Introduction to Sustainability

Question 1

Definition

Answer 1

Sustainability is the long-term maintenance of systems according to environmental (climate, soil, ecosystems), economic (production, financial) and social (education, labour rights, healthcare) considerations.

Question 2

Tragedy of the Commons

Answer 2

A situation in which individuals with limited access to a common, publicly available resource act in their short-term self-interest and deplete the resource. Overfishing for example

Question 3

Sustainable Development

Answer 3

This meets the needs of the present without compromising future generations chances at meeting their own needs. It aims to maintain intra-generational justice and inter-generational justice.

Question 4

Elkington’s Triple Bottom Line Framework

Answer 4

This assesses sustainability. Lays out three pillars of business success as: People (Social), Planet (Environmental), Profit (Economic). There are interlinkages (climate change and social justice).