3 Foundation 1.3 Sustainability(8h)

Topic 1: Foundations of Environmental Systems and Societies (16 hours)

• 1.1 Perspectives (3h)

• 1.2 Systems (5h)

• 1.3 Sustainability (8h)

1.3 Sustainability (8h)

1.3.1 Definition of Sustainability

• Measure of Viability: Sustainability indicates how practices support long-term viability in socio-ecological systems without compromising future generations.

• System Resilience: Enhancing system resilience increases sustainability, emphasizing the performance of ecological systems over time.

• Application Examples:

  • Food Production System: A sustainable food system ensures both quality and quantity for current and future generations.

  • Clean Water Distribution System: Ensures reliable access to clean water for present and future use.

1.3.2 The Pillars of Sustainability

• Three Pillars:

  • Environmental Sustainability

  • Social Sustainability (Equity)

  • Economic Sustainability (Financial)

• Strong vs Weak Models:

  • Strong Sustainability: Economy embedded within society and both within the natural environment (holistic view).

  • Weak Sustainability: Overlapping interaction among pillars but lacks depth in integration.

1.3.3 Environmental Sustainability

• Resource Management: Focuses on sustainable management and replacement of natural resources.

• Ecosystem Recovery: Practices must allow ecosystems to regenerate on their own timelines, influenced by environmental characteristics and stochastic events.

• Goals:

  • Eliminate resource depletion and pollution.

  • Promote biodiversity conservation and system regeneration.

1.3.4 Social Sustainability

• Focus Areas: Building structures for health, education, equity, and community to enhance human well-being.

• Broader Aspect of Equity: Includes various social factors impacting well-being, influenced by culture, beliefs, and practices.

1.3.5 Economic Sustainability

• Production and Consumption Systems: Structures need to support future human needs while being environmentally sustainable.

• Critique of GDP: Common measures like GDP ignore environmental costs and can lead to unsustainable development.

  • Alternatives:

    • Green GDP: Adjusts GDP by subtracting environmental costs.

    • Per capita GDP: Accounts for income inequalities in distribution.

1.3.6 Sustainable Development

• Definition: Meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their needs.

• Application to Food Systems: Strategies for land use, quality improvements, equitable distribution, and economic justice.

1.3.7 Unsustainable Resource Use

• Case Study: North Atlantic Cod Fisheries — Overfishing led to species endangerment and societal collapse in fishing communities.

1.3.8 Economic Indicators of Sustainability

• GDP Limitations: Focusing solely on GDP may result in unsustainable practices.

• Green GDP Explanation: Adjusts for environmental costs, promoting a more balanced economic view.

1.3.9 Environmental Justice

• Right to a Pollution-Free Environment: All individuals should have access to natural resources regardless of race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

1.3.10 Global Inequalities

• Access Disparities: Income, race, gender, and cultural identity influence access to resources.

  • Impact of Water Privatisation: Higher costs can disproportionately affect marginalized communities.

1.3.11 Sustainability Across Scales

• Operating Scales: Individual to global levels affecting sustainability strategies:

  • Individual: Personal choices and lifestyle changes.

  • Business: Adoption of ESG standards and transparency.

  • Community: Collective actions towards sustainability.

  • City/Country: Policy formulation and sustainability goals at municipal and national levels.

  • Global: UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

1.3.12 Sustainability Indicators

• Quantitative Measures: Include biodiversity, pollution levels, human population, and carbon footprints, applied at various scales.

• Examples:

  • Biodiversity: Indicators like the Lincoln Index monitor endangered populations.

  • Pollution: Local air and water quality assessments through biological indicators.

1.3.13 Ecological Footprints

• Definition: Measures the land and water needed to sustainably provide resources at current consumption rates.

• Indication of Unsustainability: If EF exceeds available resources, it signifies unsustainable practices.

1.3.14 Carbon and Water Footprints

• Measurement Units:

  • Carbon Footprint: Greenhouse gas emissions in CO2 equivalents.

  • Water Footprint: Annual water consumption.

1.3.15 Biocapacity

• Capacity Analysis: Measures ongoing renewable resource supply capability and waste absorption.

• Sustainability Assessment: Unsustainable when ecological footprint exceeds biocapacity.

1.3.16 Citizen Science in Sustainability

• Role in Data Collection: Public involvement in environmental monitoring enhances scientific research capabilities.

• Crowdsourcing: Public participation through online platforms to gather data.

1.3.17 Sustainability Frameworks and Models

• Conceptual Tools: Assist in understanding human-environment interactions and guide sustainable practices.

  • Models Include: UN SDGs, planetary boundaries model, doughnut economics, circular economy.

1.3.18 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• Framework: Addresses global challenges with environmental and social targets, guiding sustainability action.

  • Uses and Limitations:

    • Uses: Policy making and international collaboration.

    • Limitations: Needs local context consideration and support.

1.3.19 Planetary Boundaries Model

• Description: Identifies key Earth systems and thresholds for human disturbance, focusing on risks of crossing these limits.

• Nine Boundaries Listed: Climate change, ocean acidification, etc.

1.3.20 Doughnut Economics Model

• Purpose: A framework for a regenerative and distributive economy aligned with planetary boundaries.

• Focus on Balance: Emphasizes equitable resource distribution and environmental safety.

1.3.21 Circular Economy Model

• Principles: Eliminate waste, circulate products, and regenerate nature.

• Illustration: Butterfly diagram illustrating cyclic resource use in contrast to the linear model.