Lesson 2 (Sustainability).pdf

SUSTAINABILITY, ECOLOGICAL habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; FOOTPRINT AND ENVIRONMENTAL and pollution. DEGRADATION TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY...

SUSTAINABILITY, ECOLOGICAL habitat destruction; the extinction of wildlife; FOOTPRINT AND ENVIRONMENTAL and pollution. DEGRADATION TYPES OF ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY DEGRADATION AND ITS CAUSES: Ecological footprint and environmental 1. Land and soil degradation – refers to the degradation are interconnected deterioration of the quality and productivity of concepts that serve a crucial role in the earth’s land surfaces including soil, shaping the future of our planet. vegetation, and ecosystems. It can be caused is the practice of regulating natural by: resources to meet the needs of the a) deforestation society and industry while preserving the health and condition of the b) excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides resources c) soil erosion is the ability to meet present needs d) desertification without compromising the ability of e) land pollution. future generations to fulfill their own. 2. Water degradation – involves the Ecological Footprint is a measure of human contamination or degradation of water bodies impact on the environment. (rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater). The Environmental Degradation is the following are causes of water pollution: deterioration of the environment due to human a) industrial and municipal waste activities. discharge THREE PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABILITY: b) agricultural runoff c) oil spills Economic sustainability focuses on d) marine debris maintaining and improving economic well- e) plastic pollution. being over the long term. 3. Atmospheric degradation – refers to the Social sustainability recognizes the presence of harmful substances or pollutants importance of community engagement, in the air, which can lead to degradation of air participatory decision-making, and the quality. The following are sources and causes empowerment of marginalized groups to of air pollution: create a society that fosters the well being of present and future generations. a) fossil fuel combustion b) industrial emissions Environmental sustainability aims to c) agricultural activities. protect and restore the natural environment, ensuring the long-term health and functioning of ecosystems. Ecological Footprint is the measure of the nature’s capacity to meet the increasing demand by people. It measures the amount of “biologically productive” land or water that enables the population to sustain itself. Biocapacity refers to the productive capacity of ecosystems to generate resources and absorb waste within a specific area. Environmental Degradation is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil; the destruction of ecosystems; Ecological footprints Calculates the amount of productive land and water a given population require to produce all the resources they consume and take in all the waste they make using prevailing technology Used to estimate carrying capacity for humans It is an area required to sustainably support a population Per capita ecological footprint is the average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area Ecological footprints 2.3 hectares of Biologically productive and sea per person Set aside the 12% for Biodiversity 2.0 per hectares per person Global Hectare (gha) is a measure of the ecological footprints of people or activities and biocapacity of the earth Ecological footprints According to the ecological footprint model, to sustain indefinitely the world’s current population and average renewable resource use per person, and to dispose of the resulting wastes and pollution, we would need the equivalent of 1.3 planet earths. And if we continue on our current path of renewable resource use and population growth using existing technology, by around 2035 we will need 2 planet earths.