Sustainable Development Lecture Notes

Flashcards on the topic of Sustainable Development, covering definitions, principles, challenges, and key measures.

What is Sustainable Development?

Balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social well-being to ensure a better quality of life for current and future generations.

What is the Brundtland Commission's definition of Sustainable Development?

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

What is intergenerational equity in the context of sustainability?

Ensuring that resources and opportunities available today are preserved for future generations.

What is the precautionary principle?

Taking preventive action to protect the environment, even if science hasn’t confirmed all the risks yet.

What three aspects are holistically integrated within sustainable development?

Economic growth + Environmental protection + Social equity

What are the three pillars of sustainable development?

Economic, Environmental, and Social

What are the focus areas of Environmental Sustainability?

Reducing depletion of finite resources, promoting renewable energy, and biodiversity protection.

What does Social Sustainability emphasize?

Creating equitable, inclusive, and just societies by addressing human needs such as health, education, and cultural preservation.

What does Economic Sustainability ensure?

Ensuring that development promotes economic growth and prosperity without depleting resources or harming the environment.

What is required for Sustainable development to be achieved?

Requires the integration of the three pillars to achieve balance, providing the foundation for resources, ensuring inclusive growth, and driving prosperity while protecting the planet.

What are the key environmental challenges to achieving sustainability?

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

What are the impacts of climate change?

Rising global temperatures, melting polar ice caps, and extreme weather events.

What are the root causes of climate change?

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial practices.

What are the challenges to sustainability related to climate change?

Adapting infrastructure and reducing emissions while still growing the economy.

What is the impact of Biodiversity Loss?

Loss of species and ecosystems, disrupting nature’s systems.

What are the root causes of Biodiversity Loss?

Habitat destruction and overexploitation of species.

What are the challenges related to Biodiversity Loss?

Balancing development with conservation and strengthening global conservation efforts.

What is the impact of pollution?

Plastic waste clogging waterways, air pollution leading to health problems, and water contamination affecting ecosystems.

What are the root causes of pollution?

Overconsumption of disposable goods, inadequate waste management systems, and industrial activity.

What are the challenges related to pollution?

Creating effective waste management systems and reducing industrial emissions.

What are the impacts of global inequality?

Widening gap between wealthy and poor nations and poverty traps due to social group disparities.

What are the root causes of global inequality?

Historical colonialism, resource exploitation, and lack of fair economic opportunities.

What are the challenges related to global inequality?

Promoting equitable economic growth and fixing global wealth imbalances.

What are the impacts of unsustainable production patterns?

Overreliance on fossil fuels and a linear economy (take-make-dispose).

What are the root causes of unsustainable production patterns?

Overconsumption of natural resources and lack of sustainable production models.

What are the challenges related to unsustainable production patterns?

Switching to renewable energy and moving from a linear to a circular economy.

What are the impacts of lack of access to education and healthcare?

Inequitable access in developing countries and lack of quality education & healthcare.

What are the root causes of lack of access to education and healthcare?

Poverty, weak infrastructure, and low investment in human capital.

What are the challenges related to access to education and healthcare?

Ensuring universal access to education & healthcare and fixing the root causes of poor health and unfairness.

What are the impacts of urbanization?

Rapid urban growth causes overcrowding, strain on infrastructure, expansion of slums, resource scarcity, and high pollution levels.

What are the root causes of urbanization?

Migration from rural to urban areas and insufficient urban planning.

What are the challenges related to urbanization?

Building sustainable cities and managing resource consumption and waste.

Name a few environmental policies that can improve sustainable development.

Carbon Taxes, Emissions Trading Systems (ETS), and Green Subsidies

What are some key international agreements related to sustainable development?

Paris Climate Agreement and Kyoto Protocol.

What transparency tools are used to improve Sustainable Development?

Platforms for sharing SDG progress and tools to monitor environmental and social metrics.

What measures can be taken to promote education and awareness about sustainability?

Integrating sustainability into educational curricula and community workshops.

What is one way to use technology and innovation to improve sustainable development?

Expanding the use of renewable energy sources.

What are some specific renewable energy sources?

Solar, Wind, and Hydro Power.

What is the definition of Design for Recyclability?

Products and systems should be designed to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

What is Industrial Symbiosis?

Businesses collaborate to use each other’s waste materials, energy, or water.

What is Precision Farming?

Using technology to optimize crop yields while minimizing the use of water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

What does it mean for companies to have Corporate Leadership?

Companies integrate ESG criteria, evaluating performance based on environmental impact, social responsibility, and governance practices.

What are Green Bonds?

Financial instruments that raise capital specifically for environmental or climate-related projects.

Give an example of financial mechanisms.

Microfinance institutions provide small loans to entrepreneurs and communities in developing countries to fund sustainable projects.

What is an example of Empowering Indigenous Practices for Resource Conservation?

Recognizing and integrating indigenous knowledge into modern conservation efforts.

What is Collaborative Urban Planning?

Involving local communities in the planning and design of urban spaces.

What were the sustainability issues in the school mentioned in the case study?

High electricity use and plastic waste.

Suggest one way to reduce electricity use besides installing solar panels from the sample case study.

Use energy-efficient LED lights or switch off fans and lights when not in use.

From the sample case study, how can reusable containers help the environment?

They reduce the amount of plastic waste going to the landfill and help save resources.

From the sample case study, name one long-term benefit the school will gain by being more sustainable.

Lower electricity bills, cleaner environment, and students learning eco-friendly habits.