1.3 Sustainability Flashcards
(26 cards)
sustainability
the ability of a system to maintain its viability over time, considering both the environmental and social aspects of its functioning
ecological footprint
the hypothetical area of land required by a society, group or individual to fulfill all their resources needs and assimilation of wastes
development
the process of economic growth and change, often with a focus on how these changes impact the environment and society
environmental justice
the right of all people to live in a pollution-free environment and to have equitable (i.e. fair and equal) access to natural resources
raw materials
unprocessed, or minimally processed, substances that are used at the start of the production process
gross domestic product
GDP=C+I+G+NX
C = consumer spending
I = business investments
G = government spending
NX = net exports
biocapacity
the regenerative capacity of our planet’s ecosystems
distributive economy
prioritizes a more equitable distribution of resources and wealth compared to traditional capitalist systems
environmental sustainability
the responsible management of natural resources to fulfill current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs
waste
discarded materials that have served their intended purpose and are no longer useful
planetary boundaries
scientific thresholds that define the safe operating space for humanity on Earth, beyond which the Earth system might experience destabilizing changes
regeneration
restores damaged ecosystems through actions like reforestation, wetland restoration, and removing invasive species
carbon footprint
total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions caused by an individual, organization, event, or product, typically expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)
social sustainability
focuses on ensuring the long-term well-being of people and communities, promoting equity, and preserving social cohesion
sustainable development
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
citizen science
involves members of the public participating in scientific research projects, contributing data, observations, or resources
linear economy
economic model where raw materials are extracted from the environment, transformed into products, used by consumers, and then discarded as waste
UN SDG
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
doughnut economics
economic framework designed to create a sustainable and equitable future by balancing human needs with the planet’s ecological limits
ecological tipping point
critical threshold within a system
water footprint
total amount of freshwater used to produce goods and services consumed by the individual or community, or produced by a business
economic sustainability
creating economic systems that meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
inequality
when resources within a society are distributed unevenly
Human Development Index
a summary measure of average achievement in key dimensions of human development
