IB Design Tech - 8.1 Sustainable Development

Sustainability

The long term maintenance of responsibility which had environmental, economic, and social dimensions

Sustainable development

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

Triple Bottom Line

Social, Economic, Environmental (People, Planet, Profit)

Environmental Sustainability

Maintaining a healthy ecosystem by studying it, working within its capacity, and respecting its biodiversity.

Social Sustainability

Maintaining local and cultural identities to empower populations. Implementing equitable practices to help create a stable environment.

Economic Sustainability

Economic Development through responsible growth while still increasing productivity and efficiency

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

The total monetary value of all finished goods within a country’s borders in a specific time period.

Decoupling

Disconnecting/separating two trends so that one no longer depends on the other e.g. economic growth and gas emissions.

Resource decoupling

Rate of use of a resource is decreased through greater efficiency.

Impact Decoupling

Impact on environment of use of a resource decreases even as the use of the resource increases

Environmental Regulations

Specific laws passed that regulate the environmental impacts of producing goods e.g CFCs - HFCs

Sustainability Reporting

A company report that focuses on four aspects of performance (economic, social, governance, environmental)

TBL Social Factors

Unemployment rate, female labour force participation, median household income, relative poverty.

Product stewardship

An environmental management strategy that means whoever designs, sells, or produces a product takes full responsibility for minimizing the product’s environmental impact.