Topic 1- Foundations

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What is Sustainability?

Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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What is Environmental Sustainability?

Environmental sustainability focuses on maintaining the health of the environment by reducing human impact and conserving resources.

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What are Strategies for Environmental Sustainability?

• Reducing waste and emissions.

• Using renewable energy.

• Conserving water and natural resources.

• Promoting green technology.

• Sustainable agriculture practices.

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What is Social Sustainability?

Social sustainability focuses on maintaining and improving social structures, equity, and well-being within communities.

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What are Strategies for Social Sustainability?

• Promoting social justice.

• Supporting equal rights.

• Ensuring access to quality healthcare and education.

• Fostering community participation.

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What is Economic Sustainability?

Economic sustainability involves practices that promote long-term economic growth without negatively impacting social and environmental systems.

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What are Strategies for Economic Sustainability?

• Encouraging sustainable business practices.

• Investing in clean energy.

• Supporting local economies.

• Reducing economic inequalities.

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What is Unsustainable Use of Natural Resources?

Unsustainable use of natural resources refers to the consumption or exploitation of resources at a rate faster than they can be replenished, leading to depletion or environmental harm.

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What is Green GDP?

Green GDP is an economic indicator that accounts for environmental costs and the depletion of natural resources alongside traditional GDP.

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What is Environmental Justice?

Environmental justice involves ensuring that environmental benefits and burdens are shared equitably across all communities, particularly marginalized groups.

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What are Inequalities and Disparities in Environmental Justice?

Inequalities in environmental justice refer to the unequal exposure to environmental harm or the unequal access to environmental benefits based on race, class, or geography.

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What is Sustainability Indicators?

Sustainability indicators are measures used to assess and track the sustainability of systems, resources, or practices.

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What is the Ecological Footprint?

The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems, comparing consumption to the Earth’s ability to regenerate.

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What is the Carbon Footprint?

The carbon footprint measures the total greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities, typically measured in carbon dioxide equivalents.

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What is the Water Footprint?

The water footprint measures the total volume of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by an individual or community.

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What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?

The SDGs are a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations to address challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change.

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What are the Uses of the SDGs?

The SDGs provide a global framework for governments, businesses, and civil society to guide sustainable development efforts.

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What are the Limitations of the SDGs?

Limitations of the SDGs include difficulty in measuring progress, lack of enforcement mechanisms, and challenges in balancing environmental, social, and economic goals.

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What is the Planetary Boundaries Model?

The Planetary Boundaries Model outlines nine critical Earth system processes that must be kept within safe limits to avoid irreversible environmental damage.

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What are the Nine Planetary Boundaries?

The nine planetary boundaries include climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, freshwater use, biogeochemical cycles, ocean acidification, atmospheric aerosol loading, novel entities, and ozone depletion.

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What are the Uses of the Planetary Boundary Model?

The planetary boundaries model helps to guide global sustainability efforts by identifying key environmental thresholds.

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What are the Limitations of the Planetary Boundary Model?

Limitations include uncertainty in measuring certain boundaries, regional variations, and challenges in applying the model to specific local contexts.

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What is the Doughnut Economics Model?

Doughnut Economics focuses on creating an economy that meets the needs of all within planetary boundaries, represented by a doughnut-shaped diagram with social foundations and an ecological ceiling.

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What is the Social Foundation in Doughnut Economics?

The social foundation represents the minimum living standards necessary for human well-being, such as education, health, and equality.

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What is the Ecological Ceiling in Doughnut Economics?

The ecological ceiling represents the environmental limits that should not be exceeded in order to maintain planetary health.

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What are the Uses of the Doughnut Economics Model?

The doughnut model helps guide economic systems towards sustainability, ensuring both social equity and ecological protection.

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What are the Limitations of the Doughnut Economics Model?

Limitations include its complexity and challenges in implementation, particularly in balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability.

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What is the Circular Economy Model?

The Circular Economy Model promotes a closed-loop system where resources are reused, recycled, and regenerated to minimize waste and reduce environmental impact.

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What are the Principles of the Circular Economy?

Principles include reducing waste, reusing resources, recycling materials, and regenerating natural systems.

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What are the Uses of the Circular Economy Model?

The circular economy model is used to design sustainable products and systems that minimize resource consumption and waste generation.

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What are the Limitations of the Circular Economy Model?

Limitations include challenges in scaling up, technological limitations, and difficulty in achieving full circularity in all industries.

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