DISPLACEMENT OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
DISPLACEMENT
INCREASING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE DISPLACED BY DISASTERS LINKED TO CLIMATE CHANGE
IMPLICATIONS ECONOMICALLY GLOBALLY AND FOR AUST.
THE COSTS OF DOING NOTHING
THE COSTS OF DOING NOTHING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE ARE EXPECTED TO BE FAR BIGGER FOR AUSTRALIA, THAN IF APPROPRIATE ACTION IS TAKEN TO LIMIT EMISSIONS.
WHAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS SUSTAINABILITY?
MARKET FAILURE
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
MICROPLASTICS
SINGLE USE PLASTICS
FOOD WASTE
UGLY VEGETABLES
WATER FOOTPRINT
ABUSE OF COMMON ACCESS RESOURCES
POPULATION GROWTH
MARKET FAILURE
THE FREE OR UNREGULATED OPERATION OF DEMAND, SUPPLY,
AND THE PRICE SYSTEM
CAUSES RESOURCES TO BE ALLOCATED INEFFICIENTLY
INTO USES THAT DO NOT MAXIMISE
OR WORK AGAINST THE COMMUNITY’S GENERAL WELLBEING.
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IS OFTEN NEEDED TO CORRECT IT
EXAMPLES OF MARKET FAILURE
THE PROBLEMS CAUSED FROM NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES AND
ABUSE OF COMMON ACCESS RESOURCES
NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
EXTERNALITIES IS THE INDIRECT IMPACT ON THIRD PARTIES DUE TO AN ACTION
MINING AND COLLECTING AND PROCESSING RESOURCES, GOODS AND SERVICES PRODUCES WASTE, POLLUTION, RUNOFF, AND GREENHOUSE GASES WHICH ADD TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND A DEGRADING ENVIRONMENT.
THIS CREATES NEGATIVE EXTERNALITIES
RESULTING IN PROBLEMS IN HEALTH,
QUALITY OF LIFE AND ENVIRONMENT
types of impacts of neg externs on 3rd parties
rise in emissions
microplastics
single use plastics
food waste
abuse of CAR common access resources
the tragedy of the commons
population growth
WHAT POSITIVELY IMPACTS SUSTAINABILITY?
EDUCATION AND AWARENESS!!
SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGNS
“PEOPLE, PLANET, PROFIT” APPROACH
LOBBYING AND POLITICAL GROUPS
CARTOONS LIKE CAPTAIN PLANET
GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION AND GLOBAL COLLABORATION
WORLDWIDE CFC REDUCTION TO FIX OZONE ISSUE
“ODD BUNCH” CAMPAIGN
PERSPECTIVES
CONSUMER
BUSINESS
UNION
GOVERNMENT
CONSUMER PERSPECTIVE
AS CONSUMERS, WE ALL AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT BY WHAT WE BUY, HOW WE USE IT AND HOW WE DISPOSE OF IT.
OVER RECENT YEARS, THERE HAS BEEN A MASSIVE SHIFT IN CONSUMER SUPPORT FOR IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY, SHOWN BY WHO WE VOTE FOR, WHAT WE BUY AND HOW WE RECYCLE/UPCYCLE
TO RECYCLE OR NOT TO RECYCLE?
THERE HAS BEEN SOME DISCUSSION OF THE WEIGHT OF RECYCLING ON CONSUMERS BE SHIFTED TO BUSINESSES WHO FIX THE ISSUE FROM ITS SOURCE
BUSINESS PERSPECTIVE
UNTIL RECENTLY, MANY BUSINESSES TENDED TO DOWNPLAY ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS IN THE PURSUIT OF PROFITS.
NOW, BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE BCA BELIEVES:
THAT THE MOMENTUM FOR MOVING TOWARDS NET ZERO BY 2050 IS ‘UNSTOPPABLE’
IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT TO EMBRACE DECARBONISATION
TO SEIZE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN DEVELOPING NEW TECHNOLOGIES & EXPORT
INDUSTRIES OR BE LEFT BEHIND AND PAY THE PRICE.
UNION PERSPECTIVE
UNIONS AND THE ACTU
SEES THE GLOBAL SHIFT TOWARDS NET ZERO EMISSIONS AS PRESENTING HUGE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE NEW AND SECURE JOBS FOR WORKERS ACROSS AUSTRALIA, AND A CHANCE TO GROW EXPORTS AND INCOMES.
SEES AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST CLEAN EXPORT OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN RENEWABLE HYDROGEN AND AMMONIA, GREEN METALS, BATTERY MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGY
GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE
CONSIDER TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT VS ECONOMIC GROWTH.
CONCERNED THAT ACTION MIGHT LEAD TO A LOSS OF JOBS AND LOWER INCOMES, RATHER THAN SEEING IT AS CREATING NEW OPPORTUNITIES.
GOAL: INTERTEMPORAL EFFICIENCY: STRIKING A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN RESOURCES FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS.
OFTEN POLITICALLY DRIVEN BY CHANGE IN VOTER ATTITUDES, NATIONAL POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE.
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT’S CHANGING STANCE
INITIALLY, THERE WAS DENIAL OF A CLIMATE ISSUE
IN 2007, AUSTRALIA SIGNED THE KYOTO PROTOCOL TARGETS TO CUT EMISSIONS TO 108 PER CENT OF 1990 LEVELS.
NEXT CAME THE START OF THE CARBON TAX IN 2012.
IN 2014, THE CARBON TAX WAS ABOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH A POLICY CALLED DIRECT ACTON.
AUSTRALIA RATIFIED THE PARIS CLIMATE AGREEMENT IN 2016 TO REDUCE EMISSIONS BY BETWEEN 26–28 PER CENT ON 2005 LEVELS BY 2030.
IN 2022, THE 2030 TARGET WAS INCREASED TO A CUT BY 43 PER CENT.
IN LATE 2021, THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT MADE A COMMITMENT AT THE UN GLASGOW CLIMATE PACT, TO WORK TOWARDS NET ZERO EMISSIONS FOR THE AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY BY 2050.
STAKEHOLDER PERSPECTIVE POSTER
CREATE A POSTER THAT PRESENTS AND PROMOTES THE PERSPECTIVE OF CONSUMER GROUPS, BUSINESSES OR GOVERNMENT REGARDING ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
ROLE IN THIS CONSUMER, BUSINESS, GOVT
CONSUMERS: EDUCATION, ETHICS, PERSONALITY, ADVERTISING AND GOVERNMENT INCENTIVES INFLUENCE OUR BEHAVIOUR
BUSINESS: GOVERNMENT & MARKET-BASED INCENTIVES ENCOURAGE SUSTAINABLE METHODS OF PRODUCTION. A SUSTAINABLE IMAGE/REPUTATION TENDS TO RESULT IN HIGHER PROFITS
GOVERNMENT: PROVIDES LEADERSHIP AND PROVISION OF INCENTIVES, LAWS AND EDUCATIONAL CAMPAIGNS
HOW TO CONTROL UNSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCING
SUSTAINABLE POPULATION GROWTH CONTROL EG THROUGH FAMILY PLANNING EDUCATION
RECYCLING (CIRCULAR ECONOMY)
POLICIES, LAWS AND REGULATIONS
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
IT INVOLVES A ‘TAKE-MAKE-RECYCLE-REUSE’ APPROACH RATHER THAN A ‘TAKE-MAKE-THROW AWAY’ ECONOMY, AIMED TO:
REDUCE DEMAND FOR RESOURCES
IMPROVE RECYCLING PROGRAMS
LOWER OUR EMISSIONS
CURRENTLY, LESS THAN 9 PER CENT OF THE
WORLD’S ECONOMY IS CIRCULAR IN NATURE.
THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM WHITE PAPER AIMS TO SHIFT TO A WASTE-FREE GLOBAL ECONOMY BY 2050
PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE
PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE DESCRIBES THE PRACTICE OF
DESIGNING PRODUCTS TO BREAK QUICKLY OR BECOME
OBSOLETE IN THE SHORT TO MID-TERM.
THE GENERAL IDEA BEHIND THIS IS TO ENCOURAGE SALES
OF NEW PRODUCTS AND UPGRADES, A PRACTICE THAT HAS
BEEN BANNED IN SOME COUNTRIES.
POLICIES TO CONTROL UNSUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH
LAW AND REGULATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT
MARKET BASED APPROACHES (USING FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO INFLUENCE BEHAVIOUR OF CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS)
SUBSIDIES,
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME
CARBON PRICING SCHEME (“CARBON TAX”)
DIRECT ACTION
NET ZERO
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS THAT OVERSEE A RANGE OF AREAS:
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF MARINE PARK
LISTED THREATENED SPECIES AND ECOLOGICAL COMMUNITIES
COMMONWEALTH MARINE AREAS
NATIONAL HERITAGE PLACES
WETLANDS OF INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE
MIGRATORY SPECIES PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENTS
WORLD HERITAGE PROPERTIES
NUCLEAR ACTIONS (THIS INCLUDES URANIUM MINES).
STATE GOVERNMENTS ALSO HAVE ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION ACTS THAT INCLUDE SECTIONS ON WASTE MANAGEMENT. THESE ARE ENFORCED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AUTHORITY (EPA).
SUBSIDIES, REBATES AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FREE LED LIGHTING REPLACEMENTS
FREE SHOWER HEAD REPLACEMENTS
INSULATION REBATES
SOLAR PANEL REBATES
ELECTRIC VEHICLE REBATES
REBATES VS SUBSIDIES
REBATE: SELLER PAYS BACK ANY EXCESS AMOUNT PAID BY THE BUYER.
(EG BUYER BUYS A $2000 PRODUCT WITH REBATE $100, SO SELLER HANDS YOU BACK $100
SUBSIDY: SELLER RECEIVES PART PAYMENT FROM BUYER AND REMAINDER OF PAYMENT FROM A SUBSIDISING ENTITY (E.G. GOVERNMENT).
(EG BUYER BUYS A $2000 PRODUCT BUT ONLY PAYS $1900 WHILE THE GOVT PAYS THE SELLER THE REMAINING $100 (USUALLY AFTERWARDS)
SUBSIDIES AND FINANCIAL INCENTIVES:
ELECTRIC VEHICLES IN VICTORIA: THE HIGHS AND LOWS:
INITIALLY A $3000 REBATE ON NEW EVS
- SCRAPPED IN JULY 2023
A $100 SUBSIDY ON EV ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEES
HOWEVER, A EV ROAD TAX
(PHEV 2.6CENTS/CM; ZLEV 2.8CENTS/KM)
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
A ZLEV OWNER WHO DRIVES 15,000 KILOMETRES IN THE YEAR PAYS $420
A PHEV OWNER WHO DRIVES 20,000KM IN THE YEAR PAYS $460
EMISSIONS TRADING SCHEME (ETS)
THIS SCHEME UTILIZES A MARKET BASED APPROACH:
“BUYERS” ARE FIRMS/PRODUCERS; THEY BUY EMISSION PERMITS. EACH PERMIT ALLOWS THE RELEASE OF 1 TON OF CO2 FROM PRODUCTION
“SELLERS” ARE (USUALLY) THE GOVERNMENT; THEY SUPPLY AND SELL EMISSION PERMITS
CAP AND TRADE:
PERMITS ARE CAPPED IN NUMBER (I.E LIMITS SUPPLY TO MEET TARGETS).
THEY CAN BE TRADED OR SOLD FOR A HIGHER PRICE BETWEEN FIRMS
CHANGING MARKET PRICE OF PERMITS CREATE PRICE SIGNALS THAT ALTER BEHAVIOUR, RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND PRODUCTION
CARBON PRICING SCHEME
WHERE EVERY UNIT OF CARBON GENERATED BY THE TOP 500 POLLUTING BUSINESSES WAS “TAXED” VIA BUYING OF FIXED PRICE PERMITS (HENCE “CARBON TAX”)
INITALLY PRICED AT $23 A PERMIT FOR 1 TON OF CO2 RELEASED
NO CAPS OR TRADING OF PERMITS (LIKE ETS)
THIS MONEY RAISED IS INJECTED BACK AS CASH BENEFITS OR SUBSIDIES ON ENERGY COSTS FOR CONSUMERS, AND FOR INVESTMENT INTO RENEWABLES
PRODUCERS ARE INCENTIVIZED TO PRODUCE SAME OR SUBSTITUTE GOODS USING CLEANER METHODS.
CONSUMERS BUY LESS HIGH-EMISSION GOODS DUE TO PRODUCERS PASSING PRICE INCREASES TO CONSUMERS, RESULTING IN LOWER DEMAND FOR THEM
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMISSIONS TRADING AND CARBON PRICING SCHEME
CARBON PRICING IS NOT CAPPED, IT JUST DETERS POLLUTING DUE TO A FIXED COST
EG IF A PERMIT IS $23 A YEAR, THEN CO2 EMISSIONS WILL BE 100 MILLION TONS PER YEAR
EMISSIONS TRADING IS CAPPED, BUT COST OF PERMITS CHANGES DEPENDING ON CHANGING DEMAND AND SUPPLY
EG THE EQUILIBRIUM PRICE OF A PERMIT WILL BE $23 A TON, IF YOU CAP CO2 EMISSIONS AT 100 MILLION TONS PER YEAR
EITHER WAY, THE RESULT IS GENERALLY THE SAME!
DIRECT ACTION
DIRECT ACTION: GOVERNMENTS DIRECTLY INVEST IN PROJECTS DESIGNED TO ACHIEVE SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL OUTCOMES (GREEN ARMY PROGRAM, CLEAN WATER PLAN, NATIONAL LANDCARE PROGRAM ETC)
THAT SAME GOVERNMENT IN 2014 THAT DITCHED THE CARBON TAX REPLACED IT WITH THIS POLICY.
HERE, FIRMS COULD BID FOR FINANCIAL SUPPORT IN A REVERSE AUCTION ARRANGEMENT, WHERE THE GOVERNMENT MONEY WENT TO THOSE PROMISING THE BIGGEST REDUCTION IN EMISSIONS FOR THE LOWEST COST.
NET ZERO
AIM: ALL NEW GREENHOUSE EMISSIONS PRODUCED AND IS OFFSET BY THE AMOUNT REMOVED FROM THE ATMOSPHERE
METHODS MIGHT INCLUDE TREE PLANTING, CHANGE IN PRODUCTIVE METHODS, CARBON CAPTURE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVEMENTS, ETC.
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION
RATIFYING AGREEMENTS SUCH AS
KYOTO AGREEMENT 2008
PARIS CLIMATE SUBMIT 2015
UN CLIMATE CONFERENCE 2021
ALL AIMED AT COUNTRIES TO PLEDGE ACTION TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
DOUGHNUT ECONOMICS PHILOSOPHY
THE DOUGHNUT CONSISTS OF TWO CONCENTRIC RINGS:
A SOCIAL FOUNDATION, TO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS LEFT FALLING SHORT ON LIFE’S ESSENTIALS, AND
AN ECOLOGICAL CEILING, TO ENSURE THAT HUMANITY DOES NOT COLLECTIVELY OVERSHOOT THE PLANETARY BOUNDARIES THAT PROTECT EARTH’S LIFE-SUPPORTING SYSTEMS.
