Introduction to sustainability

"leaving something for future generations".

Worldometres world populationhttp://www.worldometers.info/world-population

Easter Island Sustainability

Easter Island is noted for its monumental prehistoric statues and for the sudden collapse of the Rapanui society.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v40kCIpgEWw

The example of Nauru sustainability

Nauru's phosphate reserves enabled it to become one of the world's wealthiest nations per capita. These have since been depleted, leaving an environmental mess and little alternative industry on the island.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbzHUW8nV0E

Future sustainability Tuvalu

South Pacific's Tuvalu Island Confronts Climate Crisis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9ZF_a27zYM

Oxfam, climate change and the poor countries

https://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/climate-change/a-global-solution-to-climate-change/

https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/

This term is used in international politics

How many of these goals are related to the natural environment?

Sustainability: told as a Children's Fairy Tale  2 minshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKWQuU0sHPw

Girl Who Silenced the World (25 yrs later) 5 minshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ipOdsd1SmA

Definitions and understandings of Sustainable Development

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5r4loXPyx8

sustainability

The concept of ecologically sustainable development (ESD) has been with us for over 25 years; however, it has come to international prominence only relatively recently.

The significance now accorded to ESD can be traced back to the publication in 1987 of a report by the World Commission on Environment and Development entitled Our Common Future (more commonly referred to as the Brundtland Report, after the Commission’s Chair, then Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland). This report was instrumental in raising awareness at the highest levels of government that, globally, we had been ‘living beyond our means’.

"Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

(The Brundtland Report. Our Common Future, 1987)

It contains within it two key concepts:

the concept of needs, in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and

the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

Australia's National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development (1992) defines ecologically sustainable development as:

“Using, conserving and enhancing the community's resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained, and the total quality of life, now and in the future, can be increased”.

Compare the above definitions. What things are similar/different?

Identify some problems with the definition given in the Brundtland Report.

UN what is sustainable development

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=masQeEG5FX4 2 mins

Critiques of sustainability and sustainable development concepts

Sustainability is the capacity to endure.

In ecology the word describes how biological systems remain diverse and productive over time

Rethink sustainability 2 mins

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9I3Q6-ZSTI

Sustainable development refers to a mode of human development in which resource use aims to meet human needs while ensuring the sustainability of natural systems and the environment, so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come.

Strengths of the idea

The concept became one of the most successful approaches to be introduced in many years

Ethical urgency to ensure the needs of future generations can be met – think of our young children

The concept supports strong economic and social development at the same time it underlines the importance of protecting the natural resource base and the environment

All development has to take into account its impact on the environment and its provision for future generations.

National and international committees for sustainable development have been established on a high political level in many countries. Our governments invested billions into environmentally sustainable measures, initiatives and research.

Local councils and corporations’ got involved, use of the terms “eco” and “green”

“It is all the rage, it is everywhere” Thus a popular and embraced concept

The long term, responsible use of natural resources now will help ensure that there are resources available for sustained industrial growth far into the future

It makes sense to invest in the long term, and investing in the long term means prioritizing sustainable development today.

It can provide an objective for the management of natural resources for example the creation and expansion of areas of land that are protected and reserved, like the Victorian National Parks and Reserves systems.

Sustainable development – or ecologically sustainable development (ESD) – has received criticisms about both the purpose and consequences of the term, concerns over the vagueness and philosophical underpinnings of ESD, and claims that ESD is an oxymoron and therefore a meaningless term. Students should examine some of these criticisms and be able to justify their own positions on the nature and usefulness of the concept of sustainable development.

Critiques (criticisms) of sustainable development

Sustainable development is an oxymoron.It is made up of different and incompatible elements, contradictory demands and aspirationsAren't sustainability and development in contradistinction? Contradictory terms appear side by side

The term has a large range of definitions, ambiguitySustainable development is too vague a term, broad and, therefore, basically meaningless.It can mean all things to all people.

Its just a buzz wordSociety does not understand the possible consequences of sustainable development. The cost and change in living standards required to use only renewable resources.Specific actions to abide by are missingWho polices it, how is it enforcedThe term was used as an alibi rather than as guidance for strong action.

Sustainable development does not work. Problems in planning in large social groups with complex and competing needs

Sustainable development is too expensive.

It too difficult to measure

It disadvantages developing nations

Objectives of social, economic and environmental development seem to conflict with each other in the short term. For example, industrial growth might conflict with preserving natural resources.

Example: Concrete: lowering its carbon footprint

http://www.bpn.com.au/features/bpn-reports/concrete-lowering-its-carbon-footprint

“The manufacturing of cement in Australia leads to about 700kg of carbon dioxide being emitted per tonne of cement produced”. Discuss - can any development using concrete be sustainable?

 "Sustainable development is like teenage sex - everybody claims they are doing it but most people aren’t, and those that are,are doing it very badly"

Quote from Professor Chris J Spray http://www.k103.se/program/globalvoices/2013/03/sustainable-development-right-here-right-now

Some people claim that Ecologically Sustainable Development (ESD) is an oxymoron, and therefore the term is meaningless. Discuss your own opinion on the usefulness of the term.

Discuss the following images?

Explain the importance and validity of sustainable development environmentally, socially and economically.

If we don’t balance our social, economic, and environmental objectives in the short term, how can we expect to sustain our development in the long term?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V8oFI4GYMY cartoon 3.40 mins

Environmental considerations Social considerations Economical considerationsProtecting natural resourcesBiodiversity services for the future

Ethical valuesCivil rights (to health)Sustainable livingHouse hold needs

Challenging and difficult decisions about development Profits decreased initiallyGreen business, low carbon

Stewardship of the resources emissionsCoal vs renewablesSustainable/ renewable building materialsResource efficiency/ replacement

It popularity or lack of will depend on the values of that society. The term provides a strong bases for making challenging and difficult decisions about development. Society and Politian’s are aware that natural resources need to be protected for future generations. Legislation protects native forests and marine sanctuaries in Victoria, government grants and financial initiatives are provided for more sustainable living, local councils and green businesses aim for new buildings to be more self-sufficient with renewable energy and storm water tanks.

Industrial growth might conflict with preserving natural resources. Yet, in the long term, responsible use of natural resources now will help ensure that there are resources available for sustained industrial growth far into the future.

Can the long term economic objective of sustained agricultural growth be met if the ecological objective of preserving biodiversity is not?

What happens to the environment in the long term if a large number of people cannot afford to meet their basic household needs today? If you did not have access to safe water, and therefore needed wood to boil drinking water so that you and your children would not get sick, would you worry about causing deforestation? Or, if you had to drive a long distance to get to work each day, would you be willing to move or get a new job to avoid polluting the air with your car exhaust?

Homework watching

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5lBwrJcUOk Green economy conversations

GLOBAL FOOTPRINT

Go to the following website and calculate your global footprint.

www.wwf.org.au/ Footprint - Calculator

World Wildlife Fund, Ecological Footprint Calculator

Colour in the amount of Earths that would be needed if everyone lived like you.

Are you living sustainably? Explain.

Would people from developing countries have a similar ecological footprint to you? Do you think that it is fair that you use more of the Earth’s resources than them? Why/Why not?

What sustainable development dilemmas do you and your family face in your everyday lives?

Homework: sustainable development conversations

The Earth is Full

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZT6YpCsapg 16 mins

Let the environment guide our development

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgqtrlixYR4

Steve Howard: Let's go all-in on selling sustainability

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buH_vs7LFzw 13 mins

Example questions and sample responses from past exams

2012Question 7At a recent symposium on Melbourne’s biodiversity, the vegetation of the Melbourne region was described as heavily diminished in extent and composition since 1900.

d. Discuss how the concept of sustainable development can be used to manage the Melbourne region’s outdoor environmentsSustainable development is about using resources conservatively to serve the needs of the current generation, while also allowing these resources to continue to exist in the future for following generations. It can include the creation of areas of land that are protected and reserved, like the Victorian Parks and Reserves system. This means certain species are protected from habitat fragmentation, some human interactions are restricted and people have a minimal impact in these particular areas. This means Melbourne’s environment is maintained and sustained for the future.

2013Question 5 (3 marks)Select one of the following critiques of sustainable development by ticking () the box beside it or stateanother critique that you may know.

Sustainable development is an oxymoron. Sustainable development is too vague a term and, therefore, basically meaningless. Society does not understand the possible consequences of sustainable development. Sustainable development does not work. Sustainable development is too expensive. other

Analyse the validity of your chosen critique.A possible response for ‘sustainable development is too expensive’ could have been: There is no doubt that the idea of sustainable development is too expensive and therefore it is not being practised by a large number of people in society. Sustainable development includes the use of materials such as insulation in homes, solar panels, grey water tanks, recycled building materials and double-glazed windows. All of these items come at a premium cost which deters people from using them, minimising the success of sustainable development as a concept. The government did implement rebates to encourage people to use these options, but these have since been withdrawn.

2014

Question 4 (7 marks)An Outdoor and Environmental Studies class is on a multi-day outdoor experience. While on the trip, thestudents meet a conservationist, who discusses the concepts of sustainability and sustainable developmentwith them. The conservationist rejects sustainable development and says it is an invalid concept.

a. Describe an argument that the conservationist might have used to label sustainable development as aninvalid concept. 2 marksSustainable development can be very expensive as installations of home insulation, double glazed windows and solar panels can have high premium costs. Even with government rebates the cost is to high for society making sustainability unwanted and invalid.

b. Describe an argument that could be used to label sustainable development as a valid concept. 2 marksSustainable development allows for the future generations and current to have all resources necessary. If sustainability is not introduced the health of the environment will be deteriorated and may cause extinction of some environments depriving society of necessary resources.

c. Evaluate the concept of sustainable development by referring to the arguments described inparts a. and b. 3 marksSustainability can be very expensive due to installation costs but in the future it may save people money as it can lower power bills and solar panels even provide free energy. If sustainable development is not introduced resources will become more scare which will increase the prices of such resources. Overall, including the argument that it provides for current and future generations, sustainable development is effective and necessary as it may be expensive at first but it will protect and maintain environments which will prevent future increases in prices for resources.

2015Question 5 (4 marks)The graph below shows estimates of the human population on Earth across time periods.

With reference to the graph above, define ‘sustainability’ and explain why it has become important environmentally, socially and economically.

Students needed to reference the graph, defining sustainability and explaining the importance of it within an environmental, social and economic context. Many definitions of sustainability were acceptable. Student responses that did not reference the graph could not be awarded full marks.

The following is an example of a high-scoring response. Sustainability is providing for the current population needs whilst not sacrificing for the future population needs. As the world population continues to increase as can be seen in the graph above from below 1 billion people in 1000CE, to now over 2 billion in 2000CE, in order to maintain environments for the future, we will need to limit our use of the environment as a resource. The environment is important socially as people need places where they can go to escape their everyday lives or relax. For the economy, sustainability has become important through things such as renewable energy. These sectors not only benefit the environment but they also provide jobs as well.

2016Question 5 (5 marks)

Environmental economist R Kerry Turner has argued that there can be no such thing as overall sustainabledevelopment in an industrialised world economy that remains heavily dependent on the extraction of Earth’s finite stock of exhaustible mineral resources:

‘It makes no sense to talk about the sustainable use of a non-renewable resource (even with substantialrecycling effort and use rates). Any positive rate of exploitation will eventually lead to exhaustion of thefinite stock …’

Source: R Kerry Turner, ‘Sustainability, Resource Conservation and Pollution Control: An Overview’,in Sustainable Environmental Management, R Kerry Turner (ed.), Belhaven Press (London) andWestview Press (Boulder, Colorado), 1990, p. 13

a. Explain what is meant by the term ‘sustainable development’. 2 marksExample 1 Sustainable development is generally thought to mean development that doesn’t deplete resources quicker than what they can naturally replenish. However, some people consider it to be a contradiction in terms as sustainable means to be maintain at a certain level and development means to change. Example 2 Meeting the needs of the current society without compromising the needs of the next generation. To develop and grow as a society while ensuring the needs of the next generation is met. e.g using renewable energy.

b. Do you agree with Turner’s argument about sustainable development? Justify your response. 3 marksExample 1 I agree with Tuner’s statement because if something cannot be renewed, it can’t be used sustainably. As Tuner states, any use of a non-renewable resource will lead to that resource running out sooner or later regardless of how carefully it is used. True sustainable development doesn’t deplete resources quicker than what they can be renewed. So if the resource can’t be renewed it shouldn’t be used. Example 2 Yes, I agree with Turner’s argument. He is suggesting that people are saying we need to be more sustainable, however to be sustainable we are still using resources. The term can contradict itself because we do need these resources to live, however we will exhaust them for the future.

OUTCOME TASK: 1 Explain the term sustainability2 Provide 2 known definitions of sustainable development3 Explain ESD4 Describe what is meant by ecological footprint.5 Give reasons why development should be sustainable. Can development be sustainable?6 Explain the importance and validity of sustainable development environmentally, socially and economically.7 Provide 3 reasons why the government should promote sustainable development8 Analyse FOUR criticisms of the term sustainable development such as the labelling of the term an “invalid” concept.9 Evaluate this statement. “The term sustainable development is an oxymoron.”Extension1 Discuss how the concept of sustainable development can be used to manage outdoor environments.Emphasis on protected native parks and reserves ensuring biodiversity services for future generations2 Discuss how the concept of sustainable development can be used to manage growing urbanisation:Emphasis on green building design:Use of recycling storm water runoff for local wetland habitats3 Discuss how the concept of sustainable development can be used to manage economic development:Promote a green economyWhat does this mean?

Homework watching

Teacher only

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FS7o4g5kzMM

Sustainable development: what, where and by whom?: Kitty van der Heijden at TEDxHaarlem

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sJ-uixn7Jg

Why We Need to Think Differently About Sustainability: Leyla Acaroglu at TEDxMelbourne

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5lOSIHWOp2I

forestry in Tasmania (funny)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UulaUlmFXRY

sustainable forestry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0infljY_vAA