Sustainable development

Sustainable development

Meeting the needs of today well ensuring that future generations can also meet their needs

Or simply ‘economic development without exhaustion if natural resources’

What are examples of sustainable practices?

• Sustainable logging: cutting down trees (for paper, lumber, timbre, etc) but also planting trees at the same time

• Sustainable fishing: fishing, but not in excess so that they have time to reproduce and the total amount of fish doesn’t decrease (overfish)

  • e,g cod (bacalao) in the North Atlantic. Very popular fish

Ecological footprint (not definition in textbook, but might as well know it)

The impact of a person or community on the environment expressed as the amount of land required to sustain the use of natural resources.

Básicamente a way we can measure sustainability más o menos

What are ways to achieve sustainable development?

• Switching to renewable energy sources

• Government incentives for sustainability

• Recycling and waste management

• Regulations and laws

Yo creo que renewable energy me lo puedo saltar porque ya hice mazo

Aunque aparte de eso, también podemos incluir using más public transportation (bonus si usan electricity like in Spain) and walking or using the bicycle.

What are government incentives for sustainability?

• Dietary Changes

  • Encouraging the consumption of less meat = reduce methane emissions from cattle + less trees being cut down for land to raise cattle

• Direct financial support

  • Government subsidies and grants to support Green projects like renewable energy and sustainable agriculture

  • Subsidies to make sustainable construction feasible for low income populations

• Tax rebates

  • Governments reduce taxes for companies and individuals investing in renewables

  • Example: in Spain homeowners who choose to install solar panels receive tax reductions (IRPF) that can reach up to 60%

What is a funding programme set up by the EU? What does it fund?

LIFE programme

• Funds projects focused on nature protection and promoting the circular economy

• Budget of €5.4 billion for 2021-2027

Recycling and waste management. How? How will this help the environment?

Puntos limpios and recycling bins

• designated places for waste disposal

Help to environment

• Can help conserve natural resources and reduce the need for raw materials (circular economy).

• Ensures proper handling of toxic substances to avoid contamination to aquifers and agricultural land (solid and water pollution)

Regulations and laws

Examples of regulations and laws to promote sustainability

• Sustainable fishing: the EU has established quotas (limits) for sustainable fishing practices

• Building regulations in Spain: legal requirements for constructing buildings to optimise energy usage

  • e.g mandatory double glazed windows as standard for better insulation, aiding energy efficiency, less electricity usage