Lecture 2: Sustainability Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the danger of unchecked exponential growth according to Limits to Growth?
It can lead to a collapse in population and industrial capacity due to hitting environmental and economic limits.
What solution do the authors of Limits to Growth propose?
A sustainable global balance where population, resource use, and pollution are stabilized.
Why is immediate action necessary, according to the report?
To avoid catastrophic consequences and transition from a growth-based model to sustainable equilibrium.
What modeling approach did the authors use in Limits to Growth?
System dynamics modeling — showing how interconnected global factors affect each other.
What misconception does Limits to Growth challenge?
That economic and technological progress alone can solve global sustainability issues.
How have companies like Tesla and Unilever approached sustainability?
They’ve embedded it into their core business models instead of treating it as an add-on.
Name three of the six factors behind Green Giants’ success.
Iconoclastic Leadership
Disruptive Innovation
A Higher Purpose
What is iconoclastic leadership in the context of sustainable business?
Leadership that challenges conventional norms and prioritizes long-term purpose over short-term profit; often led by bold, visionary individuals (e.g., Elon Musk, Paul Polman).
What is disruptive innovation in Green Giants’ success?
Introducing groundbreaking, sustainable products or processes that reshape industries and outperform traditional alternatives (e.g., Tesla’s EVs, Nike’s Flyknit shoes).
What is meant by a higher purpose in sustainable companies?
A mission that goes beyond profit, such as reducing environmental harm or promoting ethical practices, which guides all business decisions and inspires stakeholders.
What does “Built-In, Not Bolted-On” mean in sustainability strategy?
Sustainability is integrated into business operations, not treated as a separate initiative.
What does “A New Behavioral Contract” involve?
Ethical responsibility, transparency, and collaboration to build consumer trust.
Why is sustainability financially smart for companies?
Sustainable firms often outperform competitors and attract value-driven consumers and employees.
What is greenwashing?
Making something appear more environmentally friendly than it truly is.
Why do companies engage in greenwashing?
Because many consumers, especially Gen Z, are willing to pay more for sustainable products.
What major scandal exemplifies greenwashing?
Volkswagen (VW) — legal costs exceeded $30 billion due to false environmental claims.
What is the prisoner’s dilemma in climate protection?
Rational actors act in self-interest, resulting in a worse collective outcome, such as failing to act on climate change.
Why is the prisoner’s dilemma a challenge for international climate agreements?
Nations prioritize their own interests, making cooperation difficult even when it benefits all.
How have payoffs changed recently in the climate dilemma?
Costs of action have decreased and benefits have become clearer, encouraging more collaboration.
What might overcome the prisoner’s dilemma at a global level?
Strong international organizations with enforcement power to alter the payoff matrix.
What controversial view about climate solutions was suggested in a 1979 book?
Only dictatorships may be capable of solving humanity’s large-scale problems.
What is a “nudge”?
A subtle intervention that influences choices without restricting freedom.
Why are nudges effective?
Because most decisions are made unconsciously, not through rational cost-benefit analysis.
What is the goal of nudging?
To help people make decisions in their own and society’s best interest, without coercion.
