ENV201 W 9 - 12

Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

Evaluates performance across social, environmental, and economic dimensions.

The Three Ps in TBL

People, Planet, Profit.

Strengths of TBL

Broadens accounting beyond profit and improves transparency.

Limitations of TBL

Measurement difficulties and indicator selection and weighting issues.

Circular economy

Aims to reduce waste and resource use, contrasting with a linear economy.

Principles of Circular Economy

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Redesign.

Requirements for Circular Economy

Policy change, product design changes, consumer behavior change, and infrastructure investment.

GHG inventory

Measures greenhouse gas emissions in CO₂ equivalents.

Goals of GHG inventories

Establish baselines, track emissions over time, identify emission sources, and support mitigation strategies.

GHG Scope 1

Direct emissions.

GHG Scope 2

Indirect energy emissions.

GHG Scope 3

Other indirect emissions.

Monitoring in environmental management

Systematic collection of environmental data over time.

Goals of monitoring

Ensure implementation, establish baselines, track conditions, and support evaluation and adjustment.

Implementation in environmental policy

Putting policies into action.

Challenges of Implementation

Planning problems, knowledge problems, and enforcement problems.

Water security

Access to adequate quantities of water of acceptable quality.

Types of water use

Water withdrawal, water consumption, and in-stream use.

Water governance

Water is both a public good and a commodity; must consider ecosystems.

Great Lakes governance

Includes the Boundary Waters Treaty (1909), International Joint Commission, and Great Lakes Charter Annex (2005).

Bottled water regulations

Withdrawals allowed with varying monitoring and regulation influenced by public opposition.

Conservation Authorities role

Manage water quality, quantity, and flood risk organized by watershed boundaries.

Ontario Greenbelt

Protected land surrounding the GTA that limits urban sprawl and protects farmland and ecosystems.

Greenbelt governance

Involves provincial legislation, long-term planning, ten-year reviews, and passive adaptive management.

Strengths of Greenbelt

Ecosystem protection, use of ecological boundaries, and public support.

Weaknesses of Greenbelt

Political vulnerability, development pressure, and lack of permanent protection.

Urban forests

Include all trees and vegetation in cities.

Urban forest ecosystem services

Provide air purification, climate regulation, flood mitigation, and mental and physical health benefits.

Urban forest equity issues

Benefits are unevenly distributed due to historical planning and discrimination.

Urban forest governance

Managed by municipalities, NGOs, and communities, often involving shared governance.