4.7 - Sustainable development

What are the material, relational, and subjective dimensions of development?

Material: income, health, education; Relational: access to resources, rights, empowerment; Subjective: sense of well-being and life satisfaction.

What is the Great Acceleration?

Post-1950s rapid increase in population, consumption, and industrial activity that has led to major environmental pressures.

What is sustainable development?

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is the nested hierarchy model of sustainability?

A model where the economy is a subset of society, which is a subset of the environment, showing that environmental limits constrain development.

What are planetary boundaries?

Limits within which humanity can safely operate; crossing them risks destabilizing Earth's systems.

What is the doughnut model of development?

A model balancing the social foundation (well-being) and ecological ceiling (planetary boundaries) to define a safe space for humanity.

What is the circular economy?

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and reusing resources through recycling, repair, and design.

Why is resilience important for sustainable development?

It helps communities adapt and recover from shocks like climate change and economic crises.

Why is culture important for sustainable development?

Culture shapes values, behaviours, and practices that influence environmental stewardship and social cooperation.

What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

17 global goals adopted in 2015 to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030.

Give an example of how countries can be compared using sustainability indicators.

Norway scores high on HDI and low on ecological footprint; the US scores high on income but high on emissions.

What is the current status of progress on SDGs?

Mixed; some progress in poverty and health, but setbacks in climate action, equality, and global cooperation.

(HL) What is the relationship between sustainable development and poverty?

Poverty can cause environmental degradation, while lack of sustainability can deepen poverty; solving one helps address the other.