SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

[Group 2]
Definition
Economic development that seeks to
meet the needs and aspirations of the
present without compromising the
ability to meet those of the future.
Further Definition
1. Using renewable natural resources
in a manner that does not
eliminate or degrade them by
making greater use.
2. Managing economic systems so
that all resources, physical and
human, are used optimally.
3. Regulating economic systems so
that the benefits of development
are distributed more equitably.
(E.g. poverty)
4. Organizing societies (improved
education, health care, and social
welfare)
5. Moving away from wholesale
globalization
to
increased
localization.
Most Serious Obstacles
1. Continued heavy reliance on fossil
fuels as the fundamental source of
energy for economic development.
2. Rate of demographic growth in
peripheral countries.
a. Core countries: major world
powers; contain much of
worlds wealth.
b. Peripheral
countries:
not
reaping the benefits of global
wealth and globalization.
c. 1.2 billion out of 6.5 billion
people are undernourished
and underweight.
3. Inadequacy
of
institutional
framework.

a. Economic,
financial,
and
fiscal decisions.
b. Economically Rational vs.
Environmentally Desirable.
c. Political Will
EARTH SUMMIT
1. Also known as the United Nations
Conference on Environment and
Development (UNCED) held in Rio
de Janeiro from June 3-14, 1992.
2. Later on changed to United Nations
Conference
on
Sustainable
Development
(UNCSD)
or
commonly called as Rio 20+, also
held in Rio from June 20-22, 2012.
3. Focused on how we can prevent
poverty, promote social equity
and
ensure
environmental
protection in our growing planet.
The issues discussed were: (1992)
1. Scrutinizing
of
patterns
of
production,
particularly
the
production of toxic components,
such as lead in gasoline, or
poisonous waste
2. Alternative sources of energy to
replace the use of fossil fuels which
are linked to global climate change;
3. New
reliance
on
public
transportation systems to reduce
vehicle emissions, congestion in
cities and the health problems
caused by polluted air and smog;
4. The growing scarcity of water.
Focused on 2 themes: (2012)
1. Green economy in the context of
sustainable development poverty
eradication
2. Institutional
framework
for
sustainable development

AGENDA 21
1. Explains
that
population,
consumption, and technology
are the primary reasons of
environmental change.
2. Provides options for combating the
deterioration of land, air and water,
at the same time conserving
habitats and their diversity.
3. Deals
with
poverty,
over
consumption,
health
and
education.
4. Promotes roles for all. Everyone
has roles to play in achieving
sustainable development and
should be involved in the decision
making processes.
5. Encourages
the
reduction
of
environmentally
and
socially
detrimental processes, but within a
framework which allows economic
success.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
1. An international agreement under
the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCC) in Kyoto Japan in 1997.
2. Aims to reduce the collective
emissions of greenhouse gases
(carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, sulfur hexafluoride, HFCs
and PFCs) by at least 18% below
compared to the year 1990 during
2008 to 2012 which is the first
commitment period.
3. There are 192 parties but only 83
signatories.
4. The parties are allocated an
assigned amount of emissions units
equal to their target multiplied by

the number of years in the

commitment period.
5. They can implement different
policies and measures to limit the
emissions through the flexibility
mechanisms.
These mechanisms are:
International
Emissions
Trading
Joint Implementation
Clean
Development
Mechanism
6. Dec.
8,
2012=
DOHA
Amendment to Kyoto Protocol
7. The second commitment period is
from January 1, 2013 to December
31, 2020.
As
of
Sept.
24,
2014
(according to UNFCC), 17
countries have ratified.
I = PAT EQUATION
Definition
A
mathematical
expression
that
expresses humans environmental impact
as the product of population, affluence,
and technology.
Population, affluence, and technology
have
a
direct
relationship
with
environmental impact.
Proponents of Equation
1. Paul Ehrlich: American biologist
and educator. Along with Holdren,
he came up with the I=PAT
equation in the 1970s and
advocated that the major factor in
the equation was Population.
2. John Holdren: Currently Barack
Obamas senior advisor on Science
and Technology. Along with Ehrlich,
he came up with the I=PAT
equation in the 1970s and
advocated that the major factor in
the equation was Population.

3. Barry
Commoner:
American
biologist, ecologist, founder of
modern environmental movement.
Advocated that the major factor in
equation was Technology.
Factors of Equation
1. P (Population): Total number of
people
2. A
(Affluence):
Average
consumption rate of individuals
within
population;
GDP
per
person; standard of living.
3. T (Technology): Processes used to
obtain resources and transform
them into goods/ wastes how
harmful/ efficient these processes
are.

from the planet in contrast to how

much the planet can provide and
how fast it could replenish what it
has provided to humans.
2. A resource accounting tool that
measures how much biologically
productive land and sea is used by
a given population or activity, and
compares this to how much land
and sea is available.
Background on Ecological Footprint
1. William Rees: First academic
publication about the EF in 1992.
2. Mathis Wackernagel: Developed
the EF concept and calculation
method.
3. Appropriated Carrying Capacity.

Example of Equation

Pros and Cons

Kaya Identity (Carbon Emissions)

Pros

Pros and Cons of I=PAT Equation

Pros:
1. Allows us to pinpoint causes of
environmental impact.
2. Helps us think of ways to reduce
impact.
Cons
1. No sustainable scale found.
2. Factors
are not
independent;
rather, they are interdependent.
3. Variations as to where the actual
impact is occurring.
ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
Definition
1. Measure of human demand on
earths ecosystem. This describes
how much resources people need

1. Resource Awareness
2. Promotes resource conservation
and recycling
3. Ecological scarcity and demand
overshoot.
Cons
1. ONE indication of sustainability
only.
2. Many factors are not considered.
Statistics
Lowest ecological footprint: Findhorn
Foundation Ecovillage, Moray, Scotland
1. Sharing of facilities and resources
(Ex. washing machine, dining
room).
2. Energy efficient houses: wind
turbines used.
3. High levels of employment within
community; commuting is reduced.
4. Organically grown food; vegetarian.
ENERGY RESOURCES

Definition
When people use something, it becomes
a resource.
Terms
1. MEDCs:
More
Economically
Developed
Countries
(USA,
Luxembourg, United Kingdom)
2. LEDCs:
Less
Economically
Developed
Countries
(Somalia,
Myanmar)
** MEDCs depend on
economic development.
Consequences
Exploitation

of

LEDCs

for

Resource

Socioeconomic Consequences
1. Higher energy prices
2. More evident social disparity.
3. Funding
and
research
for
alternative energy.
Environmental Consequences
1. Global warming
2. Air pollution from factories
3. Ecosystems under threat
Political Consequences
1. Global agreements: need
international agreements.
2. Loss of public support
governments.

for
for

Non-renewable Sources
1. Coal:
a. Source: Fossilized plants,
seams between layers of
rock
b. Pros: Ready-made, cheap
to mine, lasts longer than
oil or gas
c. Cons:
Gives
off
atmospheric pollutants
2. Oil

a. Source: Fossilized animals,

reservoirs, between seams
of rock
b. Pros: Ready-made, cheap
to extract and convert into
energy
c. Cons:
Gives
off
atmospheric
pollutants,
limited supply
3. Natural Gas
a. Source: Pipes sunk into
ground, between seams of
rock
b. Pros:
ready-made,
relatively cheap, slightly
cleaner than oil and coal
c. Cons:
Gives
off
atmospheric
pollutants,
limited supply
4. Nuclear
a. Source: Nuclear fission,
mined
b. Pros:
Small
amount
produces a lot of energy,
relatively cheap, lasts a
long time
c. Cons: Expensive to run,
toxic waste, leakage has
devastating impact on
environment
5. Wood/Biomass
a. Source:
Plant/animal
waste, organic materials,
trees
b. Pros: Long term, readily
available, cheap
c. Cons:
Gives
off
atmospheric
pollutants
when burned
Renewable Sources
1. Solar
a. Source:
capture
energy

Solar
panels
the
sunlights

b. Pros:
Infinite
energy
supply,
dwellings
can
have own supply
c. Cons: Solar panels are
expensive to produce
2. Wind
a. Source:
Wind
turbines
convert wind energy
b. Pros:
Infinite
energy
supply, may be used
one/many at a time
c. Cons:
Turbines
are
expensive
to
produce,
turbines
spoil
countryside.
3. Tidal/wave
a. Source: Turbines used to
convert tidal/wave energy
b. Pros: Ideal for island
country, may help prevent
flooding
c. Cons: Local rather than
national scale, turbines
are expensive to produce,
may
have
negative
impact on wildlife
4. Geothermal
a. Source: Uses natural heat
of
earth,
steam
is
converted into energy
b. Pros:
Infinite
energy
supply
c. Cons:
Expensive,
only
works
in
areas
with
volcanic activity, many

dangerous
elements
underground
5. Hydroelectric
a. Source:
Energy
from
movement
of
water
(rivers, lakes, dams)
b. Pros: Water reserves and
energy
supplies
are
generated
c. Cons:
Expensive,
may
cause
flooding,
major
ecological impacts
6. Wood/Biomass
a. Source:
Plant/animal
waste, organic materials,
trees
b. Pros: Long term, readily
available, cheap
c. Cons:
Gives
off
atmospheric
pollutants
when burned
d. *** Renewable resource
ONLY if trees are replanted
EcoFootprint Calculation Sites:
http://ecoguru.panda.org/#/intro
http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/