LECTURE 34- Sustainability: Strategies and Solutions

what is the concentration of atmospheric CO2 in 2026

 432 ppm (parts per million)

what are the consequences of carbon dioxide levels rising

1. corals bleach as temperatures rise (especially corals far from equator)

2. sea temperature rises and affects ice in northern hemisphere

3. thermal expansion of sea water that causes rising sea levels

what is china doing to be more sustainable

• Top world’s electricity producer from renewable energy sources

• renewable energy growing faster than fossil fuels and nuclea power cappacity

what is papua new guinea doing to be more sustainable

announcing largest MPA (marine protected area) in history

what has been at its lowest level in 9 years

Amazon deforestation levels in Brazil plunging to 31%

what are organisations like TheOceanCleanup doing

solving global issues and addressing plastic in the ocean

what is the driving force behind unprecedented planetary change

consumption

• increased demand for land, energy and water

what is sustainability

 Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

what binding agreements were initiated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit

1. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

2. The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

3. (The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals)

what are the major agreements under the UNFCCC

1. kyoto protocol (1990)

2. paris agreement (1992)

what is included in the kyoto protocol

developing countries to reduce GHG emission by an average of 5% below 1990 levels, before 2012

what is included in the paris agreement

•  limiting global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees celsius (compared to pre-industrial levels)

• Submit nationally determined contributions (NDCs)

• Aim for net-zero emissions by 2050

when did the UNFCCC come into force, and how many countries were invovled

came into force march 21, 1994

• nearly 200 parties involved

when was the paris agreement put into force, and how many countries were involved

adopted by parties in December 2015, put into force november 2016

• 196 parties involved

when was the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) put into force, and how many countries were involved

put into force December 1993

• 193 countries involved

what countries are not involved with the CBD

USA, Andorra, south sudan and vatican city

what are the 3 main objectives of the CBD

• conservation of biological diversity

• Sustainable use of its components

• Fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources

what are the major agreements and protocols of the CBD

1. Cartagena protocol (2000) - safe handling of modified organisms

2. Nagoya protocol (2010) - access to genetic resources, and fair & equitable sharing of benefits

3. Kunming-montreal global biodiversity framework (2022) - 30 by 30, reducing pollution and halving introduction of invasive species

what is the current focus for the CBD

• Reversing ecosystem degradation

• Promoting nature-based solutions

• Ensuring indigenous and local communities are central to conservation efforts

• Mobilising financing for biodiversity

what are the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

• 17 development goals set up in 2016

• Blueprint for the sustainable future of humanity on the planet

• Principle that “no one will be left behind”

• “Integrated and divisible”: countries can’t pick and choose which goals to follow— must work towards achieving all

what is ecological footprint

the impact of human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and water required to produce good and assimilate wastes

• the amount of land necessary to produce good and services that support our lifestyle

since when has human’s ecological footprint exceeded earth’s biocapacity

1970

what is earth overshoot day

estimated calendar date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and its impacts exceeds what earth can regenerate, putting us in an ‘ecological deficit’

• the day of the year that a country’s lifestyle exceeds earth’s capacity 

what percentage of GHG emissions is food productions responsible for

27%

what percentage of water withdrawals is food productions responsible for

70%

what percentage of species are at risk from food production

86%

what percentage of tropical deforestation have occured from food production

90%

what are 82% of agricultural lands used for

 grazing and producing livestock feed

what is the largest cause of global environmental change

food production

why do ruminants contribute to climate change

Methane comes from livestock digestive systems, and makes up three quarters of NZ’s agricultural emissions

• Methane is a greenhouse gas, and 23 times higher than the effects of carbon dioxide

how much of NZ’s agricultural emissions are from ruminants (methane)

75%

what are things we can do about climate change

1. Make your voice heard by those in power

2. Eat less meat and dairy

3. Cut back on flying

4. Leave the car at home

5. Reduce energy use and bills

6. Respect and protect green spaces

7. Bank and invest your money responsibly

8. Cut consumption and waste

9. Talk about the changes you make

what are david attenborough’s 7 actions to save the world

1. Put people and planet before profit

2. Replace oil with renewable energy

3. Embrace a sustainable lifestyle

4. Create no-fishing zones in the ocean

5. Farm smarter and east less meat

6. Protect the forests

7. Raise people out of poverty to slow population growth

what action has slowed population the most

investing in healthcare and education, especially for young women