Sustainability (Level 1) Flashcards
(117 cards)
What is sustainability?
Sustainability is the long term maintenance and enhancement of human well-being within finite planetary resources. It is usually considered to have environmental, economic, and social dimensions.
What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What are the triple bottom line principles?
Triple bottom line (TBL) emphasizes corporate social responsibility. It nudges organizations to consider social and environmental impacts along with the obsession for profits. TBL recommends focussing equally on the three Ps: people, profit, and the planet.
What does the NPPF say about sustainable development?
Achieving sustainable development means that the planning system has 3 overarching objectives, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways (so that opportunities can be taken to secure net gains across each of the different objectives):
an economic objective – to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity; and by identifying and coordinating the provision of infrastructure
a social objective – to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by ensuring that a sufficient number and range of homes can be provided to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by fostering well-designed beautiful and safe places, with accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities’ health, social and cultural well-being; and
an environmental objective – to protect and enhance our natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, improving biodiversity, using natural resources prudently, minimising waste and pollution, and mitigating and adapting to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy.
Can you tell me about any Climate Change Conventions or Protocols you are aware of?
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commits all signatory nations to formulate, implement, publish and update measures to prepare for the impacts of climate change, known as ‘adaptation’.
What targets did one of these set?
In the paris agreement, one target was To limit global warming to 1.5°C, greenhouse gas emissions must peak before 2025 at the latest and decline 43% by 2030.
What are the most recent EU / UK targets relating to sustainability?
We will minimise waste, reuse materials as much as we can and manage materials at the end of their life to minimise the impact on the environment. We will do this by: working towards our ambition of zero avoidable waste by 2050. working to a target of eliminating avoidable plastic waste by end of 2042.
What is the Paris Agreement?
The Paris Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
What was the Kyoto Protocol and what were it’s targets?
The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty adopted in 1997 that aimed to reduce the emission of gases that contribute to global warming. The protocol called for reducing the emissions of six greenhouse gases in 41 countries plus the European Union to 5.2 percent below 1990 levels.
What are the 2020/2030/2050 EU targets?
The 2020 package is a set of laws passed to ensure the EU meets its climate and energy targets for the year 2020. The package sets three key targets: 20% cut in greenhouse gas emissions (from 1990 levels) 20% of EU energy from renewables.
The EU’s current NDC target, submitted in December 2020, is to reduce emissions by at least 55% below 1990 levels by 2030
The EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Explain your understanding of COP26.
A focus of COP26 was to secure agreement between all the Paris signatories on how they would set out their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reduce emissions. The finalised Rulebook, includes agreements on: An enhanced transparency framework for reporting emissions
What did the UK Climate Change Act 2008 do?
The Climate Change Act 2008 is the basis for the UK’s approach to tackling and responding to climate change. It requires that emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are reduced and that climate change risks are adapted to. The Act also establishes the framework to deliver on these requirements
What are carbon budgets?
carbon budget for the amount of greenhouse gases that can be ‘spent’ (emitted) for a given level of global warming. If we exceed this budget, global temperatures will become higher.
What did the Infrastructure Act 2015 say about climate change?
What is the renewable heat incentive?
The RHI pays participants of the scheme that generate and use renewable energy to heat their buildings. By increasing the generation of heat from renewable energy sources (instead of fossil fuels), the RHI helps the UK reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet targets for reducing the effects of climate change.
How can buildings impact upon the environment?
The physical assembly of the building consumes a large amount of energy. This fossil energy harvest emits CO2 and conventional air pollutants, as well as contributing to resource extraction and associated habitat loss.
Can you give me an example of a sustainable design feature?
Can you give me an example of an environmental assessment method for buildings?
A BREEAM assessment uses recognised measures of performance, which are set against established benchmarks, to evaluate a building’s specification, design, construction and use.
Can you explain your understanding of the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) to me?
The Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES), are a minimum energy efficiency level for domestic private rented properties, set and enforced by the Government. This standard applies to all domestic private rented properties that are legally required to have an Energy Performance Certificate
How does MEES impact upon your role?
MEES does not impact my role directly however i understand it can restrict when properties are able to be rented.
What are the key dates for MEES?
From 1 April 2023 it will be unlawful to continue to let a commercial property with an F or G EPC rating, even if the lease was granted prior to the MEES Regulations coming into force in 2018.
What falls outside of MEES?
Are there any exemptions from MEES?
If the property has an F or G rating, and the landlord believes the property cannot be improved to meet the minimum E rating they can apply for an exemption from the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) Regulations.
What are the penalties for non-compliance?
A breach of MEES regulations lasting longer than 3 months can trigger a fine of the higher of £10,000 or 20% of the rateable value of the property, up to £150,000.
