Introduction to Sustainability Module 1

Module 1: Introduction to Sustainability

• Adrian Jasper Cruz is a candidate for a Doctor of Philosophy in Management from De La Salle Araneta University.
• He also has an MBA in Total Quality Management from Centro Escolar University.
• He is a college instructor at Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) and Our Lady of Fatima University (OLFU).

Introduction

• Popular culture articles and blogs discuss the importance of sustainable tourism.
• Examples of titles include "Open road, clear conscience" (Bures, 2006) and "The conscientious tourist" (Wagner, 2005).
• Questions arise about ethical travel, potential harm to environments (coral reefs, ancient ruins), support for corrupt regimes, and the environmental impact of airlines.
• Consumers demand greener products and services, challenging the tourism industry.
• The question of balancing sustainability and commercial success is important.

Sustainable Development (SD)

• SD is a global force that balances human agency and ecological views.
• It considers present needs while anticipating future generations' needs.
• SD is a more rational and functional form of change for tourism and sustainability.
• Sustainable development is the product of several years of questions about the impact of development on planetary resources and human groups.
• The new conservation movement of the 1950s and early 1960s is a precursor to modern SD principles and practices.
• Three watershed meetings, all in 1972, addressed issues of human use and damage to nature.
• These meetings included the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm (UNEP, 1972). The Club of Rome's report, The Limits of Growth (Meadows et al., 1972). UNESCO Convention Regarding the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (Dangi & Jamal, 2016).
• Ecodevelopment literature, including the works of Jeffrey S. Miller (1976, 1978) and Robert Riddell (1981), influenced the definition of SD.
• Ecodevelopment prioritizes individual empowerment, community self-sufficiency, fair resource use.
• The term "sustainable development" was coined in 1980 by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
• The Brandt Report (1980) also stressed the need for development to include "care for the environment".
• The Our Common Future report (WCED, 1987) led to increased use and acceptance of the term "sustainability".

Sustainable Development: Origins and Rationale

• SD is a process focused on harmonizing resource exploitation, investment directions, technological development, and institutional change to meet present and future needs.
• SD emphasizes satisfying present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs (WCED, 1987).
• SD should involve ecologically responsible and socially equitable economic growth.
• Early definitions of SD varied significantly, with some researchers using "Sustainable Economic Development" (SED) interchangeably with "sustainability" to refer to similar thematic areas.
• Maxmizing goals across biological, economic, and social systems through dynamic and adaptive processes of trade-offs is an important aspect to add to Barbier's stance (1987)
• Sustainable development requires application across all economic and social activities, including forestry, agriculture, and fisheries.
• Heritage and human ecology are crucial components to SD.
• Human ecology focuses on human actions as cultural expressions transforming the natural world.

Sustainable Development: Origins and Rationale

• Human ecology, emphasizing equilibrium, balance, homeostasis, and feedbacks within ecological systems, are helpful in understanding interconnectivity between people and environments.
• It is useful for small systems and cultures that are manageable. 
• Sustainable development needs to be grounded in existing scientific knowledge fields. 

Themes, Principles, and Goals of Sustainable Tourism

• Mitchell (1994) outlined fundamental themes for sustainable tourism.
• These themes include: satisfying basic human needs, achieving equity and social justice, social self-determination and cultural diversity, maintaining ecological integrity and biodiversity, integrating environmental and economic considerations.

Four Characteristics of Sustainable Development

• Sustainable Development (SD) occurs over several generations.
• Systems (ecological and human) are adaptable and change.
• Foundation variables change slowly; marked by irregular cycles.
• Mosaicking stability is apparent within spatial units.

Explanation of 4 Characteristics of SD

• Slowly changing foundation variables regulating SD involve soil, biological diversity, biological productivity, freshwater, and marine water.

The Principles of Quebec's SD Act

• Quebec's Sustainable Development Act emphasizes health and quality of life, social equity and solidarity, and environmental protection as key principles.
• The act highlights the importance of economic efficiency, citizen participation, access to knowledge, subsidiarity, intergovernmental partnership, prevention of environmental risk, protection of cultural heritage and biodiversity, respect for ecosystem support capacity, and responsible production/consumption practices.

Weak and Strong Categories of Sustainability

• Categorizes sustainability positions into various levels of strength based on characteristics such as growth, resources, distribution of costs/benefits, intra/intergenerational equity, and infinite substitutions.

Responsible Tourism

• McLaren (2006) gives a detailed definition: generating economic benefits for local people, improving host communities' well-being, enhancing working conditions, involving local people in decisions about their lives and opportunities, and positively contributing to natural and cultural heritage conservation. 

• Responsible tourism creates more enjoyable experiences for tourists and minimizes negative economic, environmental, and social impacts. 

• It promotes respect between tourists and hosts, and fosters local pride and confidence.

Framework of Approaches to Sustainable Tourism

• Three positions are common when approaching sustainable tourism: polar opposites (mass tourism vs. sustainable tourism), continuum model, movement model, and finally a convergence model.
• The diagrams in the slides visually illustrate these key concepts and relationships between the two forms of tourism.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• The SDGs cover a range of topics such as poverty, hunger, health, education, gender equality, water, energy, economic growth, and ensuring sustainable consumption/production patterns.

This quiz covers the key concepts and discussions surrounding sustainability, particularly in the context of tourism. It explores ethical travel considerations, environmental impacts, and the importance of balancing sustainability with commercial success. Engage with questions that challenge your understanding of sustainable development principles.