L34 - Sustainability

Define 'sustainability'

• Sustainability: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

  • Requires a transformation of our food, energy, and finance systems.

Explain how atmospheric CO_2 concentrations today compare with those over the past 800,000 years.

Today atmospheric CO2 concentrations are higher than at any point in the past 800,000 years.

• As of 2025, the concentration of atmospheric CO_2 is 430 ppm.

Explain what is meant by "Ecological Footprint."

• The Ecological Footprint is the impact of human activities measured in terms of the area of biologically productive land and water required to produce the goods consumed and to assimilate the wastes generated.

  • More simply, it is the amount of the environment necessary to produce the goods and services necessary to support a particular lifestyle.

• Think; the amount of environmental resources used.

What is the significance of the 1.5°C global warming threshold, and what agreement is it tied to?

• What is the chance we will pass this threshold between now and 2027. (Excluding the time recorded that we broke this limit).

• There's a 66% chance we will pass the 1.5°C global warming threshold between now and 2027.

  • 1.5°C is the agreed upon goal from the Paris Agreement

    • Aimed at limiting global temperature rise to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C.

What is driving increases in sea level rise?

Thermal expansion.

• Land based ice also melts and causes sea level rise (because it wasn't in the sea already)

  • Ice in water doesn't cause sea level rise because it's already in the water; the same applies to ice in a cup (when it melts the meniscus doesn't get higher).

Cause: Global average temp has increased significantly

• Effect: Land ice melts and ocean has thermal expansion which makes sea rise

What is the driving force behind unprecedented planetary change?

Consumption

• Through the increased demand for energy, land, and water.

What were the two key binding agreements initiated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit?

• The Convention on Biological Diversity.

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

Describe the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

One of the two binding agreements initiated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit

• Entered into force: 1994.

• Parties: Nearly 200 countries.

  • The foundation for international cooperation on climate change

Is all about stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations to a safe level.

What are the major agreements under the UNFCCC?

Kyoto Protocol

• Developed countries (only)

• Aim to lower GHG emissions by 5% by 2012.

  • was not meet so the Paris Agreement was put in place
    

The Paris Agreement

• All 196 countries (both developed and undeveloped)

• Agreed to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius, and ideal to 1.5 degrees Celsius pre industrial levels.

• Legally binding in process (but not for emissions targets)

  • Formed in 2015 and entered into force in 2016.

Describe the Convention on Biological Diversity.

One of the two binding agreements initiated at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit.

• Entered into force: 1993.

• Parties: 196 countries.

  • Only four member states of the United Nations are not Parties to the CBD, namely: Andorra, South Sudan, United States of America, and the Holy See (the Vatican).

The first global agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.

• Aim to ensure biodiversity is preserved for future generations.

What are the major agreements and protocols of the CBD?

1. Cartagena Protocol (2000):

   • Focuses on the safe handling of living modified organisms.

2. Nagoya Protocol (2010):

   • Deals with access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from their use.

3. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (2022):

   • Replaces the Aichi Targets (2011–2020).

   • Sets 2030 biodiversity goals, including:

     • Protecting 30% of the planet’s land and oceans by 2030 (“30 by 30” target).

     • Halving the introduction of invasive species.

     • Reducing pollution and restoring ecosystems.

What are the below quotes referring to?

• “Underpins the UN-led 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

• “Represent a hugely ambitious blueprint for the sustainable future of humanity on this planet with the aspirational pledge “that no one will be left behind”.

• Defined as being “integrated and indivisible”, meaning that countries are not able to pick and choose which elements to address but must work towards the achievement of them all.

• “interconnected, addressing the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.”

The United Nations Development Goals

Since what year has our Ecological Footprint exceeded the Earth’s rate of regeneration.

Since 1970!

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

• Earth Overshoot Day marks the estimated calendar date each year when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year.

  • From that day onward, we are in “ecological deficit,” depleting natural capital.

How does the negative effect on the climate caused by methane compare to carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas?

• The negative effect on the climate caused by methane is 23 times higher than that of Carbon Dioxide.

Nearly half of New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture

• What percentage of our agriculture emissions is methane from livestock digestive systems.

• The main source of agriculture emissions is methane from livestock digestive systems.

  • Methane makes up almost three quarters of our agriculture emissions.

Recall the seven actions that Sir David Attenborough proposes 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 eat less meat

6. Protect the forests

7. Raise people out of poverty to slow population growth

   • The key to bringing rapid population growth to an end.

     • The fairest way to stabilise the global population is to help poorer nations to develop.

   • Invest in healthcare and education= people will have fewer children.

     • Making the population peak sooner and at a lower level.