INTRODUCTION TO SUSTAINABLE CONCEPTS
Lesson 2: Sustainability
Introduction:
Sustainable development is a holistic approach that balances
economic, social, and environmental needs to ensure a livable
future. It meets present needs without compromising future
generations' ability to meet theirs. Sustainable development is a
guiding principle for meeting human needs while ensuring that
natural systems and resources are preserved for future
generations. It was popularized in 1987 by the Brundtland
Commission, which defined it as “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.”
• Learning Objectives:
• At the end of the lesson, the learner is expected to:
• [Link] the conditions to be physically sustainable
• [Link] sustainable development
• [Link] factors that lead to unsustainability
• Sustainability – meeting the needs of present generation
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs.
• Conditions in order to be physically sustainable the
society’s material and energy throughputs:
1. Rate of usage of renewable resources does not exceed their
rates of regeneration.
2. Rate of pollution emission does not exceed the assimilative
capacity of the environment.
The Three Pillars of Sustainable Development:
1. Economic Sustainability
o Promotes growth, jobs, and innovation while ensuring responsible
resource use.
o Example: Green industries, renewable energy investments.
2. Social Sustainability
o Focuses on equity, justice, education, health, and cultural
preservation.
o Example: Access to education, gender equality, poverty reduction.
3. Environmental Sustainability
• Protects ecosystems, natural resources, and biodiversity.
• Example: Clean energy, reforestation, pollution control.
Six biological Principles of Sustainability
• [Link] – adjusting our needs to minimize the use of a
particular resource, such as energy. Using resources efficiently.
• [Link] – converting solid wastes into new products by using the
resources contained in discarded materials
• [Link] of Renewable Resources
• [Link]
• [Link] Control
• [Link] – favorable adaptations increase an organism’s
chances of survival and reproduction. Evolution is a process that leads
to structural, functional and behavioral changes in species known as
adaptation.
Objectives of studying sustainable developments:
• create awareness of environmental issues
• enhance knowledge and understanding skills
• influence values and attitudes
• encourage more responsible behavior
• promote learning that leads to action
• Eradicate poverty and hunger.
• Foster innovation and sustainable infrastructure.
• Combat climate change and protect the environment.
• Factors that lead to unsustainability:
- frontier ethics
- inefficiency
- overconsumption
- linearity (linear thinking and linear system)
- fossil fuel dependence
- overpopulation
Benefits:
• Improved quality of life.
• Enhanced economic resilience.
• Conservation of natural resources.
• Increased global cooperation.
Examples of Sustainable Development Practices:
• Using renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro).
• Practicing waste segregation, recycling, and composting.
• Adopting sustainable agriculture (organic farming, crop
rotation).
• Enforcing environmental protection laws.
• Promoting green buildings and eco-friendly transport.
• Education and awareness-raising initiatives.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
• The SDGs are interconnected—progress in one goal often depends
on progress in others. For example, ending hunger (Goal 2) is linked
to good health (Goal 3), clean water (Goal 6), and sustainable
agriculture (Goal 12).
•
• Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the SDGs are a set of 17
global goals under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
They serve as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the
planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all.
List of the 17 SDGs
1. No Poverty – End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2. Zero Hunger – End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition,
and promote sustainable agriculture.
3. Good Health and Well-Being – Ensure healthy lives and promote
well-being for all at all ages.
4. Quality Education – Ensure inclusive and equitable quality
education and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
5. Gender Equality – Achieve gender equality and empower all
women and girls.
6. Clean Water and Sanitation – Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation.
7. Affordable and Clean Energy – Ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable, and modern energy.
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth – Promote sustained,
inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full employment, and
decent work.
9. Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure – Build resilient
infrastructure, promote sustainable industrialization, and foster
innovation.
10. Reduced Inequalities – Reduce inequality within and among
countries.
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities – Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient,
and sustainable.
12. Responsible Consumption and Production – Ensure sustainable
consumption and production patterns.
13. Climate Action – Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
14. Life Below Water – Conserve and sustainably use oceans, seas, and marine
resources.
15. Life on Land – Protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity.
16. Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions – Promote peaceful and inclusive
societies, provide access to justice, and build strong institutions.
17. Partnerships for the Goals – Strengthen global partnerships to support and
achieve the SDGs
Challenges:
1. Balancing economic growth and environmental
protection.
2. Addressing social inequalities.
3. Managing resource depletion and climate change.
4. Overpopulation and overconsumption.
5. Unsustainable industrialization and urbanization.
6. Weak governance and enforcement of environmental
laws.
CONCLUSION:
Sustainable development is not just about protecting the
environment—it’s about creating a balance where the
economy thrives, societies are fair and inclusive, and natural
resources are preserved. Every individual, community, and
government has a role to play in ensuring a sustainable
future.
• Videos to Watch:
• [Link]
• [Link]
Activity:
• Case Analysis (Critical Thinking)
• Scenario:
A coastal community relies on fishing for livelihood. Due to
overfishing and pollution, fish populations are declining, and families
are struggling economically.
Questions:
1. Which SDGs are connected to this issue?
2. What short-term and long-term actions can be taken to solve the problem?
3. How can both the environment and the community’s livelihood be protected?
Psalm 24:1
"The earth is the Lord's, and
everything in it, the world, and all who
live in it".
