1.3 Sustainability (DP IB Environmental Systems & Societies (ESS): HL): Flashcards

Sustainable development is a concept that aims to balance economic, social and environmental factors to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable development requires the cooperation and involvement of individuals, organisations and governments at all levels.

The concept of sustainable development was first widely introduced in the Brundtland Report published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development.

Two examples of sustainable development practices are using renewable energy sources like wind or solar power, and practising sustainable agriculture to minimise environmental impact.

The three main aspects of sustainable development are environment, society and economy.

False.

Sustainable urban planning considers not only environmental factors, but also social and economic aspects.

The Newfoundland cod fisheries collapsed due to decades of overfishing, which led to ecosystem imbalance and severe economic hardship for local communities.

Green GDP is a measure that adjusts traditional GDP by subtracting environmental costs and the depletion of natural resources from economic output.

Environmental justice is the right of all people to live in a pollution-free environment and have equitable access to natural resources, regardless of race, gender, socio-economic status or nationality.

Environmental injustice is the unequal distribution of environmental burdens and benefits, often impacting marginalised communities due to social factors like race or class.

Equitable access to natural resources means that all people have fair and equal opportunities to use and benefit from resources like water, food, and energy, regardless of their background.

False.

Environmental justice is the right of all people to a pollution-free environment and equitable access to resources, regardless of race, gender, or socio-economic status.

Environmental injustice often leads to negative health outcomes and economic disparities.

A key example of local environmental injustice is Altgeld Gardens in Chicago, where a predominantly low-income, African American community has long suffered from pollution and health problems due to a nearby landfill.

The export of plastic waste from Europe to Southeast Asia demonstrates global environmental injustice as developing countries face environmental degradation and health risks from the waste of wealthier nations, increasing global inequalities.

Disparities in access to water, food, and energy can result from inequalities in income, race, or gender.

Individual actions, like reducing waste, conserving energy, and supporting eco-friendly products, contribute to environmental justice and sustainability by shaping consumption patterns and reducing resource depletion.

Global policy frameworks, such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aim to reduce environmental injustice by promoting international cooperation to address environmental issues and protect vulnerable communities.

A sustainability indicator is a quantitative measure used to assess specific aspects of sustainability, such as biodiversity, pollution, or climate change.

Some well-known sustainability indicators include ecological footprints, carbon footprints, and water footprints.

Sustainability indicators can be used to evaluate the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.

Sustainability indicators help us understand if something is environmentally friendly, socially fair, and economically viable.

An ecological footprint is a theoretical concept that measures the area of land and water required to support a specific population's standard of living.

An ecological footprint is measured in global hectares (gha) per capita per unit time.

False.

If a country's ecological footprint exceeds its biocapacity, it is not sustainable in the long-term.

To reduce an ecological footprint, people can use renewable energy sources and choose public transport or walking instead of driving.

A carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases produced by a person, activity, business, or country, usually in tonnes of CO₂ per year.

A water footprint measures the amount of water used directly or indirectly to produce goods and services, usually in cubic metres per year.

Citizen science involves members of the public participating in scientific research projects, contributing data, observations, or resources.

Citizen science can play an important role in monitoring Earth systems and assessing whether resources are being used sustainably.

Citizen science projects often gather data relevant to local environmental issues and conditions.

The OPAL network engages citizens in monitoring air and water quality, biodiversity, and climate change impacts in their local areas.

Global impact in citizen science refers to the way data collected by the public can contribute to research on environmental issues worldwide, such as through international initiatives like the GLOBE Programme.

The GLOBE Programme involves students and citizens around the world in collecting and sharing environmental data, helping to improve understanding of global climate patterns.

Citizen science projects can complement traditional scientific research by engaging a larger pool of participants.

Citizen science projects involve participants with varied backgrounds, locations, and perspectives, resulting in more comprehensive datasets.

A Bioblitz is an event where scientists and the public work together to survey and record all species in a specific area, enhancing understanding of local biodiversity.

The Big Garden Birdwatch is an annual event where participants record bird species visiting their gardens to monitor bird populations and inform conservation efforts.

The planetary boundaries model outlines nine critical Earth system processes and systems that regulate the planet’s stability and resilience, defining the safe operating space for humanity.

An example is climate change, which involves human-induced alterations such as rising global temperatures and increased extreme weather events.

The biogeochemical flows boundary is crossed when excessive fertiliser use disrupts the nitrogen and phosphorus cycles, leading to algal blooms.

True.

Exceeding one boundary can disrupt other boundaries, such as overusing freshwater impacting biodiversity loss.

One limitation is that it does not consider societal factors and focuses only on ecological systems, making it less effective for promoting environmental justice.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development is a shared plan adopted by United Nations Member States in 2015 for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, including the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 social and environmental objectives established by the United Nations to guide global efforts towards sustainable development by 2030.

The SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets covering aspects of sustainable development.

False.

The SDGs are globally relevant and apply to both developed and developing countries.

One limitation is that the SDGs may overlook local contexts and fail to adequately involve local communities in decision-making.

One use of the SDGs is providing common ground for governments, NGOs and communities to develop policies.

Both models provide science-based limits and universal targets that help guide policy, raise awareness, and encourage collective action to protect Earth's systems and promote sustainability.

The circular economy model is a sustainable economic system designed to minimise waste and maximise resource efficiency by decoupling economic growth from the consumption of finite resources.

The three main principles of the circular economy are: eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials and regenerating nature.

The technical cycle involves recycling, reusing, repairing, or remanufacturing products and materials that are not biodegradable, keeping them in use for as long as possible.

The doughnut economics model is a framework for building an economy that meets the needs of all people while staying within the ecological limits of the planet, balancing social foundation with ecological ceiling.

In the doughnut model, the social foundation is the inner ring representing the minimum standards for human well-being, while the ecological ceiling is the outer ring representing the limits of Earth's ecosystems.

False.

The linear economy model follows a take–make–waste approach, resulting in significant waste and resource depletion, unlike the circular model.

A regenerative economy is one that aims to restore, renew, and enhance natural resources rather than deplete them, working within the planet's natural cycles and limits.

True.

The ecological ceiling represents the limits of Earth's ecosystems defined by planetary boundaries science.

A key use of the circular economy is to regenerate natural systems, such as reforestation and ecosystem restoration.

One limitation is that some waste is not recyclable due to technical constraints, such as mixed-material packaging that is difficult to separate and recycle effectively.

The social foundation is the inner boundary of the doughnut model, representing the minimum standards for human well-being, including access to education, healthcare, and social protection.

A distributive economy shares value and opportunities equitably among all stakeholders, aiming to reduce inequality.