Unit 4: Outcome 1

Question 1

Sustainable development

Answer 1

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 2

Sustainability

Answer 2

The ongoing capacity of earth to maintain all life

Question 3

Sustainability pillars

Answer 3

Economic development, social development and environmental protection

Question 4

Sustainability pillars

Economic development definition

Answer 4

Refers to the promotion of standards of living and market productivity of a country.

Question 5

Sustainability pillars

Economic development

Answer 5

Many countries have focused on resource extraction for their own economic gains.
With consumption and population increasing the demand for products continues to increase.

Question 6

Sustainability pillars

Social development definition

Answer 6

Refers to the social wellbeing of all people with ability to meet all basic needs for survival

Question 7

Sustainability pillars

Social development

Answer 7

The gap between the poor and the rich is increasing, meaning we are living in a world of inequality.

A major focus of sustainability is social equalisation, where all humans have access to basic needs, education and high quality of life

Question 8

Sustainability pillars

Environmental protection

Answer 8

Our social and economic development relies on resources from the environment.
Technology allows us to monitor the health of the environment and our impacts.
Governments are seeing the benefits of a greener way of living

Question 9

Critiques of sustainability

Answer 9

Contradiction and costs

Question 10

Critiques of sustainability

Contradictions

Answer 10

• to be sustainable, any development must have no lasting impact on the environment
• to develop as a country, the environments resources have to be utilised

Question 11

Critiques of sustainability

Costs

Answer 11

• adopting sustainable practices is expensive
• installing water tanks and solar panels seems like a good idea however, the associated costs may be too expensive for many households

Question 12

Indicators of healthy outdoor environments

Answer 12

Water quality and adequacy
Air quality and adequacy 
Soil quality and adequacy 
Pests and introduced species 
Levels of biodiversity

Question 13

Quality and adequacy of water

Answer 13

Water is essential to healthy outdoor environments. Humans rely on water to fulfil our most basic needs

Question 14

Quality and adequacy of water

Characteristics

Answer 14

Taste, odour, appearance
Temperature
And pH levels

Question 15

Soil quality and adequacy

Answer 15

Soil enables plant growth, resists erosion, store water, retains nutrients and is an environmental buffer in the landscape. Soil also supplies nutrients, water and oxygen to plants.
It is destroyed through deforestation

Question 16

Pests and introduced species

Answer 16

A pest is an animal or plant that interferes with human land use.
Native animals have been forced to compete for food and shelter with these species, which has led to the extinction of some native species

Question 17

SOE

Answer 17

State of environment

Question 18

What is a SOE report?

Answer 18

Describes the state of the environment for a city, region or country.
These reports then become the tools used to assess and monitor changes in the environment and enable us to plan for effective environmental management.

Question 19

Why are SOE reports useful?

Answer 19

They are one of the most valuable means of informing policy makers, the public and other interested parties on the status of the natural resource and the sustainability of their use

Question 20

Atmosphere 2016 report

Positives

Answer 20

Air quality is generally good in our urban areas.

Since 2011, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions per person has decreased

Question 21

Atmosphere 2016 report

Negatives

Answer 21

Australian average temperatures have increased by 1 degree since 1910.
Health impacts from air pollutants are now occurring at lower concentrations, meaning, that we are getting sicker due to pollution

Question 22

Atmosphere 2016 report
Effectiveness of management
Climate

Answer 22

There has been major development in international cooperation to address the global issue of climate change by singing the Paris agreement.

Question 23

The Paris agreement

Answer 23

This agreement aims to put a hold on the increase of global average temperatures

Question 24

Atmosphere 2016 report
Effectiveness of management
Air quality

Answer 24

Australia has had national standards and goals for ambient air quality for 20 years

Question 25

Biodiversity 2016 report

Positives

Answer 25

Improvements in technology is likely to improve out understanding of Australian species
Land clearing rate stabilises in all states and territories (except Queensland)

Question 26

Biodiversity 2016 report

Negatives

Answer 26

Australias biodiversity is continuing to decline, and new approaches are needed to prevent accelerating decline in many species.
The list of nationally threatened species has increased.

Question 27

Biodiversity 2016 report

Effectiveness of management

Answer 27

A key policy initiative for threatened species management has been the development of the threatened species strategies.

Question 28

Threatened species strategies

Answer 28

Aim is to bring a national focus to conservation efforts and help to address the growing number of native flora and fauna.