Lectures 3-5 Flashcards
(48 cards)
What makes finding solutions to sustainable development (SD) challenges complex?
Solutions to SD challenges require addressing various theories, concepts, perspectives, needs, and contexts, each offering different approaches to achieving sustainability.
What are the four main theoretical approaches to sustainable development?
- Socio-centered approaches (e.g., social sustainability, governance, social innovation)
- Socio-political approaches (e.g., political ecology, environmental justice, degrowth)
- Economic approaches (e.g., PES and other market-based instruments)
- Systemic approaches (e.g., socio-ecological systems approaches, systems resilience)
What is the Brundtland definition of sustainable development?
Sustainable development is “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
How does the concept of well-being relate to sustainable development?
Sustainable development emphasizes that well-being should not decline over time, ensuring continuous improvement or maintenance across generations.
What are the different types of capital stocks that contribute to well-being in sustainable development?
- Human-made capital (KM): Buildings, equipment, technology, infrastructure
- Human capital (KH): Skills and knowledge
- Social capital (KS): Institutions, human networks, regulations
- Natural capital (KN): Natural resources and ecosystem services
What is the key difference between weak and strong sustainability?
Weak sustainability assumes that different capital stocks (natural and human-made) can be substituted.
Strong sustainability argues that natural capital is irreplaceable and must be preserved independently of human-made capital.
What are the assumptions underlying weak sustainability?
- Capital stocks can be accurately measured and substituted through market mechanisms.
- Scientific and technological advancements will enable efficient substitution.
- The environment is a variable to monitor but not a core priority.
Give an example illustrating the concept of weak sustainability.
The depletion of fish stocks being offset by investing in more fishing boats, assuming technology can compensate for resource loss.
What are the assumptions underlying strong sustainability?
- Not all values can be monetarily measured.
- Long-term substitution of natural resources is difficult or impossible.
3.Human-made capital growth depends fundamentally on natural capital.
What does the weak-strong sustainability spectrum represent?
The spectrum illustrates the varying degrees of integration between economic and ecological perspectives, ranging from valuing nature in economic terms (weak sustainability) to prioritizing ecosystem health and intrinsic value (strong sustainability).
How does the Amazon Rainforest mining case study highlight the weak vs. strong sustainability debate?
It presents the tension between economic development (weak sustainability), which supports mining for economic benefits, and environmental preservation (strong sustainability), which prioritizes the protection of natural capital and indigenous communities.
What are key arguments from a weak sustainability perspective regarding Amazon mining?
- Economic benefits from mining increase human-made capital.
- Technology can potentially restore damaged ecosystems.
- Trade-offs between economic and environmental concerns must be carefully managed.
What are key arguments from a strong sustainability perspective regarding Amazon mining?
- The Amazon’s ecosystem services are irreplaceable.
- Mining poses irreversible damage to indigenous communities and biodiversity.
- A precautionary principle should be applied to prevent long-term harm.
What are potential discussion points for balancing weak and strong sustainability perspectives in Amazon mining?
- Finding a middle ground through sustainable policies.
- Realistic approaches to managing Amazonian resources without irreversible damage.
- Policies to ensure economic development does not undermine environmental preservation.
Why is it important to consider the social dimension alongside economic and environmental aspects of sustainability?
The social dimension ensures that issues such as equity, justice, and well-being are addressed, preventing the exclusion of vulnerable populations from sustainability efforts.
What critical reflection does the weak-strong sustainability spectrum encourage?
It encourages thinking beyond economic and environmental perspectives to consider whether social dimensions, such as fairness and community well-being, are adequately integrated into sustainability strategies.
What are the key pillars of Sustainable Development (SD), and how do they interact?
The key pillars of Sustainable Development are:
- Economic Viability: Ensures resource management efficiency and growth while serving ecological and social criteria.
- Ecological Sustainability: Recognizes the interconnectedness of humans and nature and respects ecological limits to sustain life.
- Social Sustainability and Governance: Focuses on fairness, equity, and social inclusion, addressing both intra- and inter-generational equity.
These pillars interact by balancing economic growth with ecological limits and social well-being, ensuring sustainable and equitable development across generations.
What are the main features of a governance approach to sustainability?
- Acknowledges a multiplicity of actors and institutions beyond markets and states.
- Includes both formal (government agencies) and informal (civil society, communities) actors.
- Considers both formal and informal institutional structures that shape social life and sustainability outcomes.
- Addresses complexities arising from globalization and interconnectedness.
- Emphasizes adaptability and collaboration to respond to crises like climate change and pandemics.
What is the role of governance mechanisms in sustainability? Provide examples.
Governance mechanisms guide sustainable outcomes through:
- State mechanisms: Laws and policies at various levels of government.
- Market mechanisms: Private sector actions influencing consumption and resource allocation.
- Third sector mechanisms: Collective actions by NGOs, communities, and civil society groups.
- Hybrid mechanisms: Combining state, market, and civil society efforts across multiple scales.
Example: Global climate agreements (e.g., Paris Agreement) showcase hybrid governance, involving states, businesses, and civil society.
Why was the social pillar initially neglected in early sustainability debates?
Early sustainability debates prioritized economic and technological solutions, focusing on macroeconomic equity and sustainability. This led to the social pillar being reduced to capital management, emphasizing equity and resource distribution rather than the complexities of societal organization and collective action.
What are the two key aspects of macroeconomic equity and sustainability?
The two key aspects are:
- Inter-generational equity: Ensuring a fair distribution of resources and opportunities between present and future generations.
- Intra-generational equity: Addressing disparities in resource access and well-being between different groups within the same generation, particularly the Global North-South divide.
What is the debate between weak and strong sustainability concerning the social pillar?
Weak sustainability views the social pillar primarily in terms of managing economic capital and resource distribution, whereas strong sustainability considers the complexities of societal organization, collective action, and the influence of institutions.
What elements should a comprehensive understanding of the social pillar include?
A comprehensive understanding should include:
- The complexity of sustainability challenges.
- The role of individuals and groups in sustainable development.
- The influence of institutions on individuals and groups.
Define governance in the context of sustainability.
Governance refers to the interplay of multiple actors and institutions in shaping sustainable outcomes through both formal and informal structures.
