Key Concepts Lecture 8

🛍 I. Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)

📌 Definition:

Responsible consumption and production involves adopting practices that reduce waste, conserve resources, and create sustainable systems to ensure long-term environmental balance.

🌏 Why It Matters:

• The global population is projected to reach 9.5 billion by 2050.

• To sustain current consumption patterns, we'd need the resources of almost 3 planets.

📊 Key Metric: Material Footprint (MF)

• Definition: The global material extraction attributed to a country's domestic demand.

• Components of MF:

  • Biomass

  • Fossil fuels

  • Metal ores

  • Non-metal ores

(UNEP, 2023)

⚙ Core Practices of SDG 12:

1. Reducing Waste:

   • Reuse, recycle, and repurpose products to minimize waste.

2. Conserving Resources:

   • Efficient and sustainable use of resources (e.g., water, energy, and raw materials).

3. Circular Economy Principles:

   • Prolong product life through refurbishment and recycling.

4. Renewable Energy Adoption:

   • Transition to solar, wind, and other renewable sources.

5. Supporting Sustainable Businesses:

   • Choose companies committed to ethical and environmental practices.

🔄 What is a Circular Economy (CE)?

• Definition: A production and consumption model that keeps materials in circulation for as long as possible.

• Key Processes:

  • Reuse products instead of discarding them.

  • Refurbish items to extend their lifespan.

  • Recycle materials into new products.

  • Compost biodegradable materials.

Goal:

• Reduce material consumption.

• Redesign products to be less resource-intensive.

• Recapture waste as an input for new production.

🛠 Necessary Changes:

• Government Action:

  • Implement waste reduction targets and promote circular economy initiatives.

  • Support eco-friendly innovations with incentives and regulations.

• Corporate Responsibility:

  • Design durable, repairable, and recyclable products.

  • Use clean energy in manufacturing.

• Individual Behavior:

  • Consume less and choose low-impact products.

  • Reduce carbon footprints through lifestyle changes (e.g., buying local).

🌡 II. Climate Action (SDG 13)

📌 Definition:

Climate action refers to collective efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, prepare for climate change impacts, and secure financing for climate-related initiatives.

🌍 Why Climate Action Is Critical:

• Climate change impacts every country and continent.

• Human activities are accelerating global warming beyond predicted rates.

Visible Effects:

• Unpredictable weather patterns (e.g., hurricanes, droughts).

• Rising sea levels threaten coastal communities.

• Frequent natural disasters damage infrastructure and ecosystems.

⚙ Two Key Strategies:

1. 🛑 Mitigation: (Prevent Climate Change)

• Definition: Actions to reduce or prevent GHG emissions.

• Mitigation Strategies:

  • 🌞 Switch to renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydro).

  • ❌ Phase out fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas).

  • 🌿 Enhance carbon sinks (e.g., planting forests, restoring wetlands).

2. 🛠 Adaptation: (Prepare for Climate Change)

• Definition: Anticipating and responding to climate-related risks.

• Adaptation Strategies:

  • 🏗 Resilient Infrastructure: Build flood-resistant buildings and storm-resistant roads.

  • ⚠ Early Warning Systems: Develop disaster prediction tools to alert communities.

  • 🌱 Community Climate Planning: Equip local governments to manage droughts, wildfires, and floods.

🌱 Urban Ecosystem Example:

Urban Forestry – Planting trees in cities serves both mitigation and adaptation by:

• Sequestering CO₂ (mitigation).

• Reducing urban heat and preventing soil erosion (adaptation).

🛠 III. Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

📌 Definition:

The CCPI tracks and ranks 63 countries (plus the EU) that collectively contribute over 90% of global emissions.

⚙ Assessment Criteria:

The CCPI score is calculated based on four categories:

1. 🌫 GHG Emissions: Total and per capita greenhouse gas output.

2. 🌞 Renewable Energy: Adoption and growth of clean energy sources.

3. ⚡ Energy Use: Consumption trends across sectors.

4. 🛠 Climate Policy: Effectiveness of national and international climate regulations.

🌐 Resource:

🔗 Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI)

🖊 IV. Review Article Writing (Class Activity)

📑 Task Overview:

• Collaborate with your team to produce a systematic literature review.

• The shared document is accessible via SharePoint/OneDrive.

🌊 V. Life Below Water (SDG 14)

📌 Definition:

SDG 14 focuses on protecting and sustainably managing oceans, seas, and marine resources to support biodiversity and human survival.

🌏 Why Oceans Matter:

• 🌐 Oceans cover ~70% of Earth's surface.

• 🐟 Marine ecosystems are home to 1 million+ known species.

• 🧪 Marine environments hold untapped scientific potential for medicine, food, and biofuels.

🌱 Critical Ecosystem Services Provided by Oceans:

• 🌊 Food Supply: Source of protein for billions of people.

• 🌬 Climate Regulation: Absorb CO₂ and moderate global temperatures.

• 🛠 Waste Breakdown: Marine microorganisms help process pollution.

• 🧫 Medical Innovations: Marine compounds contribute to pharmaceutical breakthroughs.

• 🛑 Storm Defense: Mangroves and seagrass beds protect coastlines from storm surges.

🌿 Blue Carbon Ecosystems:

"Blue Carbon" refers to carbon stored in coastal and marine habitats.

Key Blue Carbon Ecosystems:

• 🌱 Mangroves – Traps carbon and prevents erosion.

• 🌾 Salt Marshes – Acts as a natural carbon sink.

• 🌊 Seagrasses – Store carbon and provide habitat for marine life.