Week 10 - International Initiatives In Sustainability

Q: What is the Brundtland definition of sustainable development?

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

Q: What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?

A: Environment, society, and economy. Also called the triple bottom line. Meaningful solutions require all three to be considered.

Q: What was the first UN conference on the environment and when?

A: The UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. Chaired by Canadian diplomat Maurice Strong who also became the first director of UNEP.

Q: What was the first state of the environment report called?

A: Only One Earth, commissioned by Maurice Strong in preparation for the 1972 Stockholm conference.

Q: What were the main themes of the Stockholm Declaration?

A: Human rights, protection of resources and reduction of pollution, development of developing countries, sovereignty of each country, importance of science and education, and international collaboration.

Q: What was the Brundtland Commission?

A: A UN commission established in 1983, chaired by Gro Harlem Brundtland. Its mission was to create a united international community with shared sustainability goals by identifying problems, raising awareness, and suggesting solutions.

Q: What was the Our Common Future report and when?

A: Released by the Brundtland Commission in 1987. Key points were that environment and development are inseparable, needs of the poorest should be prioritized, intergenerational equity matters, and sustainability is a social construct to improve quality of life.

Q: What happened at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992?

A: Three documents were produced: Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration, and the Statement of Forest Principles. Two key treaties were signed: the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Q: What were the Millennium Development Goals?

A: Eight specific goals adopted in 2000 aimed at fighting poverty in its many dimensions. Focused mainly on developing countries.

Q: What are the Sustainable Development Goals and when were they adopted?

A: 17 goals adopted in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They replaced the Millennium Development Goals and apply universally to ALL countries, not just developing ones.

Q: What are the 5 Ps of the SDGs?

A: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

Q: What is the key difference between the MDGs and the SDGs?

A: The SDGs are more comprehensive, cover more issues, and apply universally to all countries. The MDGs focused mainly on developing countries and eradicating extreme poverty.

Q: What is a synergistic satisfier?

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A: A satisfier that meets multiple human needs at once in a positive way. Example is breastfeeding which meets nutrition, love, and security needs simultaneously.

Q: What is a pseudo satisfier?

A: Something that appears to meet a need but actually does not in a meaningful way. Example is buying things to feel happy when the happiness does not last.

Q: What is a destroyer?

A: Something that while trying to satisfy one need actually destroys the ability to satisfy other needs. Example is authoritarian governments that claim to provide security but destroy freedom and participation.