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ESS > 1.4 - Sustainability > Flashcards

1.4 - Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

Define sustainability

A

Sustainability is the use and management of natural resources that allow full natural regeneration of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by their extraction and use

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2
Q

What does sustainable living involve

A

Sustainable living involves using resources in a way that allows for their renewal and regeneration

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3
Q

Why is it important to manage natural resources ina sustainable manner

A

to avoid depletion, degradation, or destruction of these resources

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4
Q

What are 5 examples of sustainable practices

A

-Reducing waste (e.g. recycling)
-Reducing resource use (e.g. reducing water consumption)
-Conserving energy (e.g. using public transport or cycling, -eating locally grown foods )
-Using renewable resources (e.g. solar or wind power)
-Protecting biodiversity (e.g. nature reserves)

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5
Q

What is an example of how sustainable practices can be applied to industry

A

Sustainable fashion is a good example of how sustainable practices can be applied to an industry (the clothing industry) that has traditionally been very wasteful, as well as very energy and resource intensive.

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6
Q

What are 7 ways that clothing can be more sustainable

A
  • use of sustainable materials
  • circular economy
  • reduce water usage
  • sustainable packaging
  • reduce carbon footprint
  • ethical production
  • reduce overconsumption
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7
Q

What is sustainable use of material

A

The industry can use more sustainable materials such as organic cotton, hemp, recycled polyester, and lyocell, which have a lower environmental impact

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8
Q

What is the circular economy

A

The industry can adopt a circular economy model where products are designed to be reused, recycled, or repurposed, reducing waste and extending the life of clothing

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9
Q

How can reducing water usage lead to sustainable fashion

A

The industry can reduce water usage during clothing production by using more efficient manufacturing processes, and using recycled water where possible

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10
Q

How can sustainable packaging lead to sustainable fashion

A

The use of sustainable packaging materials such as biodegradable and compostable materials can help reduce waste

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11
Q

How can reducing carbon footprint lead to sustainable fashion

A

The industry can reduce its carbon footprint by using renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power, and by implementing energy-efficient practices in production

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12
Q

How does ethical production lead to sustainable fashion

A

Sustainable fashion also involves ethical production practices such as fair labour standards and ensuring worker safety

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13
Q

How does reducing overconsumption lead to sustainable fashion

A

Consumers can also contribute to sustainable fashion by reducing overconsumption, buying high-quality clothing that lasts longer, and supporting brands that prioritise sustainability

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14
Q

What is 3 example of sustainable development

A

-The use of renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, or hydropower, instead of non-renewable energy sources, such as fossil fuels

-Sustainable agriculture, which involves using techniques that minimise the negative impact of agriculture on the environment, such as crop rotation, soil conservation, and reduced use of pesticides and fertilisers

-Sustainable urban planning, which aims to create cities that are more liveable, efficient, and environmentally friendly, such as through the use of public transportation, green spaces (e.g. public parks or green roofs), and energy-efficient buildings to mitigate climate change impacts

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15
Q

What does sustainable development require

A

Sustainable development requires a long-term perspective and a commitment to understanding the highly complex interactions between the economic, social, and environmental aspects of our growing and developing societies. It is an ongoing process that requires the cooperation and involvement of individuals, organisations, and governments at all levels

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16
Q

What are the enviromental aspects of sustaible development

A
  • Renewable energy
  • Waste management
  • Water treatment
  • Reduce, reuse, recycle
  • Nature reserves
  • Urban wildlife
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17
Q

What is the societal aspect of sustainable development

A
  • Cultural diversity
  • Social stability
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Crime
  • Personal freedom
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18
Q

What is the economic aspect of sustainable development

A
  • Economic growth
  • Developing nations
  • Cost of urban infrastructure
  • Energy-efficient buildings
  • Ecosystem services
  • Economic policies
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19
Q

What is natural capital

A

Natural capital is the good and service that the environment provides human with in order to provide natural income. For example a forest provides timber (natural capital)

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20
Q

What do natural resource bring to humans

A

You can think of natural capital as resources from nature that are managed by humans because they provide goods or services
These natural goods and services can include directly marketable goods, such as timber and crops, or broader ecological services, such as the flood protection provided by mangroves, or the erosion prevention and climate regulation services that forests provide

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21
Q

What is natural income

A

If sources of natural capital (i.e. these natural goods and services) are carefully and sustainably managed, they can provide even more resources over time
This is referred to as natural income
For example, if trees are cut down for timber but forests are also re-planted or left to recover, so that the rate of timber production is not greater than the rate of new tree growth, then timber production is a sustainable income that can be marketed and used to benefit humans

22
Q

What resources show that not all natural resources can be natural income and why

A

Non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels (technically, they are non-renewable as they cannot regenerate faster than humans are using them) can be used to generate wealth but can only be used once and cannot be sustainably managed
- Therefore, even if they can be considered as natural capital, non-renewable resources cannot produce sustainable natural income

23
Q

What 4 categories do ecosystem services fall into

A
  • supporting services
  • regulating services
  • provisiong services
  • cultural services
24
Q

What is the supporting services and give an example

A

Essential ecological processes for supporting life

  • Primary productivity (photosynthesis)
  • Soil formation
  • Cycling of nutrients (e.g. carbon cycle, nitrogen cycle)
25
Q

What is the regulating service and give an example

A

A diverse set of services that shape and stabilise ecosystems

  • Climate regulation
  • Flood regulation
  • Water quality regulation
  • Air quality regulation
  • Erosion control
  • Disease and pest control
26
Q

What is the provisioning services

A

The goods and services humans obtain from the ecosystem

  • fibres
  • fuels
  • fresh water
    -timber
27
Q

What is the cultural services

A

These services derive from humans interacting with natures in a culturally beneficial way

  • tourism
  • education
  • employment
28
Q

Using a named example of an ecosystem and the society living there, discuss the value of ecosystem services to that society.

A

The Sundarbans, located in India and Bangladesh, is an example of an ecosystem that provides essential services to the societies that live there. The Sundarbans is the largest mangrove forest in the world (covering an area of approximately 10,000 km2) and is home to over 4 million people, whose livelihoods depend on the ecosystem services the forest provides. Some examples of these ecosystem services include:

  • fisheries
  • ecotourism
29
Q

What is the millennium ecosystem assessment

A

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was a major assessment of the human impact on the global environment
It was called for by the United Nations in 2000, launched in 2001, and was published in 2005

30
Q

What is the Millenium assessment

A

The MA gave a scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide
It used a variety of environmental indicators to assess these ecosystems, including factors such as biodiversity, pollution, population or climate, as these can be used quantitatively as indicators of sustainability
These factors can be used to assess sustainability on a range of scales, from local to global
In the case of the MA, this was done on a global scale

31
Q

What is the main aim of the millennium assessment

A

One of the main aims of the MA was to assess how changes to ecosystems have affected, are affecting and will affect human health and wellbeing

32
Q

Summarise the finding of the millennium assesment report

A
  • The current condition of the planet’s ecosystems and the services they provide
  • The importance of these ecosystems to human wellbeing
  • How we can restore, conserve and enhance the sustainable use of these ecosystems

In the last 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems at a faster rate than at any other time in history, which has led to substantial and largely irreversible losses of global biodiversity

33
Q

Give an example of how environmental indicators (such as those used in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) can be used to evaluate the progress of a project to increase sustainability on a more local scale.

A

A city council launches a project to reduce pollution levels and increase the sustainability of its transportation system by expanding public transportation and creating bike lanes. Before starting the project, environmental indicators (such as air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, the number of people using public transport, and the number of cyclists) can be used to assess the current state of the system. This provides a baseline against which progress can be measured. These same environmental indicators can then be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the project over time. By monitoring these indicators, the government can identify areas for improvement and communicate progress to stakeholders (such as the public, policymakers, and investors).

34
Q

What is an enviromental impact assessment

A

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process for evaluating the potential environmental impacts of a proposed development project

35
Q

What is the purpose of an enviromental impact assesment

A

The purpose of an EIA is to identify and evaluate the potential impacts of the project on the environment, and to develop strategies to mitigate or avoid those impacts

36
Q

What are enviromental assesment impacts used for

A

EIAs are used to inform decision-making by government agencies, developers, and other stakeholders, and to ensure that proposed projects are environmentally sustainable

37
Q

What are the 6 steps of a EIA

A
  1. Scoping
  2. Baseline studies
  3. Impact assessment
    4 . Mitigation measures
  4. Public consultation
  5. Review and approval
38
Q

What is scoping used for

A

Defining the scope of the EIA and identifying the key issues to be addressed

39
Q

What is baseline studies

A

Collecting data on the existing environment
The purpose of a baseline study is to understand the physical and biological environment prior to the commencement of the project so that it can be monitored throughout and after the development

40
Q

What variables should be measured as part of a baseline study

A
  • Habitat type and abundance: the total area of each habitat type should be recorded
    -Species list: the number of species (flora and fauna) present should be noted
    -Species diversity: the abundance of each species should be estimated and the diversity of the community should be calculated
    -List of endangered species
    -Land use: the type of land use and its coverage should be assessed
41
Q

What is a impact assesment

A

Evaluating the potential impacts of the project on the environment, including both direct and indirect impacts

42
Q

What are mitigation measures

A

Developing strategies to mitigate or avoid the potential environmental impacts of the project

43
Q

What are public consultations

A

Engaging with stakeholders and the public to gather feedback and input on the proposed project and the EIA

44
Q

What is review and approval

A

Reviewing and approving the EIA by relevant authorities, such as government agencies or regulatory bodies

45
Q

What projects would require a EIA

A

Examples of projects that may require an EIA include:
Mining and mineral extraction
Infrastructure development, such as highways and airports
Energy projects, such as wind farms and hydroelectric dams
Industrial facilities, such as chemical plants and oil refineries
Land use changes, such as deforestation or wetland reclamation

46
Q

What are 3 strengths of a EIA

A
  1. EIAs provide a systematic process for evaluating direct environmental impacts and can help to identify and mitigate or avoid those impacts using adaptive management strategies, leading to more sustainable development
  2. EIAs also assess the indirect impacts of a proposed project, including cumulative effects, indirect effects, and secondary effects, which can help ensure that the project is evaluated from a holistic perspective
  3. EIAs promote public consultation and engagement, which can help to ensure that stakeholder perspectives are considered in decision-making, as well as increase community involvement and awareness of environmental issues
47
Q

What are 4 limitations of a EIA

A
  1. Not always effective in identifying or mitigating all environmental impacts, particularly when they are not conducted properly (e.g. if they are subject to bias or incomplete information) or when there is limited will to address environmental concerns
  2. Only assess the potential impacts of proposed projects and not the underlying social, economic, or political systems that may contribute to these impacts, which can limit their effectiveness in addressing systemic issues that may cause or exacerbate environmental problems
  3. Can be expensive and time-consuming - there may be limited technical or institutional capacity to conduct EIAs in some areas, particularly in developing countries or in areas where there is limited access to data or scientific expertise
48
Q

LOOK AT OLYMPIC PARK, LONDON case study

A
49
Q

What is a ecological footprint

A

Ecological Footprints (EFs) measure the impact of human activities on the environment
They do this by calculating the area of land and water needed to sustain a particular human population
An EF is measured in global hectares (gha) per capita (i.e. hectares per person)

50
Q

What factors does a EF take into consideration

A

EFs take into account factors such as food consumption, transportation, and energy use
EFs can be used to compare the sustainability of different lifestyles, businesses, and even whole countries
If the EF of a lifestyle, business or country exceeds the area available to the population (also known as the biocapacity - the amount of resources that the planet can provide sustainably), it means that it is not sustainable in the long term

51
Q

How to reduce a EF

A

To reduce an EF, it is important to adopt more sustainable practices such as reducing meat consumption, using renewable energy sources, and using public transport or walking instead of driving
EFs are a useful tool for promoting sustainable development and for raising awareness about the impact of human activities on the environment

ESS (17 decks)

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