Sustainable Development and Global Systems Flashcards

These flashcards cover the key concepts from Lectures 2 through 9, including sustainable development historical contexts, economic models, ecological metrics, corporate responsibility, and legislative frameworks.

Who delivered a speech to the UN Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, and what was her age at the time?

Severn Suzuki, who was 12 years old.

Who spoke to the UN Climate Plenary (COP24) in Katowice in 2018?

Greta Thunberg.

What is the official definition of Sustainable Development as provided in the Brundtland Report?

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

In what year and under which Minister's name was the report 'Our Common Future' published?

It was published in 1987 under Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland.

What temperature limits were established in the 2015 Paris Agreement?

To limit global warming to well below $2^{\circ}C$, preferably $1.5^{\circ}C$.

What was the name of the original protocol before the Paris Agreement?

The Kyoto Protocol.

How many Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are there and what is the deadline for achieving them?

There are 17 global goals with a deadline of 2030.

List the 5 Ps of Sustainable Development identified by the United Nations.

People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnership.

What is 'Blood coltan' and where is it primarily mined?

Coltan mined in conflict zones linked to violence and human rights abuses, especially in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

What is the Gini coefficient and what do the scores for Finland and Brazil indicate?

A measure of income inequality from 0 to 1; Finland's score ($0.24-0.29$) indicates low inequality, while Brazil's ($0.52-0.65$) indicates high inequality.

What are the five stages of the materials economy described in 'The Story of Stuff'?

Extraction, Production, Distribution, Consumption, and Disposal.

What is the difference between planned and perceived obsolescence?

Planned obsolescence is when products are designed to break quickly; perceived obsolescence is when consumers are made to feel a functional product is outdated through advertising.

Which SDG is frequently criticized for advocating continuous economic growth?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.

What is the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index and where was it developed?

A measure of well-being including psychological health and environment, developed in Bhutan.

Define 'Biocapacity' in the context of the Ecological Footprint.

The ability of ecosystems to produce renewable resources and absorb wastes over a given time period.

What is 'Overshoot Day' and when did it occur in 2025?

The date when humanity's demand for resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year; it occurred on 24 July 2025.

According to footprint and biocapacity graphs, around what time did humanity begin living beyond the planet's natural limits?

Around the late 1980s.

What are the 4 pillars of Sustainable Development?

Environment, Economy, Society, and Culture.

What does the term 'Entredonneurship' (as used by Michel Bauwens) imply?

It stems from the French word 'Donne' (giving), meaning business should give back to society rather than just taking.

What are the components of the 'Triple Bottom Line' described by John Elkington?

People, Planet, and Profit.

Describe the 'Mickey Mouse model' of sustainability.

A model where the economic circle (profit) dominates, while social and environmental aspects are treated as secondary.

What is 'Ikigai'?

A Japanese concept meaning 'reason for being,' combining what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.

What is the difference between eco-efficiency and eco-effectiveness?

Eco-efficiency is producing more with fewer resources; eco-effectiveness is designing circular, waste-free systems.

Why did CEO Ray Anderson refer to himself and other CEOs as 'plunderers'?

Because companies take from the planet without accounting for environmental damage, focusing primarily on short-term profit.

What is meant by 'intergenerational tyranny'?

The current generation overusing resources and forcing future generations to pay the costs without their consent.

In the 'Story of Solutions', what does the GOAL framework stand for?

G=Gives people more power, O=Opens eyes to truth of happiness, A=Accounts for all costs, L=Lessens the wealth gap.

What is the core principle of 'Cradle to Cradle' design?

Waste = Food; materials should be designed to return safely to nature or be reused eternally.

Who was the winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2009 for work on the Tragedy of the Commons?

Elinor Ostrom.

Describe the 'Doughnut Economy' model by Kate Raworth.

A model defined by a social foundation (inner ring) and an ecological ceiling (outer ring), aiming for a safe space in between.

What is the '25% revolution'?

The idea that systemic social or environmental change can occur when a committed minority of 25% adopts a new behavior.

How did Iceland respond to the 2008 financial crisis compared to most of the world?

Iceland allowed its biggest banks to fail, protected savings, and punished some bankers, rather than saving them with public money.

What was the core message of Larry Fink’s 2021 letter to CEOs concerning BlackRock's strategy?

Climate change is a major financial risk, and companies must show plans for a net-zero future to maintain investor support.

What is the deadline for the European Green Deal's goal of becoming the first climate-neutral continent?

2050.

What does ESG stand for and what is 'double materiality'?

Environmental, Social, and Governance; double materiality looks at how sustainability affects a company's finances AND how the company impacts society and the environment.

What are the two types of environmental impacts cited for data centers?

High energy consumption (approx. $460\,TWh$ in 2022) and high water usage (up to $380,000\,m^3$ per year for cooling per center).