Downloaded 17 times
Uploaded byMiltiadis Kitsos
1.4. Sustainability
The document discusses key concepts related to sustainability including: - Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. - Environmental indicators and ecological footprints can assess sustainability. - The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reported that humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the past 50 years than ever before, with mixed impacts on human well-being. - Environmental impact assessments play an important role in sustainable development by evaluating potential impacts of projects.
More Related Content
Similar to 1.4. Sustainability
1.4. Sustainability
- 1. 1.4. Sustainability Miltiadis Kitsos Platonschool IB diploma Econpomy SocieyEconomy Society Environment
- 2. Significant ideas • Allsystems can be viewed through the lens of sustainability. • Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. • Environmental indicators and ecological footprints can be used to assess sustainability. • Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) play an important role in sustainable development. Application and Skills • Explain the relationship between natural capital, natural income and sustainability. • Discuss the value of ecosystem services to a society. • Discuss how environmental indicators such as MA can be used to evaluate the progress of a project to increase sustainability. • Evaluate the use of EIAs • Explain the relationship between ecological footprint (EF) and sustainability.
- 3. Sustainability Sustainability is theuse of natural resources in ways that do not reduce or degrade the resources (full replacement, non-degradation of ecosysytem), so that they are available for future generations. Environmental systems Societies Resources Exploitation Sustainable Management
- 4. Sustainability Sustainability is theuse of natural resources in ways that do not reduce or degrade the resources (full replacement, non-degradation of ecosysytem), so that they are available for future generations. Resources Renewal Exploitation Degradation Due to polution A use of a resource (natural capital) is sustainable when the rates of degradation and exploitation are lower than the renewal rate Renewal rate > Exploitation rate
- 5. Non-sustainable use ofresources: case study Collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery In 1992 the Canadian government paused a moratorium in the Northern Cod fisheries after a collapse of the fishing stock. The fisheries of the cod was one of the major economic incomes of the communities in the Eastern Canadian coast. The main reasons of the collapse were: The unsustainable exploitation of the resource The degradation of the bentic community due to the large volume of non-commercial fish killed as discards. The uncertainty in the management of the stock due to the lack of a concise scientific background. https://www.turners-seafood.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Atlantic-Cod-1- 770x510.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Time_series_for_collapse _of_Atlantic_northwest_cod.png
- 6. Sustainable development Sustainable developmentmeans ‘meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’. In 1983 the general assembly of the United Nations asked the World Commission on Environment and Development under Gro Harlem Brundtland to form "A global agenda for change”, that is to propose long-term environmental strategies for achieving sustainable development by the year 2000 and beyond. Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, from the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED) was published in 1987. This report was the firs serious effort atan international context to address the issue and recommend strategies that may lead to sustainable development. You can read the report here. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/t humb/a/aa/Our_Common_Future_book_cove r.gif/220px- Our_Common_Future_book_cover.gif
- 7. Sustainable development The threepillars Environment Society Economy Andrew, Davis, et al. Pearson Baccaularete Environmental Systems And Socieities For The Ib Diploma
- 8. Sustainable development However, thedefinition of sustainable development is subjective In fact is heavily biased by the EVS’s (ecocentric vs Technocentric) Economists think that sustainable development results in a stable annual income regardless the impact on the environment On the other hand environmentalists and ecologists would focus on achieving a steady production without degrading the environment http://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/sdg_birthday_cartoon_eu_stars_twitter_panda.jpg
- 9. Sustainable development: adream or reality? Is sustainable development possible? No, There is a continuous increase in the rate humans are using natural resources to produce profit. The world population is increasing as well as the demand for natural resources. In this context, most resources are likely to be used in an unsustainable manner. https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/updated-World- Population-Growth-1750-2100.png https://mipt.ru/upload/iblock/127/oil_extraction.jpg
- 10. Sustainable development: adream or reality? Is sustainable development possible? Yes, given certain conditions. Investing on technologies using renewable resources (e.g., wind turbines, solar panels) Use alternative sources of fuels (e.g., hydrogen vs fossil fuels) Recycling and other personal choices that could minimise energy overconsumption. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Recycle001.s vg/2000px-Recycle001.svg.png http://s3.amazonaws.com/digitaltrends-uploads-prod/2016/03/Wind-turbines.jpg
- 11. Sustainable development: @Globalor local context? Is sustainable development possible? Many environmental problems are of global importance (e.g., global warming, pollution) and are related to processes happening at a global scale Thus, a global perspective • enhances understanding of the effects and scaffolds global awareness • • Emphasises cooperation • Helps governments being more responsible a local perspective Sometimes, the geographical diversity and variability of ecosystems require a more localised approach in sustainability issues Sustainability problems may be solved in a small scale by individuals or small-scale community action. https://climate.nasa.gov/system/content_pages/main_images/1321_cc-vs-gw-vs-wx-768px.jpg
- 12. Natural capital andnatural income The economics of natural resources From an anthropocentric point of view natural resources are discussed in terms of their use by and relationship to human populations. Renewable recourses Natural resources that are not depleted; they are repeatedly used and naturally replenished. • Solar energy • Wind energy • Tidal energy • Biomass Non-Renewable recourses They are not naturally replenished and they run a risk of being depleted if the exploitation rate is very igh • Fossil fuels • Nuclear power • Certain aquifers
- 13. Natural capital andnatural income The economics of natural resources The environment (renewable and non-renewable resources) Raw materials Natural capital forms of Wealth (goods and Services) Producers Consumers Emissions and waste products Natural income Profit
- 14. Natural capital andnatural income The economics of natural resources Natural capital: the resources and services provided from the ecosystems
- 15. Natural capital andnatural income The economics of natural resources Natural income: then Annual yield provided by the natural capital http://sciencesauceonline.com/ibessbyss/images/topi csummaries/ess1-4-sustainability.png
- 16. The Millennium ecosystemassessment. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was an international scientific effort aiming at reporting on the condition of the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide. The development of the MA is an excellent example of International scientific cooperation (more than 1360 experts worldwide) Initiated in 2001 aiming at: • assessing the conditions of the world’s ecosystems • investigating the consequences of ecosystems changes for human well-being. • developing good practices that would enhance conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems. https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg
- 17. The Millennium ecosystemassessment.
- 18. The Millennium ecosystemassessment: Main findings • Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the past 50 years than in any previous period in history • irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth. • substantial overall gains in human well-being and economic development, but at the cost of many ecosystems and the services they provide. • Changes have increased the poverty of some groups of people. • Ecosystem degradation unless addressed, will substantially reduce the benefits that future generations obtain from ecosystems. • Restoring ecosystems while meeting increasing demands for services can be achieved, but will involve significant changes in policies and practices. https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg
- 19. The Millennium ecosystemassessment: Main findings in numbers • 60% of world ecosystems have been degraded • 25% of world land has been cultivated • We use 40-50% of surface freshwater; have doubled underground withdrawals in last 40 years • 25% of all fish stocks are overharvested • 35% of mangroves have been destroyed • Since 1980, 20% of coral has been destroyed, another 20% degraded • Eutrophication has led to coastal dead zones • Species extinction rates are 100-1,000 times typical background rates • Humans have had more of an effect on ecosystems in last 50 years tha ever before.
- 20. The Millennium ecosystemassessment: Main findings • Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the past 50 years than in any previous period in history • irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth. • substantial overall gains in human well-being and economic development, but at the cost of many ecosystems and the services they provide. • Changes have increased the poverty of some groups of people. • Ecosystem degradation unless addressed, will substantially reduce the benefits that future generations obtain from ecosystems. • Restoring ecosystems while meeting increasing demands for services can be achieved, but will involve significant changes in policies and practices. https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg
- 21. The Millennium ecosystemassessment: Main findings • The MA Board of Directors has developed an interpretation of the key messages to emerge from the assessment, entitled Living Beyond Our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-Being. • You may read the report here
- 22. Environmental impact assessment •Before any big construction project takes place , an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) project must be carried out. • The EIAs incorporate a baseline study and assess the environmental, social, and economic impacts of the project, predicting and evaluating possible impacts and suggesting mitigation strategies. They are usually followed by an audit and continued monitoring. • The purpose of an EIA is to: establish the impact of the project on the environment. Predict possible impacts on habitats, species and ecosystems help decision makers on decide if the development should go ahead. address the mitigation of potential environmental impacts associated with the development.
- 23. Environmental impact assessment •The report should provide a non-technical summary at the conclusion so that lay-people and the media can understand the implications of the study. • Some countries incorporate EIAs within their legal framework, with penalties and measures that can be taken if the conditions of the EIA are broken. However, in other the EIA’s are often ignored, or take second place to economic concerns.
- 24. Environmental impact assessment:base-line study • The first stage of an EIA is to carry out a baseline study. • Important to know what the physical and biological environment is like before the project starts so that it can be monitored during and after the development. Variables measured as part of a baseline study should include: • habitat type and abundance • species list • species diversity • list of endangered species • land use – assess land use type and use coverage • hydrology – assess hydrological conditions in terms of volume, discharge, flows, and water quality • human population – assess present population • soil – quality, fertility, and pH.
- 25. Environmental impact assessment:limitations It is often difficult to put together a complete baseline study due to lack of data. Not all of the impacts are identified specially indirect impacts. An EIA may be limited by the quality of the baseline study. Environmental impact prediction is speculative because of the complexity of natural systems and the uncertainty of feedback mechanisms. Lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners.
- 26. Environmental impact assessment:limitations It is often difficult to put together a complete baseline study due to lack of data. Not all of the impacts are identified specially indirect impacts. An EIA may be limited by the quality of the baseline study. Environmental impact prediction is speculative because of the complexity of natural systems and the uncertainty of feedback mechanisms. Lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners.
- 27. Environmental footprint Anecological footprint (EF ) of an individual or population demonstrates the ongoing rate of resource consumption and roughly estimates the ecosystem surface area necessary to support the individual or the population in a sustainable manner. Comparing the calculated area with the actual area occupied by the population gives an indication of whether or not the population is living sustainably. Some times the results are not promising at all…
- 28. References Andrew, Davis, etal. Pearson Baccaularete Environmental Systems And Socieities For The Ib Diploma. Rutherford, Jill. Environmental Systems and Societies. Oxford University Press, 2015.