Sustainability Ideas, Concepts And Approaches
Overview
In 1987 a commission chaired by the former Prime Minister of Norway published a report containing one sentence that has shaped forty years of argument: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It sounds uncontroversial until you notice how much is packed into it. Whose needs? Which future generations? And who decides when one has been compromised for the sake of the other?
This is the only topic in Global Skills Projects that is about ideas rather than about how to work, and it is the foundation for the whole group project: the first criterion asks you to recall and apply sustainability learning to the issue you have chosen. This lesson covers the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development, the economic, environmental and social dimensions with the specification's own examples, the role of national and global citizenship, and the background to the current debates and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. You will take one concrete case apart across all three dimensions, and find out why the interesting projects are the ones where the dimensions disagree.
Objectives
- The concepts of sustainability and sustainable development.
- Economic sustainability e.g. stable economic growth, fair distribution of wealth, responsible resource use.
- Environmental sustainability e.g. conservation, carbon emissions, ecosystem management.
- Social sustainability e.g. equality, education, well-being.
- The role of national and global citizenship in effective sustainable development.
- The background to current debates about sustainability and the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Mind map
This topic is mapped out so you can see how the ideas connect.
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Lesson Note
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Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Sustainability Ideas, Concepts And Approaches. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which report gave sustainable development its standard definition? A. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 2015 B. Our Common Future, the 1987 report of the World Commission on Environment and Development C. The Paris Agreement, 2015 D. The Millennium Development Goals, 2000 Answer: B
- Which of these is given in the specification as an example of economic sustainability? A. Ecosystem management B. Well-being C. Fair distribution of wealth D. Conservation Answer: C
- How many Sustainable Development Goals were adopted as part of the 2030 Agenda? A. 8 B. 12 C. 17 D. 169 Answer: C
- A fishery is harvested faster than the fish can reproduce. What does this show? A. That the resource is non-renewable B. That a renewable resource used above its replacement rate behaves like a non-renewable one C. That carrying capacity does not apply to fisheries D. That the fishery is economically sustainable Answer: B
- What was the main change from the Millennium Development Goals to the Sustainable Development Goals? A. The goals became legally binding B. The goals apply to every country rather than mainly to developing countries C. The environment was removed from the goals D. The number of goals was reduced Answer: B
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Work through these questions in the app
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