Sustainability Overview and Models
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Questions and Answers

The concept of "natural capital" relates to the stock of natural resources available on Earth.

True (A)

Social sustainability solely focuses on economic structures that guarantee the continuation of production and consumption habits.

False (B)

A key aspect of environmental sustainability is the active restoration and regeneration of ecosystems.

True (A)

Sustainability models that depict the economy embedded within society, with both embedded within the natural environment, are considered weak sustainability models.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Environmental sustainability necessitates the preservation of biodiversity, but does not include resource depletion or pollution.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

GDP, as an economic indicator, directly measures the environmental impact of economic activities within a country.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sustainability focuses on a short-term perspective, ensuring that current generations can meet their needs without compromising the needs of future generations.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The concept of "natural interest" refers to the rate at which natural resources are depleted.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The nine planetary boundaries are all equally important and if we cross one, it will cause an abrupt and irreversible change in the Earth system

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The planetary boundaries model is based on the idea that Earth has a limited capacity to absorb human activity without irreversible changes.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Doughnut Economics Model focuses on creating an economy that meets the needs of all people within the means of the planet.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The planetary boundaries model was developed by a group of $28$ scientists in $2009$

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'social foundation' of the Doughnut Economics Model is based on the 'planetary boundaries' science.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'ecological ceiling' of the Doughnut Economics Model refers to the limits of what the Earth can sustainably provide.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The planetary boundaries model is based on the idea that we should aim to stay within the Holocene epoch.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'planetary boundaries' framework focuses solely on climate change.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The release of novel entities like plastics can negatively impact the environment.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The 'planetary boundaries' framework is a perfect and complete model for assessing environmental limits.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Planetary Boundaries framework is based on the idea that Earth has a limited capacity to absorb human activity without causing irreversible changes to the Earth system.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Regenerative economy aims to create products and services that contribute to systems that constantly renew themselves.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

A distributive economy seeks to share value and opportunity only at the end of the supply chain.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Masai people are a group of transhumance nomadic pastoralists in the African Great Lakes region, who have faced challenges due to land privatization and the establishment of national parks.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Resource extraction is NOT considered an area of focus within environmental justice.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Environmental sustainability indicators only measure environmental factors, while socio-economic sustainability indicators only measure social and economic factors.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

An ecological footprint measuring an individual's resource consumption exceeding the available resources indicates sustainability.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Masai people have faced challenges from increasing droughts due to climate change, leading to water shortages in Kenya.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Masai people have historically been highly unified, with a single leader who advocated for their rights.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Masai people were moved from the Serengeti in the 1950s to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) to facilitate the establishment of national parks aimed at protecting wildlife.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The "Air Quality Index (AQI)" is an example of a socio-economic sustainability indicator.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ecological footprint is equal to the biocapacity when EF = B.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Biocapacity refers to the total area of land and water needed to assimilate all wastes produced by a population.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the ecological footprint exceeds biocapacity, it leads to sustainability.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were formulated in 2015 and will run until 2030.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The SDGs are legally binding commitments for all participating countries.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The carbon footprint measures greenhouse gas emissions in tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Sustainability models can be either oversimplified or overly complicated, affecting their reliability.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The SDGs aim to address only economic issues faced by humanity.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Doughnut Economics Model thoroughly addresses the challenges of defining what 'enough' means for everyone involved.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The circular economy model emphasizes maintaining and reusing products before recycling them at the end of their lifespan.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

One of the criticisms of the Doughnut Economics Model is its neglect of traditional economic growth as a factor for poverty reduction.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The circular economy model promotes the concept of extracting resources without any concern for pollution.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Regenerating nature is one of the principles of the circular economy model.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The butterfly diagram from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation illustrates the linear economic model.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Supporting local food networks is a benefit of the circular economy model.

<p>True (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Doughnut Economics Model supports a completely unsustainable approach to economic growth.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Sustainability

The long-term viability of socio-ecological systems without diminishing future conditions.

Environmental Sustainability

Management of natural resources allowing for replacement and ecosystem regeneration.

Natural Capital

The stock of natural resources available on Earth.

Active Regeneration

The process of restoring and revitalizing ecosystems.

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Social Sustainability

Creating systems that enhance human wellbeing, equity, and community.

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Ecological footprint

The area of land and water needed to sustain resources and waste for a population.

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Biocapacity

The ability of a biologically productive area to supply renewable resources and absorb waste.

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Carrying capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustainably support.

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Carbon footprint

Measurement of greenhouse gases produced, in carbon dioxide equivalents.

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Water footprint

Measures water use in cubic meters per year.

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UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A set of 17 goals to guide global sustainability and justice efforts.

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Strengths and limitations of SDGs

SDGs track progress but lack legal enforcement, impacting commitment.

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Environmental Justice

Fair treatment of all people regarding environmental policies and practices.

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Climate Change Impacts

Effects of climate change such as extreme weather, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss.

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Hazardous Waste Dumping

Illegal disposal of toxic materials that harms the environment and health.

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Masai Land Rights

Struggles of the indigenous Masai people over land use and access due to conservation and commercialization.

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Sustainability Indicators

Metrics that measure the sustainability of ecological and socio-economic systems.

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Endangered Species Index (ESI)

An indicator measuring the risk of extinction faced by various species.

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Water Scarcity Index (WSI)

A measure indicating the availability or scarcity of fresh water in a region.

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Universal Agenda

All countries are accountable for achieving global goals promoting cooperation.

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Ambition vs Reality

The SDGs are ambitious, raising concerns on achievability within the timeframe.

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Mobilizing Resources

SDGs can attract investments towards sustainable development initiatives.

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Top Down vs Bottom Up

Goals can be bureaucratic and often ignore local contexts in their implementation.

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Shared Vision

SDGs create a united vision for a more sustainable future inspiring action.

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Planetary Boundaries Model

Identifies nine limits to human activity to maintain Earth system stability.

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Climate Change

Human-caused increase in greenhouse gases, leading to global warming.

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Biosphere Integrity

Focuses on maintaining healthy ecosystems with diverse species.

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Atmospheric Aerosol Pollution

Tiny airborne particles like smoke and dust affecting air quality and climate.

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Stratospheric Ozone Depletion

Thinning of the ozone layer that protects against UV radiation.

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Release of Novel Entities

Introduction of new synthetic chemicals and materials into the environment.

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Doughnut Economics Model

A framework for a regenerative and distributive economy balancing needs and planetary limits.

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Social Foundation

Inner boundary in the doughnut economics model based on social Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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Ecological Ceiling

Outer boundary of the doughnut model based on planetary boundaries science.

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Regenerative Economy

An economy that works within the cycles and limits of the living world.

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Distributive Economy

An economy that shares value and opportunities equitably among all stakeholders.

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Doughnut Economy

An economic model reconciling social and environmental goals by establishing boundaries for resource use and social equity.

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Circular Economy

An economic system aiming to eliminate waste and promote recycling and regeneration of resources.

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Technical Cycle

A part of the circular economy focused on maintaining, reusing, and recycling products.

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Biological Cycle

A component of the circular economy that involves composting and recycling biodegradable materials.

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Regenerating Nature

The principle of the circular economy that emphasizes restoring ecosystems rather than depleting them.

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Growth vs. Sustainability

The debate on whether economic growth can occur sustainably or if it undermines ecological well-being.

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Natural Interest

The yield or harvest obtained from natural resources.

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Stronger Sustainability Models

Models that show the economy within society and both within the natural environment.

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Weak Sustainability Models

Models showing only an overlap among environmental, social, and economic domains.

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Economic Sustainability

Focuses on structures supporting ongoing production and consumption for human needs.

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Sustainability Focus Areas

Includes resource depletion, pollution, and biodiversity conservation.

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Biodiversity Conservation

Efforts to maintain and protect different species and ecosystems.

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Environmental Sustainability Practices

Actions that allow natural resources to replenish and ecosystems to recover.

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Socio-Ecological Systems

The interconnected systems of society and ecology that influence sustainability.

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Study Notes

Sustainability

  • Sustainability measures the extent practices allow for a system's long-term viability, maintaining socio-ecological systems for future generations.
  • Environmental sustainability involves using and managing natural resources to allow for replacement and ecosystem recovery.
  • Natural capital is the stock of natural resources on Earth. Natural interest is the yield from natural resources.
  • Sustainability focuses on resource depletion, pollution, and conserving biodiversity.

Sustainability Models

  • Strong sustainability models show the economy embedded in society, and both society and the economy embedded within the natural environment.
  • Weak sustainability models show an overlap in the three domains.

Social Sustainability

  • Social sustainability focuses on creating structures/systems that promote human wellbeing, including health, education, equity, and community.

Economic Sustainability

  • Economic sustainability creates economic structures/systems to support future production and consumption of goods/services.
  • There's no economic sustainability without environmental sustainability, with resources being used for goods/services to meet human needs.
  • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the monetary value of final goods/services produced in a country.
  • Green GDP adjusts GDP by subtracting environmental costs.

Sustainable Development

  • Sustainable development meets current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.
  • This framework guides human civilization's development maintaining economic stability, social equity, and ecological integrity.

Ecosystem Collapse

  • Unsustainable resource use can lead to ecosystem collapse.
  • An example is the overfishing of Newfoundland cod fisheries, impacting the environment.

Ecological Overshoot

  • Humanity's annual demands on Earth's natural resources have exceeded the Earth's ability to renew them since the 1970s.
  • In 2018, there was a 75% deficit meaning we need 1.75 Earths to regenerate natural resources and safely absorb CO2 waste produced in a year.
  • Earth Overshoot Day in 2022 was July 22nd (Global Footprint Network).

Environmental Justice

  • Environmental justice is the right of all people to a clean environment, equitable access to natural resources, and fair application of laws/regulations, regardless of race, gender, socioeconomic status, or nationality.
  • Environmental justice emerged in the 1980s due to environmental exploitation of local populations by Multinational corporations (MNCs).

Masai Land Rights

  • One million Masai people are in the great lakes region, Southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania.
  • Prioritised over Masai way of life
  • They are nomadic pastoralists who move cattle seasonally to find grazing and water.

Sustainability Indicators

  • Sustainability indicators include quantitative measures of biodiversity, pollution, human population, climate change, material and carbon footprints. These indicators can be environmental or socio-economic.

Ecological Footprints

  • Ecological footprints measure the area of land and water needed to sustainably provide all resources consumed and assimilate waste products generated by a population.
  • Biocapacity is the capacity of a given biologically productive area to generate resources and absorb waste produced by a population.
  • Unsustainability exists when ecological footprints exceed biocapacity (EF > B).

Sustainability Models

  • Sustainability models (like all models) are human constructions: oversimplified, too complicated, not easy to use.
  • Frameworks like the Doughnut Economic Model and the Circular Economy Model offer more comprehensive perspectives.

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • The SDGs are 17 social and environmental goals to guide action on sustainability/environmental justice.
  • They were formulated in 2015 and are meant to run until 2030.

Planetary Boundaries Model

  • This model identifies nine Earth system processes (e.g., climate change, biodiversity loss) each with quantitative boundaries to prevent abrupt and irreversible environmental changes.

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1.3 Sustainability Revision Notes PDF

Description

Explore the various aspects of sustainability, including environmental, social, and economic dimensions. This quiz delves into sustainability measures, models, and the importance of maintaining socio-ecological systems for future generations. Test your knowledge on the principles that support a viable and equitable future.

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