topic 1.4: sustainability
image from www.ifmaoregon.org
Sustainability is a broad discipline, giving you insights into most aspects of the human world from business to technology to environment and the social sciences. Sustainability is the study of how natural systems function, remain diverse and produce everything it needs for the ecology to remain in balance. It also acknowledges that human civilization takes resources to sustain our modern way of life.
We live in a modern, consumerist and largely urban existence throughout the developed world and consume natural resources every day. In our urban centers, we consume more power than those who live in rural settings and urban centers use a lot more power than average, keeping streets and civic buildings lit, to power our appliances, our heating and other public and household power requirements. It is estimated that we use about 40% more resources every year than we can put back and that needs to change. Sustainability and sustainable development focuses on balancing between competing needs - our need to move forward technologically and economically, and the needs to protect the environments in which we and others live. Sustainability is not just about the environment, it's also about our health as a society in ensuring that no people or areas of life suffer as a result of environmental legislation, and it's also about examining the longer term effects of the actions humanity takes and asking questions about how it may be improved.
This unit will take a minimum of 4.5 hours
Significant Ideas
We live in a modern, consumerist and largely urban existence throughout the developed world and consume natural resources every day. In our urban centers, we consume more power than those who live in rural settings and urban centers use a lot more power than average, keeping streets and civic buildings lit, to power our appliances, our heating and other public and household power requirements. It is estimated that we use about 40% more resources every year than we can put back and that needs to change. Sustainability and sustainable development focuses on balancing between competing needs - our need to move forward technologically and economically, and the needs to protect the environments in which we and others live. Sustainability is not just about the environment, it's also about our health as a society in ensuring that no people or areas of life suffer as a result of environmental legislation, and it's also about examining the longer term effects of the actions humanity takes and asking questions about how it may be improved.
This unit will take a minimum of 4.5 hours
Significant Ideas
- All systems 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.
Big questions:
- What strengths and weaknesses of the systems approach and the use of models have been through this topic?
- What have you learned about sustainability and sustainable development in this chapter?
- What are the differences between sustainability and sustainable development?
- Ecological Footprint is a model used to estimate the demands that human populations place on the environment; what are the limitations and benefits of these models
- How do EIAs ensure that development is sustainable?
Knowledge and Understanding
1.4.U1 Sustainability is the use and management of resources that allows full natural replacement of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by their extraction and use
- Define sustainability
image from pork.org
Environmental sustainability involves making decisions and taking action that are in the interests of protecting the natural world, with particular emphasis on preserving the capability of the environment to support human life. It is an important topic at the present time, as people are realising the full impact that businesses and individuals can have on the environment.
Environmental sustainability is about making responsible decisions that will reduce the negative impact on the environment. It is not simply about reducing the amount of waste you produce or using less energy, but is concerned with developing processes that will lead to becoming completely sustainable in the future
Environmental sustainability is about making responsible decisions that will reduce the negative impact on the environment. It is not simply about reducing the amount of waste you produce or using less energy, but is concerned with developing processes that will lead to becoming completely sustainable in the future
Sustainability is the use of global resources at a rate that allows natural regeneration and minimizes damage to the environment. for example, a system of harvesting resources at a rate that allows replacement by natural growth
Some economists may view sustainable development as a stable annual return on investment regardless of the environmental impact, whereas some environmentalists may view it as a stable return without environmental degradation. Consider the development of changing attitudes to sustainability and economic growth, since the Rio Earth Summit (1992) leading to Agenda 21.
Sustainability can be encouraged by:
International summits on sustainable development have highlighted the issues involved in economic development across the globe, yet the viewpoints of environmentalists and economists may be very different.
Some economists may view sustainable development as a stable annual return on investment regardless of the environmental impact, whereas some environmentalists may view it as a stable return without environmental degradation. Consider the development of changing attitudes to sustainability and economic growth, since the Rio Earth Summit (1992) leading to Agenda 21.
Sustainability can be encouraged by:
- ecological land-use to maintain habitat quality and connectivity for all species.
- sustainable material cycles, (ex carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles).
- social systems that contribute to a culture of sufficiency that eases the consumption pressures on natural capital.
International summits on sustainable development have highlighted the issues involved in economic development across the globe, yet the viewpoints of environmentalists and economists may be very different.
1.4.U2 Natural capital is a term used for natural resources that can produce a sustainable natural income of goods or services
- Define natural capital
image from permadesign.com
There are three broad classes of natural capital.
Renewable: solar energy, biomass energy, wind energy, hydro-power energy and geothermal energy.
Non-renewable: fossil fuel oils, coal, nuclear and natural gas
- Renewable natural capital - living species and ecosystems. They are self-producing and self-maintaining. They use solar energy and photosynthesis. This natural capital can yield marketable goods such as wood fiber, but may also provide unaccounted essential services when left in place, for example, climate regulation.
- Replenishable natural capital - groundwater and the ozone layer, is nonliving but is also often dependent on the solar “engine” for renewal.
- Non-renewable capital - fossil fuel and minerals, are analogous to inventories: any use implies liquidating part of the stock.
Renewable: solar energy, biomass energy, wind energy, hydro-power energy and geothermal energy.
Non-renewable: fossil fuel oils, coal, nuclear and natural gas
1.4.U3 Natural income is the yield obtained from natural resources
- Define natural income
- Distinguish between natural capital and natural income.
mage from architectstrace.wordpress.com
Any society that supports itself in part by depleting essential forms of natural capital is unsustainable. If human well-being is dependent on the goods and services provided by certain forms of natural capital, then longterm harvest (or pollution) rates should not exceed rates of capital renewal. Sustainability means living, within the means of nature, on the “interest” or sustainable income generated by natural capital.
This can be encouraged by:
This can be encouraged by:
- Ecological land-use to maintain habitat quality and connectivity for all species.
- Sustainable material cycles, (ex carbon, nitrogen, and water cycles).
- Social systems that contribute to a culture of sufficiency that eases the consumption pressures on natural capital.
image from travel.wikinut.com
Organisms or ecosystems have value:
Organisms or ecosystems that are valued on aesthetic or intrinsic grounds may not provide commodities identifiable as either goods or services, and so remain unpriced or undervalued from an economic viewpoint. Organisms or ecosystems regarded as having intrinsic value, for instance from an ethical, spiritual or philosophical perspective, are valued regardless of their potential use to humans. Therefore, diverse perspectives may underlie the evaluation of natural capital. Attempts are being made to acknowledge diverse valuations of nature (for example, biodiversity, rate of depletion of natural resources) so that they may be weighed more rigorously against more common economic values (for example, gross national product (GNP)). However, some argue that these valuations are impossible to quantify and price realistically. Not surprisingly, much of the sustainability debate centers on the problem of how to weigh conflicting values in our treatment of natural capital.
How can we quantify values such as aesthetic value, which are inherently qualitative?
You need to be able to explain the relationship between natural capital, natural income and sustainability, and discuss the value of ecosystem services to a society.
- Intrinsic values: values that are not determined by their potential use to human, their value is given vary by culture, religion, etc. E.g. a statue
- Economic value-: value that are determined from the market price of the good and services a resources produce.
- Ecological Value: value that have no formed market price but are essential to human e.g. photosynthesis
- Aesthetic Value: no market price, similar to ecological value,(basically things that look good). E.g. landscape
Organisms or ecosystems that are valued on aesthetic or intrinsic grounds may not provide commodities identifiable as either goods or services, and so remain unpriced or undervalued from an economic viewpoint. Organisms or ecosystems regarded as having intrinsic value, for instance from an ethical, spiritual or philosophical perspective, are valued regardless of their potential use to humans. Therefore, diverse perspectives may underlie the evaluation of natural capital. Attempts are being made to acknowledge diverse valuations of nature (for example, biodiversity, rate of depletion of natural resources) so that they may be weighed more rigorously against more common economic values (for example, gross national product (GNP)). However, some argue that these valuations are impossible to quantify and price realistically. Not surprisingly, much of the sustainability debate centers on the problem of how to weigh conflicting values in our treatment of natural capital.
How can we quantify values such as aesthetic value, which are inherently qualitative?
You need to be able to explain the relationship between natural capital, natural income and sustainability, and discuss the value of ecosystem services to a society.
1.4.U4 Ecosystems may provide life-supporting services such as water replenishment, flood and erosion protection, and goods such as timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops.
- Use examples to distinguish between goods and services.
- With the use of examples discuss the importance of ecosystems services
Ecosystems may provide life-supporting services such as water replenishment, flood and erosion protection, and goods such as timber, fisheries, and agricultural crops.
Ecologically minded economists describe resources as “natural capital”. If properly managed, renewable and replenishable resources are forms of wealth that can produce “natural income” indefinitely in the form of valuable goods and services.
Removing natural vegetation has a “cost”: Loss of carbon uptake, disruption of water and nutrient cycles and even just the loss of the aesthetic value all have a cost. The difficult part of natural capital is prescribing a “value” in economic terms to the goods and services the biosphere provides.
Ecologically minded economists describe resources as “natural capital”. If properly managed, renewable and replenishable resources are forms of wealth that can produce “natural income” indefinitely in the form of valuable goods and services.
- marketable commodities such as timber and grain (goods)
- ecological services such as the flood and erosion protection provided by forests (services).
- non-renewable resources cannot generate wealth without liquidation of the estate.
Removing natural vegetation has a “cost”: Loss of carbon uptake, disruption of water and nutrient cycles and even just the loss of the aesthetic value all have a cost. The difficult part of natural capital is prescribing a “value” in economic terms to the goods and services the biosphere provides.
image from www.energy4me.org
Consider how cultural, economic, technological and other factors influence the status of a resource over time and space.
What this all means is that resources are dynamic, its status may change, it might become valuable or it might become invaluable.
- Uranium, due to the development of nuclear technology, has only recently become a valuable resource.
- Salt use to be more valuable than gold.
What this all means is that resources are dynamic, its status may change, it might become valuable or it might become invaluable.
image from www.trucost.com
1.4.U5 Factors such as biodiversity, pollution, population or climate may be used quantitatively as environmental indicators of sustainability. These factors can be applied on a range of scales, from local to global. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) gave a scientific appraisal of the condition and trends in the world’s ecosystems and the services they provide using environmental indicators, as well as the scientific basis for action to conserve and use them sustainably
- Explain how biodiversity, pollution and climate change can be used to indicate sustainability or un-sustainability
- Discuss how the MA and other indicators such as the ecological footprint could be used to assess the sustainable use of a resource.
- Discuss how the MA and other indicators such as the ecological footprint could be used to assess the progress of a project to improve sustainability
image from ResearchGate
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment is a United Nations project designed to assess the consequences of ecosystem changes for human well-being. The objective of the multiyear exercise was to both assess the consequences of ecosystem changes for human well-being, and to establish a scientific basis for action to conserve the sustainable use of ecosystems and their contribution to human well-being.
Five Main Assessments:
You need to be able to discuss how environmental indicators (such as Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) can be used to evaluate the progress of a project to increase sustainability.
Five Main Assessments:
- Over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber and fuel. This has resulted in a substantial and largely irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.
- The changes that have been made to ecosystems have contributed to substantial net gains in human well-being and economic development, but these gains have been achieved at growing costs in the form of the degradation of many ecosystem services, increased risks of nonlinear changes, and the exacerbation of poverty for some groups of people. These problems, unless addressed, will substantially diminish the benefits that future generations obtain from ecosystems.
- The degradation of ecosystem services could grow significantly worse during the first half of this century and is a barrier to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
- The challenge of reversing the degradation of ecosystem while meeting increasing demands for services can be partially met under some scenarios considered by the MA, but will involve significant changes in policies, institutions and practices that are not currently under way. Many options exist to conserve or enhance specific ecosystem services in ways that reduce negative trade-offs or that provide positive synergies with other ecosystem services.
You need to be able to discuss how environmental indicators (such as Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) can be used to evaluate the progress of a project to increase sustainability.
1.4.U6 EIAs incorporate baseline studies before a development project is undertaken. They assess the environmental, social and economic impacts of the project, predicting and evaluating possible impacts and suggesting mitigation strategies for the project. They are usually followed by an audit and continued monitoring. Each country or region has different guidance on the use of EIAs
- Define baseline
- Use an example to explain the purpose of an EIA.
- Use a named example of a countries EIA
image from A & N Technologies, Bengaluru
EIA involves production of a baseline study before any environmental development, assessment of possible impacts, and monitoring of change during and after the development.
Process for identifying the likely consequence for the biophysical environment and for man’s health and welfare of implementing particular activities and for conveying information at a stage where it can materially affect the decision, to those for sanctioning the proposals. (long definition).
The developments that need EIA’s differ from country to country, but certain types of developments tend to be included in the EIA process in most parts of the world.
Purpose of the EIA:
Helps the decision making process by providing information about the consequences of the environment. Promotes sustainable development by identifying environmentally sound practice and migration measures for development.
Used for:
Planning process that governments set out in law when large developments are considered. They provide a documented way of examining environmental impacts that can be used as evidence in the decision making process of any new development.
What developments used in the EIA:
Process for identifying the likely consequence for the biophysical environment and for man’s health and welfare of implementing particular activities and for conveying information at a stage where it can materially affect the decision, to those for sanctioning the proposals. (long definition).
The developments that need EIA’s differ from country to country, but certain types of developments tend to be included in the EIA process in most parts of the world.
Purpose of the EIA:
Helps the decision making process by providing information about the consequences of the environment. Promotes sustainable development by identifying environmentally sound practice and migration measures for development.
Used for:
Planning process that governments set out in law when large developments are considered. They provide a documented way of examining environmental impacts that can be used as evidence in the decision making process of any new development.
What developments used in the EIA:
- Major new road networks
- Airport/port developments
- Building power stations
- Building dams and reservoirs
- Quarrying
- Large scale housing projects.
1.4.U7 EIAs provide decision-makers with information in order to consider the environmental impact of a project. There is not necessarily a requirement to implement an EIA’s proposals, and many socio-economic factors may influence the decisions made.
- Explain the stages that are involved in an EIA.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a planning tool that provides decision makers with an understanding of the potential effects that human actions, especially technological ones, may have on the environment. By understanding the potential environmental effects of an action, policymakers can choose which should proceed and which should not. Governments from around the world perform environmental impact assessments at the national, state or provincial, and local levels. The underlying assumption of all environmental impact assessments is that all human activity has the potential to affect the environment, and that knowledge concerning the environmental impact of a major decision will improve that decision
Used in many countries, the aim of EIA is to reduce the environmental impact of a project at the earliest possible stage during the project cycle, that is, during the planning stage. Whilst EIA processes differ between countries and projects, there are several common components:
Used in many countries, the aim of EIA is to reduce the environmental impact of a project at the earliest possible stage during the project cycle, that is, during the planning stage. Whilst EIA processes differ between countries and projects, there are several common components:
- Screening - is an EIA required; what level of detail is required.
- Scoping - what are the issues and impacts of the project; who are the stakeholders; what is the current state of the environment.
- Identification of alternatives - what alternatives exist.
- Impact analysis - what are the environmental, social and other related impacts of the project.
- Mitigation and impact management - how will the impacts be mitigated, reduced or managed.
- Evaluation of significance - are the impacts acceptable.
- Preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or report - documentation of the proposal, impacts, impact mitigation and management options, level of significance and concerns.
- Review of EIS - EIS is open for public comment for a sufficient period of time.
- Decision making - public comments considered and a decision made whether to accept the proposal as is, modify the proposal or reject the proposal outright.
- Monitoring and review - develop an implementation plan; begin monitoring and review of the project.
1.4.U8 Criticisms of EIAs include: the lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners, the lack of a clear definition of system boundaries and the lack of inclusion of indirect impacts.
EIA has suffered much criticism over the years including criticism about: poor public consultation practices; poorly written reports; costly, inefficient and time consuming practices; limited scope; information understated or omitted from reports; EIA treated as a separate process and not integrated into the project cycle; lack of monitoring and review of terms set out in reports; and inconsistent application. The result is a lack of confidence in the EIA process by both decision makers and the general public.
You need to be able to evaluate the use of EIAs. Criticisms of EIAs include the lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners, the lack of a clear definition of system boundaries, and the lack of inclusion of indirect impacts.
You need to be able to evaluate the use of EIAs. Criticisms of EIAs include the lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners, the lack of a clear definition of system boundaries, and the lack of inclusion of indirect impacts.
1.4.U9 An ecological footprint (EF) is the area of land and water required to sustainably provide all resources at the rate at which they are being consumed by a given population. If the EF is greater than the area available to the population, this is an indication of unsustainability
- Explain what the ecological footprint is and how it is linked to sustainability.
image from wwf.panda.org
The ecological footprint of a population is the area of land, in the same vicinity as the population, that would be required to provide all the population’s resources and assimilate all its wastes. As a model, it is able to provide a quantitative estimate of human carrying capacity. It is, in fact, the inverse of carrying capacity. It refers to the area required to sustainably support a given population rather than the population that a given area can sustainably support.
Ecological footprints are the hypothetical area of land required by a society, group or individual to fulfill all their resources needs and assimilation of wastes.
As a model, it is able to provide a quantitative estimate of human carrying capacity. It is, in fact, the inverse of carrying capacity. It refers to the area required to sustainability support given population rather than the population that a given area can sustainably support.
Ecological footprints can be increased by:
Ecological footprints can be reduced by:
Ecological footprints are the hypothetical area of land required by a society, group or individual to fulfill all their resources needs and assimilation of wastes.
As a model, it is able to provide a quantitative estimate of human carrying capacity. It is, in fact, the inverse of carrying capacity. It refers to the area required to sustainability support given population rather than the population that a given area can sustainably support.
Ecological footprints can be increased by:
- greater reliance on fossil fuels
- increased use of technology and energy (but technology can also reduce the footprint)
- high levels of imported resources (which have high transport costs)
- large per capita production of carbon waste (high energy use, fossil fuel use)
- large per capita consumption of food
- a meat-rich diet
Ecological footprints can be reduced by:
- reducing use of resources
- recycling resources
- reusing resources
- improving efficiency of resource use
- reducing amount of pollution produced
- transporting waste to other countries to deal with
- improving country to increase carrying capacity
- importing resources from other countries
- reducing population to reduce resource use
- using technology to increase carrying capacity
- using technology to intensify land
Application
1.4.A1 Explain the relationship between natural capital, natural income and sustainability
Natural capital refers to the source or supply of resources and services that are derived from nature. Forests, mineral deposits, fisheries and fertile soil are some examples of natural capital. Air and water purification are just two of many services.
Natural Income is the annual yield from such sources of natural capital - timber, ores, fish and plants, respectively, relative to the examples above. The point at which the amount of natural income used up reduces the capacity of natural capital to continue providing the same amount of natural income in the future, is the point at which sustainable scale has been exceeded.
Natural resources are not the only type of natural income which flow from ecosystems. A variety of ecosystem functions are also provided. Forests, for example, are not simply wood production units. They also prevent soil erosion, absorb rain water and provide flood control, they provide habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species which may serve as foods or medicines for other species, they absorb the natural wastes of these diverse life forms, they generate oxygen and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, they affect the microclimate of their area, they are a key component of the hydrologic cycle, as well as providing aesthetic enjoyment and spiritual inspiration. These forest ecosystem functions evolved to maintain the overall health of the forest environment and the creatures in it. Ecosystem functions are another form of natural income derived from the same natural capital of the forest ecosystem that generates timber for economic use. Ecosystem functions that have particular value to humans are called ecosystem services
Sustainability is the rate at which a resource depletion reduces the capacity of natural capital to provide the future natural income. As long as the draw down exceeds the rate of replenishment, the amount available will eventually shrink to zero - sustainability is destroyed. Sustainability allows you to focus at least as much on ecosystem services, and the natural income they provide, as on resources. Because natural capital is excluded from economic theory and practice, these vital, life supporting sources of natural income essential for sustainability, are considered to have no market value and are therefore ignored.
Natural Income is the annual yield from such sources of natural capital - timber, ores, fish and plants, respectively, relative to the examples above. The point at which the amount of natural income used up reduces the capacity of natural capital to continue providing the same amount of natural income in the future, is the point at which sustainable scale has been exceeded.
Natural resources are not the only type of natural income which flow from ecosystems. A variety of ecosystem functions are also provided. Forests, for example, are not simply wood production units. They also prevent soil erosion, absorb rain water and provide flood control, they provide habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species which may serve as foods or medicines for other species, they absorb the natural wastes of these diverse life forms, they generate oxygen and sequester carbon from the atmosphere, they affect the microclimate of their area, they are a key component of the hydrologic cycle, as well as providing aesthetic enjoyment and spiritual inspiration. These forest ecosystem functions evolved to maintain the overall health of the forest environment and the creatures in it. Ecosystem functions are another form of natural income derived from the same natural capital of the forest ecosystem that generates timber for economic use. Ecosystem functions that have particular value to humans are called ecosystem services
Sustainability is the rate at which a resource depletion reduces the capacity of natural capital to provide the future natural income. As long as the draw down exceeds the rate of replenishment, the amount available will eventually shrink to zero - sustainability is destroyed. Sustainability allows you to focus at least as much on ecosystem services, and the natural income they provide, as on resources. Because natural capital is excluded from economic theory and practice, these vital, life supporting sources of natural income essential for sustainability, are considered to have no market value and are therefore ignored.
1.4.A2 Discuss the value of ecosystem services to a society.
image from www.constantinealexander.net
Ecosystems have value because they maintain life on Earth and the services needed to satisfy human material and nonmaterial needs. In addition, many people ascribe ecological, sociocultural, or intrinsic values to the existence of ecosystems and species. The Millennium Assessment recognizes these different paradigms, based on various motivations and concepts of value, along with the many valuation methods connected with them. Ecosystems and the provisioning, regulating, cultural, and supporting services they provide have economic value to human societies because people derive utility from their actual or potential use, either directly or indirectly (known as use values). People also value ecosystem services they are not currently using (non-use values). This paradigm of value is known as the utilitarian (anthropocentric) concept and is based on the principles of humans’ preference satisfaction (welfare).
1.4.A3 Discuss how environmental indicators such as MA can be used to evaluate the progress of a project to increase sustainability
image from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0065250415000343
Presented at UN Millennium Summit in 2000
189 Nations signed the Declaration
8 Goals to be achieved by 2015:
189 Nations signed the Declaration
8 Goals to be achieved by 2015:
- Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty & Hunger
- Goal 2: Universal Primary Education
- Goal 3: Gender Equality and Empower Women
- Goal 4: Reduce Child Mortality
- Goal 5: Improve Maternal Healthcare
- Goal 6: Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases
- Goal 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability
- Goal 8: Develop a Global Partnership for Development
1.4.A4 Evaluate the use of EIAs.
EIA is not the only tool to achieve sustainability, the EIA process is still a very effective tool in evaluating the sustainability of development proposals. However, to measure the extent to which EIAs substantially address “sustainability”, the sustainability criteria must go beyond adherence to procedural requirements and address substantive considerations such as the sustainable use of resources, poverty and inequality.
- EIA often focuses on biophysical issues (often a fault of poor terms of reference);
- Where environment, social and economic aspects are addressed, they are not always addressed in an integrated way (EIA reports tend to present as separate chapters)
- EIA provides an opportunity to learn from experience of similar projects and avoids the (often high) costs of subsequently mitigating unforeseen negative and damaging impacts.
- EIA Improves long-term viability of many projects
image from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195925519303269
1.4.A5 Explain the relationship between EFs and sustainability.
When humanity's ecological resource demands exceed what nature can supply, we reach ecological overshoot
The effects: carbon-induced climate change, species extinction, deforestation, dead coral reefs and the loss of groundwater
The human footprint has more than tripled since 1960
The effects: carbon-induced climate change, species extinction, deforestation, dead coral reefs and the loss of groundwater
The human footprint has more than tripled since 1960
image from https://sites.google.com/a/rappahannockschools.us/mrs-sanborn-s-site/environmental-science/sustainability-ecological-footprint
Key Terms
|
positive feedback
natural capital natural income goods services ecological footprint development |
diversity
monoculture work sustainability homeostasis keystone species |
environmental impact
sustainable carrying capacity resource remanufacturing scoping The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment |
Classroom Material
The San Francisco Indicator Project
Sustainability Awareness Project
Natural Capital and Income Reading Assignment
Natural Capital and Income Reading Questions
Intrinsic Value article
Attractive Solutions activity
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment activity
EIAs
Guide to EIAs worksheet
Northern Michigan Mining Background Information in class activity
Northern Michigan Mining Maps - in class activity
Northern Michigan Website Information - in class activity
Sample EIA - Mekong River Dam
Comparing Environmental Impact Assessments
Case Studies
- Brief examples of the following types of natural capital: renewable, replenishable and non-renewable
- An understanding of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment and its findings
Powerpoint and Notes Adapted from Brad Kremer, P Brooks and Ms. McCrindle
Correct use of terminology is a key skill in ESS. It is essential to use key terms correctly when communicating your understanding, particularly in assessments. Use the quizlet flashcards or other tools such as learn, scatter, space race, speller and test to help you master the vocabulary.
Useful Links
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Sustainability, Natural Capital and Natural Income
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Ecological Footprint
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Environmental Impact Assessment
Sustainability
The Sustainable Scale Project
List of Natural Resources - Buzzle
A case study: The Peruvian Anchovy (Engraulis ringens) - Open Door
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development - UN
Environmental Indicators
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - UN
Global Environment Outlook - UN
Global International Waters Assessment - UN
Ecological Footprint
Global Footprint Network
The Sustainability Scale Project
Ecological footprints for individual countries
Bird's Eye View of Changing Landscapes - Crossing Boundaries
Environmental Change - UNEP
Environmental Protection Authority of Australia - This site has a searchable database of real EIAs
Environmental Impact Assessment General Procedures - A paper by Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company Ltd. (KenGen).
Sumatra Tsunami - San Jose University
Environmental Impact Assessments - National Archives
EIA Case Study
Creating an Environmental Impact Assessment
This activity is designed to help you better understand the concept of an EIA and the process by which it is carried out.
Isua Iron Ore in Greenland - BBC News 24 October 2013
Three Gorges Dam - National Geographic
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Sustainability, Natural Capital and Natural Income
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Ecological Footprint
Science Sauce Topic 1.4 Environmental Impact Assessment
Sustainability
The Sustainable Scale Project
List of Natural Resources - Buzzle
A case study: The Peruvian Anchovy (Engraulis ringens) - Open Door
Rio Declaration on Environment and Development - UN
Environmental Indicators
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment - UN
Global Environment Outlook - UN
Global International Waters Assessment - UN
Ecological Footprint
Global Footprint Network
The Sustainability Scale Project
Ecological footprints for individual countries
Bird's Eye View of Changing Landscapes - Crossing Boundaries
Environmental Change - UNEP
Environmental Protection Authority of Australia - This site has a searchable database of real EIAs
Environmental Impact Assessment General Procedures - A paper by Pacifica F. Achieng Ogola of the Kenya Electricity Generating Company Ltd. (KenGen).
Sumatra Tsunami - San Jose University
Environmental Impact Assessments - National Archives
EIA Case Study
Creating an Environmental Impact Assessment
This activity is designed to help you better understand the concept of an EIA and the process by which it is carried out.
Isua Iron Ore in Greenland - BBC News 24 October 2013
Three Gorges Dam - National Geographic
In The News
How the world’s oceans could be running out of fish - BBC Future News 21 September 2012
This is a great article about agroforestry in the Sahel as a model of sustainable agriculture - Scientific American 28 January 2011
Overfishing and ecologically sustainable yield in Jamaica - from American Scientist magazine
According to the film, The End of the Line: The World Without Fish, scientists predict that if we continue fishing as we are now, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048. The link is to the 1st of 3 parts on YouTube; you can follow the remaining 2 parts from there.
UN Agenda 21 - This is the ‘Chapter 8’ referred to in the Natural capital and sustainability.doc worksheet from class
To get the Gold, They Will Have To Kill Every One Of Us Salon Feb 10, 2013
Valuing natural capital helps companies make better business decisions - Guardian October 2014
Keystone Pipeline - Science Daily 1 Feb 2014
America's Changing Environments - NPR 01 Jun , 2013
How the world’s oceans could be running out of fish - BBC Future News 21 September 2012
This is a great article about agroforestry in the Sahel as a model of sustainable agriculture - Scientific American 28 January 2011
Overfishing and ecologically sustainable yield in Jamaica - from American Scientist magazine
According to the film, The End of the Line: The World Without Fish, scientists predict that if we continue fishing as we are now, we will see the end of most seafood by 2048. The link is to the 1st of 3 parts on YouTube; you can follow the remaining 2 parts from there.
UN Agenda 21 - This is the ‘Chapter 8’ referred to in the Natural capital and sustainability.doc worksheet from class
To get the Gold, They Will Have To Kill Every One Of Us Salon Feb 10, 2013
Valuing natural capital helps companies make better business decisions - Guardian October 2014
Keystone Pipeline - Science Daily 1 Feb 2014
America's Changing Environments - NPR 01 Jun , 2013
TOK
- EIAs incorporate baseline studies before a development project is undertaken - to what extent should environmental concerns limit our pursuit of knowledge?
VIDEO CLIPS
The Lorax (original cartoon)
We often hear the words 'sustainable' and 'sustainability' in our daily lives. But what does sustainability mean? And why is it so important? explainity tries to shed some light on these questions
Jonathon Porritt, is an eminent writer, broadcaster and commentator on sustainable development. He is Co-Founder of Forum for the Future, the UK's leading sustainable development charity.He is Co-Director of The Prince of Wales's Business and Sustainability Programme, was formerly Director of Friends of the Earth
It may be that we live in an age of hyper-connectivity and “big data,” but I contend that the fundamental reason why we’ve managed to construct the most highly unsustainable culture the Earth has ever seen is precisely because we have not been taught to see the connections
In this video Paul Andersen explains how the resources required for survival come from the Earth. The resources are not evenly distributed on the planet and neither are the humans. According to the NGSS we need to limit the use of nonrenewable resources (like oil and coal) through regulations and increase the use of renewable resources
Every day, we use materials from the earth without thinking, for free. But what if we had to pay for their true value: would it make us more careful about what we use and what we waste? Think of Pavan Sukhdev as nature's banker -- assessing the value of the Earth's assets. Eye-opening charts will make you think differently about the cost of air, water, trees ..
The presentation focuses on the need to address natural resource degradation, governance and benefit-sharing as fundamental components of peacebuilding in Afghanistan and other post-conflict countries
From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world
This is a spot created by CVF and sponsored by UNEP, to give visibility and make people understand what is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.
Ecological footprint: Do we fit on our planet?
The quality of an environmental impact assessment depends largely on the proper identification of the environmental and social aspects that may be subjected to direct and indirect impacts from the proposed activity or project. A clearly defined project scope is the basis of an equity environmental impact assessment.
