Topic 1.

3 Sustainability
 Guiding Questions
● What is sustainability and how can it be measured?
● To what extent are challenges of sustainable development
also ones of environmental justice?
The Paraguay-Parana River before and after
the construction of the Yacyreta Dam in 1985,
which displaced 15,000 residents. U.S.
Department of the Interior / U.S. Geological
Survey.

Cancún, Mexico, seen in 1979 and

2009. (NASA, Images of Change)
 1.1.3 Introduction to Sustainability
● "What does sustainability mean to you?"
● "Why is sustainability important for our future?"
1.1.3 Introduction to Sustainability
Sustainability - A measure of the extent to which practices
allow for the long-term viability of a system. It is generally
used to refer to the responsible maintenance of socio-
ecological systems such that there is no diminishment of
conditions for future generations.

Watch the video

and answer Q2
1.1.3 Key Terms
● Natural income - the yield or harvest from natural
resources
● Natural capital - the stock of natural resources of Earth
1.1.3 Key Terms
● Environmental sustainability - the use of and
management of natural resources that allows
replacement of the resources, nd the recovery and
regeneration of ecosystems
● Social sustainability - focuses on creating the
structures and systems that support human well-being,
including health, education, equity, community and
culture
● Economic sustainability - focuses on creating the
economic structures and systems to support production
and consumption of goods and services.
1.1.3 Introduction to Sustainability
● The concept of sustainability was first introduced at the
United Nations Conference on the Environment in
1972.
● Sustainability gained more shape in 1987 with the
publication of the Brundtland Report ("Our Common
Future").
● The Brundtland Report clarified the goals of sustainable
development.
● It introduced the three pillars of sustainability:
environmental, social, and economic sustainability,
commonly referred to as ESG (Environmental, Social,
Governance).
1.1.3 Introduction to Sustainability
Deforestation
● If the rate of forest removal is less than the annual
growth of the forest (natural income), then the forest
removal is sustainable.
● If the rate of forest removal is greater than the annual
growth of the forest, then the forest removal is
unsustainable
Watch the video.
Suggest another
resources that could be
sustainable or
unsustainable
1.1.3 Introduction to Sustainability
Global vs Local
● A global perspective is important for managing
resources sustainably due to the worldwide impact of
many problems.
● Local viewpoints can sometimes be more appropriate
due to the varying scales of ecosystems.
● The cultural specificity of human behaviors means that
global solutions may not always be applicable at the local
level.
Suggest one example of a
global perspective and one
example of a local
perspective. Which one is
more sustainable?
 1.3.6 Sustainable Development
Sustainable development - ‘meeting the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs’.Consists of three pillars:
● economic development
● social development
● environmental protection
1.3.2 Domains of Sustainability

https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/8/6502
 1.3.2 Three Pillars of Sustainability
The three dimensions of sustainability are environmental, social, and
economic. The relationship between these three elements has evolved
over time and reflect different values
Strong sustainability
models show the
economy embedded in
society, and both society
and economy embedded
in the natural
environment.
Weak sustainability
models only show an
overlap in the three
pillars.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/
369089404_Design_for_impact_D4i_a_framework_for_teaching_sustainability_in_engineering_design
 1.3.4 Social sustainability
Social sustainability focuses on creating the structures and
systems, such as health, education, equity, community, that
support human well-being.

Social Sustainability focuses

on the survival of societies
and their cultures. It may Emphasize its role in
include consideration of the ensuring equitable access to
continued use of language, resources, promoting social
belief, or spiritual practices justice, and fostering
in a society communities where all
individuals have the
opportunity to thrive and
contribute
 1.3.4 Social sustainability
Health and Wellbeing: Ensuring
access to healthcare, nutritious food,
and recreational opportunities.
Education and Awareness: Providing
quality education that promotes lifelong
learning and awareness of sustainability
issues.
Equity and Inclusion: Addressing
inequalities and ensuring all community
members have a voice in decisions that
affect them.
Cultural Preservation: Valuing and
preserving cultural practices and
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/7/5350
heritage as a foundation of social
identity and cohesion.
1.3.4 Social Sustainability Practices
● Universal Healthcare (e.g., Norway, Canada): Systems that
ensure healthcare access for all citizens, contributing to overall
societal health and equity.
● Community-led Urban Green Spaces (e.g., community
gardens in urban neighborhoods, USA): Spaces that provide
recreational areas, promote community engagement, and improve
local biodiversity.

https://www.enel.com/company/stories/articles/2023/06/three-pillars-sustainability
 1.3.4 Social Sustainability Practices
● Indigenous Rights and Land Management (e.g., Indigenous
Protected Areas in Australia): Recognizing Indigenous peoples'
rights and integrating traditional knowledge in environmental
conservation and land management.
● Affordable Housing Initiatives (e.g., Vienna, Austria): Policies
and developments that ensure a range of affordable housing options,
supporting social diversity and inclusion.

https://housing4.us/how-vienna-ensures-affordable-housing-for-all-with-an-
https://peakvisor.com/park/katiti-petermann-indigenous-protected-area.html extremely-complicated-housing-system/
 1.3.4 Social sustainability
"Consider a social sustainability issue in Georgia. Identify the
stakeholders and the tensions between these stakeholders.
Suggest one step you or your community could take to address
it?" (Q10)
● Urban Heat Islands and Tree Canopy Loss in Atlanta affects low-income
and minority communities disproportionately. Real estate developers seek to
maximize land use and community groups advocate for green spaces and
environmental justice.
● Water Quality and Accessibility in Rural Georgia such as those near
industrial agriculture operations, face water quality issues due to pesticide runoff
and inadequate wastewater treatment facilities. Industrial agricultural use for
food insecurities while local communities demand clean water, and
environmental groups push for stricter pollution controls
● Renewable Energy Transition and Economic Development such as solar
farms in rural areas, offers opportunities for economic development but also
raises concerns about land use and community concerns about land and visual
impacts, as well as workers from traditional energy sectors facing job transitions.
1.3.5 Economic sustainability
Economic sustainability focuses on limiting the damage to the
environment caused by the economic activity of the current
generation, such as resource depletion or degradation that will
negatively affect future generation

A sustainable economy meets its population's basic needs

● Food
● Clothing
● Shelter
1.3.5 Economic sustainability
To make an economic system sustainable, it is necessary to
encourage:
● energy generation from renewable sources
● adopt policies and regulations that encourage energy
efficiency
● promotion of economic models based on the circular economy

https://sigmaearth.com/what-is-sustainability-economics/
1.3.5 Economic sustainability
Responsible management of economic resources is of paramount
importance because it implies and ensures:

● The minimization of environmental impact;

● Social and economic equity;
● A more resilient and challenge-capable economy;
● A more widespread adherence of companies to management
based on principles of responsibility and ethics.
Describe the general trend
on the relationship between
the country's economic
activity (GDP per capita)
and its environmental
impact (carbon emissions
per capita)?

Based on the observed

trend, suggest the
implications about the
balance between economic
development and
environmental
sustainability.

Choose one country from

the graph. Identify specific
factors that might
 1.3.10 Access to Food, Water and
Energy
Globally, there are inequalities in access to, and consumption of, clean
freshwater, adequate food supplies and reliable energy. An example of
such inequality is the inability to afford electricity supply or the
privatization of water sources.

As people's incomes decrease, food and water become a great share of

that income.
 1.3.10 Access to Food, Water and
Energy
1. Some countries have easy access to more natural resources than
others.
2. There is inequality in the quantity of resources available to different
countries. Some countries have abundant resources and others do
not.
3. The greater the wealth of a country the more options it has. If a
wealthy
country does not have direct access to, it can import or develop
technological solutions, whereas less wealthy countries may not
have these options.
4. The ability of a country to develop technological solutions and to
deliver food, water and energy throughout its population will affect
direct access to key resources
1.3.10 Access to Food, Water and
Energy
● Identify the message of the cartoon
● Suggest what the cartoon say about
the issue of water inequality
● State how inequalities lead to
disparities in access to water

by Taravat Niki
 1.3.10 Access to Food, Water and
Energy - Activity - Q13
● Access One World In Data.
● Find graphs on income inequality, clean water, energy
consumption, or education levels across countries.
● Explore the inequalities in access to food, water, and energy
of a two named countries.
● Identify at least two regions with differing levels of access to
these resources.
● Identify the main factors contributing to these disparities,
and what sustainable practices could be implemented to
improve equity in access
 1.3.10 Access to Food, Water and
Energy - Activity
● What patterns or trends can you identify in the data?
● How do social and economic inequalities impact
sustainability?
● How might these trends affect future resource availability or
societal well-being?
● Share how they think social and economic sustainability can
be improved based on the data
Environmental
Sustainability
 1.3.7 Unsustainable Use of Resources
Unsustainable use of resources can lead to ecosystem collapse

What do you think were the immediate

and long-term environmental, economic,
and social consequences of this
overfishing, and how could such a
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collapse_of_the_Atlantic_northwest_cod_fishery
situation be prevented in the future?
 1.3.3 Environmental Sustainability
Environmental sustainability involves managing natural resources to
ensure their replacement and support ecosystem recovery and
regeneration.
● Resource Replacement: ensures future
availability of natural resources.
● Ecosystem Recovery and Regeneration :
enhance biodiversity and resilience.
● Pollution Reduction: focuses on minimizing
and mitigating environmental impacts.
 1.3.3 Active Ecosystem Regeneration:
Reforestation, wetland restoration, and coral reef rehabilitation

Ecosystem restoration offers

the opportunity to effectively halt
and reverse degradation,
improve ecosystem services and
recover biodiversity. The UN
estimates that 60% of expected
species extinctions could be
avoided through the effective
restoration of 15% of
converted lands.

https://medium.com/age-of-awareness/making-the-most-of-the-un-decade-on-ecosystems-
restoration-bioregional-regenerative-development-484119e763ee
 1.3.3 Factors influencing environmental
sustainability
Environmental sustainability is influenced by several factors that can
have a significant impact on the ecological balance and the planet's
ability to sustain life.air, water and soil pollution;
● climate change, caused by the excessive amount of greenhouse
gases released into the atmosphere due to human activities;
● The loss of biodiversity;
● The overexploitation of natural resources;
● Economic models that involve unsustainable consumption.
 1.3.3 Environmental Sustainability
Identify a local ecosystem that could benefit from regeneration efforts.
What actions could help restore it?" (Q11)
 1.3.3 Sustainable Practices

Renewable energy adoption (solar, wind, hydroelectric power) to reduce fossil

fuel dependence.
Sustainable agriculture (crop rotation, organic farming) and sustainable
forestry (controlled logging, reforestation) to ensure long-term productivity.
Conservation projects and protected areas establishment to preserve
biodiversity and support ecosystem regeneration.

Promoting the circular economy.

https://www.ca-ilg.org/sustainability-best-practices-framework
 1.3.3 Sustainability Timescales
There are different timescales in the replacement of natural resources.

Short-term Renewable Resources

Annual Crops (e.g., wheat, corn): Planted and harvested within a single year or
growing season. These are dependent on soil fertility, water availability, and
agricultural practices.

Medium-term Renewable Resources

Groundwater: Recharges through the infiltration of surface water but at a slower
rate than surface water, taking years to decades to replenish.

Long-term Renewable Resources

Fisheries: Some fish populations can take decades to recover from overfishing,
depending on the species, fishing practices, and ecosystem conditions.
 1.3.3 Environmental Sustainability
Many tropical mountain ecosystems (TME) are severely disturbed,
requiring ecological restoration to recover biodiversity and ecosystem
functions

Review the graph.

Identify the benefits of
active ecosystem
regeneration and
environmental
sustainability efforts of
TMEs (Q13)

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-03205-y
 1.3.3 Nature’s Unifying Patterns - Q14
The Biomimicry Institute (biomimicry.org) defines biomimicry as “the
practice of looking to nature for inspiration to solve design
problems in a regenerative way.”

It is not enough to look to nature for design solutions to specific problems,

but rather apply “Nature’s Unifying Patterns” By comparing Nature's
Unifying Patterns to human behaviour, we understand our mistake
● uses only the energy it needs and relies on freely available energy,
● recycles all materials,
● is resilient to disturbances,
● tends to optimize rather than maximize,
● provides mutual benefits,
● runs on information,
● uses chemistry and materials that are safe for living beings,
● builds using abundant resources, incorporating rare resources only
sparingly,
 1.3.7 Unsustainable human behaviour.
Nature's Unifying Principles Human Behaviour

Nature recycles all materials. Human beings have created a take-

make-waste linear economy. Very few
materials are recycled.

Nature uses chemistry and materials Human beings produce goods with
that are safe for living beings. unsafe chemistry and materials..

Nature builds using abundant Human beings produce and build using
resources, incorporating rare resources many materials, some abundant, some
only sparingly. not. Even resources that were once
abundant, like sand used in concrete,
are increasingly scarce. We use many
non-renewable resources..
 1.3.7 Human behaviour.
Go to the Biomimicry Institute website.. Find three more of Nature's
Principles. For each one, consider whether human beings behave
sustainably or not (Q14)

Nature's Unifying Principles Human Behaviour

 1.3.7 Unsustainable Use of Resources -
Q15
Find an example of ecosystem collapse caused by the unsustainable use
of natural resources. (Q15)
● What were the causes of the collapse
● What solutions were used to reverse the decline?
● Evaluate the solutions work?

https://www.fao.org/3/u8480e/U8480E0z.htm
Economic Development
and Unsustainable
Practices
 1.3.8 Unsustainable Development
Unsustainable development occurs when present progress is at the
expense of future generations
● a drought may force farmers to slaughter animals needed to sustain
production in future years; a drop in prices may cause farmers or
other producers to over-exploit natural resources to maintain
incomes

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324799052/figure/fig3/AS:619999790125058@1524830877616/Sustainable-versus-
unsustainable-development.png
 1.3.8 Unsustainable Development
When sustainable development is used to help industries grow and adapt
to new challenges, it can provide protection for natural resources and
increased availability of materials – which spur additional savings,
revenue growth, and further economic development.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/324799052/figure/fig3/AS:619999790125058@1524830877616/Sustainable-versus-
unsustainable-development.png
 1.3.8 GDP
Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of national output. GDP is
the total money value of all final goods and services produced in an
economy over a given period, usually one year.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/
99fd11_4c21652894db482896cd1b24f1a818d3~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/
w_980,h_784,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/
 1.3.8 GDP
Governments of the richest countries on Earth think that the solutions
to economic problems lie in more growth. In its most developed stages, a
country’s GDP allows its citizens to buy any consumer goods they want

Led to the era of mass consumption,

 1.3.8 GDP - Q17
Access Gapminder to explore the relationship between GDP and
sustainability indicators such as CO2 emissions, life expectancy, or
access to clean water.

Rising GDP
doesn't always
mean better life
quality for most
people. Much of
this growth
benefits the top
1% of income
earners.
 1.3.8 Green GDP
An index of economic growth with the environmental consequences of
that growth factored into a country's conventional GDP.

Green GDP monetizes the loss of biodiversity, and accounts for costs
caused by climate change.
 1.3.8 Gross National Happiness
● Bhutan, a small Himalayan
kingdom, prioritizes happiness
and well-being over economic
growth.
● In 1972, King Jigme Singye
Wangchuck emphasized "Gross
National Happiness" over
GDP.
● This philosophy guides Bhutan's
development, focusing on
balancing economic progress
with environmental
conservation, cultural
preservation, and social
harmony.
Sustainability
Indicators
 1.3.12 Sustainability indicators
Sustainability indicators are anything that you can define to describe
and measure a component of the environment

Sustainability indicators include quantitative measures of biodiversity,

pollution, human population, climate change, material and carbon
footprints and others.

Factors such as biodiversity,

pollution, human population
or climate change, material
and carbon footprints may
be used quantitatively as
environmental indicators of
sustainability.
 1.3.12 Sustainability indicators - Activity
Select and analyze one environmental sustainability indicator, detailing
what it measures, its units, and whether higher or lower values are
preferable for both social and environmental sustainability. (Q28)

● Energy Consumption:
● Air Quality Index (AQI):
● Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per Capita
● Human Development Index (HDI):
● Natural increase rate (NIR) of population
● Access to Clean Water and Sanitation:
● Gender Inequality Index (GII):
● Poverty Index:
● Economic Inequality (Gini Coefficient):
 1.3.13 Ecological Footprint
● Ecological footprint (EF) is the area of land and water required to
sustainably provide all resources at the rate of consumption and the
assimilation of all wastes at the rate of production by a given human
population
.

https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/kids-and-teachers-corner/what-
is-an-ecological-footprint/
 1.3.15 Biocapacity
● Biocapacity the capacity of a given biologically productive area to
generate an ongoing supply of renewable resources and to absorb its
resulting wastes.
● Unsustainability occurs if the area’s ecological footprint exceeds its
biocapacity..

Evaluate the sustainability

of VietNam
1.3.14 Calculate Your Footprint - Activity -
Q26
Access the Global Footprint Network ecological footprint
calculator to calculate your ecological footprint.
● Answer the questions honestly and accurately to calculate your
ecological footprint.
● Note down your results, including your overall footprint and the
specific areas contributing to it (e.g., carbon footprint, food,
housing).
● List the issues that are considered when calculating EF
● Suggest how you could reduce your EF, or that of your school,
based on the information you are given.
 1.3.13 Ecological Footprint
EF of a country depends on

• Population size
• Consumption per capita
• Cropland

Global EF 2019
https://worldmapper.org/maps/grid-ecologicalfootprint-2019-population/
 1.3.13 Ecological Footprint

EFs may vary significantly by

country and by individual and
include aspects such as lifestyle
choices (EVS), productivity of food
production systems, land use and
industry.

If the EF of a human population is

greater than the land area
available to it, this indicates that
the population is unsustainable
and exceeds the carrying capacity
of that area
 1.3.13 Ecological Footprint

High-income countries, such as the

United States and Australia, often
exceed 7 gha/person.

Many middle-income countries also

surpass the 1.6 gha/person threshold

https://geo-mexico.com/?p=345
 1.3.13 Countries Footprint - Activity
Access the Footprint Data Foundation website. Select Total Ecological
Footprint. Select a country of your choice on the interactive map.
● Copy and paste the selected country's biocapacity and ecological
footprint data in your workbook.
● Identify where your country rank
● Based on this information, discuss the implications of the country's
ecological footprint relative to its biocapacity.
● Suggest strategies that the country could implement to achieve
ecological balance.
 1.3.13 Comparing Ecological Footprint -
Activity - Q29
Access the Footprint Data Foundation website
● Select the Explore Data tab
● Select 10 MEDC and 10 LEDC countries
● Collect data for the past 5 years
● Graph your data
● Describe how the trends differ between MEDCs and LEDCs. Identify
the factors might explain these differences.
● Suggest the implications these trends have for the sustainability of
natural resources and overall environmental health in MEDCs and
LEDCs
 1.3.13 Earth Overshoot Day - Activity - Q30
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has exhausted
nature's budget for the year. For the rest of the year, we are maintaining
our ecological deficit by drawing down local resource stocks and
accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
Access the Global Footprint Network.
● Identify the most recent
Overshoot Day
● Suggest how Earth Overshoot
Day illustrate the concept of
ecological deficit?
● Suggest actions individuals and
communities can take to move
the date towards a more
sustainable future
 1.3.13 Factors Influencing Footprints
A large footprint could be caused by
● Reliance on fossil fuels
● Increased use of technology
● High levels of imported resources
● Large production of carbon waste
● High food consumption
● Meat-rich diets

http://ecomerge.blogspot.com/2016/08/ecological-footprint-quiz.html
 1.3.13 Reducing Footprint
Footprint could be reduced by
● Reduced resource consumption
● Recycling and reuse of resources
● Improved efficiency of resource use
● Reduced pollution
● Exploration of waste
● Use of technology
● Reduced population
● Importing more resources from other
countries

http://ecomerge.blogspot.com/2016/08/ecological-footprint-quiz.html
 1.3.13 Strengths and Limitations
Strengths Limitations
It is a useful snapshot of the sustainability It does not include all information on the
of a population’s lifestyle environmental impacts of human activities
It provides a means for individuals or It is only a model so it is a simplification and
governments to measure their impact and lacks precision
to identify potential change in lifestyle
It is a popular symbol for raising awareness It uses approximations of actual figures that
of environmental issues cannot be accurately calculated
It does not show the types of resource
used-it shows only total resources
It is negative in approach, so could be
perceived as demotivating
 1.3.14 Carbon and Water Footprints
● Carbon footprint measures the amount of greenhouse gases
(GHGs) produced, measured in carbon dioxide equivalents (in
tonnes). The water footprint measures water use (in cubic metres
per year).
● Water footprint measures water use (in cubic metres per year).

https://sustainabletravel.org/wp-content/uploads/Carbon-Footprint-Tourism-Chart-STI-Web-2.png
 1.3.14 Carbon and Water Footprints
● The figure below shows the volume of water needed to produce various
food products. Analyse the data carefully, then answer the questions
below. (Q 37)
1. Which products have the highest
levels of water usage?
2. Why do some products require a
much larger volume of water than
others?
3. How could this knowledge be
used to reduce the water footprint
of an individual or society?
4. How realistic is it to expect an
individual or society to reduce
their water footprint by changing
food and drink consumption?
What are the strengths and
limitations of this approach? Water footprint of products. Data: Mesfin Mekonnen & Arjen Hoekstra (2011). Design: Timm Kekeritz
Environmental
Justice
 1.3.9 Environmental Justice
The right of all people to live in a pollution-free environment, and to have
equitable access to natural resources, regardless of issues such as race,
gender, socio- economic status, nationality.
 1.3.9 Environmental Justice
● live in an polluted free environment
● have equal access to natural resources
● have fair treatment through laws and regulations.

● any model of sustainable

development failing to
incorporate equity is not a
sustainable model
● any promotion of
environmental justice that
does not take account of the
principles of sustainability will
not be able to achieve its
objectives on a large scale
 1.3.9 Environmental Justice
What patterns do you
notice in the types of
communities affected by
environmental injustices?
(Q21)
 1.3.9 Environmental Justice - Activity
Investigate one local and one global example of environmental injustice.
State how your example illustrate the concept of environmental racism.
Identify the role governments, communities, and individuals play in
addressing the environmental injustice. (Q22)

● Deepwater Horizon oil spill

● Flint Michigan
● Landfills located in low-income areas
● Oil and Gas on Indigenous lands
● Union Carbide gas release in Bhopal, India.
● Pesticide exposure to farm workers
● Maasai land rights in Kenya and Tanzania.
● Plastic waste disposal by developed to developing countries.
● Proctor Creek Watershed
● TAV Waste site
 1.3.11 Sustainability and Environmental
Justice
There are many levels of operating scales for both sustainability and
environmental justice.
● an individual with individual decisions on how to live and work
● a business may impose ESG (Environmental Social Governance)
standards, examine their supply chains and make them transparent,
reduce energy consumption and transition to renewable energies.
● a community such as religious, cultural, political and indigenous can
work towards sustainability targets and fight for environmental justice
rights.
● a city many choose to set their own sustainability target
● a country with different policies, laws and socio-economic systems
● globally, for example UN Sustainable Development Goals are generally
agreed upon
 1.3.11 Sustainability and Environmental
Justice
Create a chart showing how sustainability and environmental justice
can be applied at an individual, community, city, country and global
scale.
● Identify the similarities that apply to each level
● Suggest ways these issues are addressed vary between levels
● State the distinctions between each level
● Explain how the implementation of sustainability and
environmental justice at the global scale depend on individuals and
societies at the local scale
UN Sustainability Goals
 1.3.18 UN Sustainability Goals
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of social and
environmental goals and targets to guide action on sustainability and
environmental justice

Set forward by the United

Nations (UN) in 2015, the
Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) are a collection of 17
global goals aimed at improving
the planet and the quality of
human life around the world by
the year 2030
1.3.18 UN Sustainability Goals
 1.3.18 UN SDGs Target and Indicators -
Activity
For each SDG, there are sets of targets and indicators.
● A target is a narrower goal
● An indicator is how the target is measured

Select two UN
Sustainability Goals.
Identify the targets Sustainability Goal
and indicators for
each goal Target Indicators
 1.3.18 SDGs Progress - Activity
Countries have made uneven progress on achieving the SDGs.
● only about 12% are on track,
● more than 50% are moderately or severely off track, and
● about 30% have not made any progress or have actually worsened
since 2015.

Click on the image.

Select two countries
Outline their
Sustainability
progress (Q39)
 1.3.18 SDGs Success
● Global Mobilization: Unprecedented awareness and action across
governments, businesses, and civil societies towards sustainability.
● Notable Progress: Significant strides in poverty reduction,
renewable energy adoption, and improvements in health and well-
being.
● Policy Integration: Governments increasingly incorporate SDGs
into national planning, driving holistic approaches to sustainability.
● Private Sector Engagement: Growing alignment of business
strategies with SDGs, spurring sustainable practices and innovations.
● Innovation Boost: Accelerated technological, financial, and policy
innovations aimed at addressing sustainability challenges.
 1.3.18 SDGs Challenges
● Uneven Progress: Disparities in achievement across regions,
particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Asia.
● Global Crises Impact: Setbacks from COVID-19 the war in Ukraine
and Gaza, highlighting vulnerabilities in global systems and widening
inequalities.
● Data and Financing Gaps: Challenges in monitoring progress and
mobilizing the trillions needed annually to meet the goals.
● Call to Action: Increased ambition, commitment, and international
cooperation are crucial as we approach the 2030 deadline to ensure
a sustainable and equitable world for all.
 1.3.18 SDGs Use and Limitations
Uses Limitations

Common ground: the common set of goals, Silos: the SDGs are not connected well to one
targets and indicators makes it easier for another and do not necessarily support a
governments, businesses and other systems approach that recognises how the
organisations to use the same language for environment, society and the economy are
policies. connected

Universal: the goals, targets, and indicators Lack of context: because the same set of
apply to all countries goals, targets, and indicators are used for all
countries, there may not be enough attention to
contextual challenges faced by some countries

Ambition: the SDGs are the first time that Ambition: some criticise the SDGs for not being
countries have outlined socio-ecological ambitious enough, and also for supporting
goals for the planet; the fact that they are current economic systems that are harming
hard to achieve shows ambition environmental and social goals

Data: the SDGs use quantitative data to Data: Some targets do not have adequate
Planetary
Boundary Model
 1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model
● Planetary boundaries model
outlines nine key Earth system
processes and systems.
● These systems have
maintained Earth's stability
and resilience during the
Holocene epoch.
● Identifies human
disturbance limits to
maintain system balance.
● Crossing these limits poses a
risk of sudden and irreversible
Earth system changes.

Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Wang-

Erlandsson et al 2022
 1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model

The goal is to avoid tipping

points in Earth's systems
Crossing boundaries
increases the risk of
generating large-scale
abrupt or irreversible
environmental changes

Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Wang-

Erlandsson et al 2022
1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model
These nine planetary boundaries were
first proposed by former centre director
Johan Rockström and a group of 28
internationally renowned scientists in
2009.
 1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model
The evolution of the planetary boundaries framework. Licenced under CC BY-
NC-ND 3.0 (Credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm
University. Based on Richardson et al. 2023, Steffen et al. 2015, and
Rockström et al. 2009)
1.3.19 Crossing
the Boundary

Identify the specific

boundaries that have been
crossed and by how much

Suggest measures that can

be taken to reverse or halt
the progression beyond
these boundaries
 1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model
Uses Limitations
● Important data: identifies ● Focuses only on ecological systems
science-based limits to human and does not consider the human
disturbance of Earth systems; dimension necessary to take action
● Focus on complex systems: for environmental justice
highlights the need to focus on ● The model is a work in progress—
more than climate change assessments of boundaries are
(which dominates discussion); changing as new data becomes
● Guides action: alerts the public available;
and policymakers about the ● The focus on global boundaries
urgent need for action to protect may not be a useful guide for local
Earth systems. and country-level action.
 1.3.19 Planetary Boundary Model
This graph plots Global atmospheric CO₂ concentration. Click on
the image and go to the One World In Data Site.

Answer the questions in your

workbook (Q47)
Doughnut Economic
Model
 1.3.20 Doughnut Economics Model
The doughnut economics model is a framework for creating a
regenerative and distributive economy in order to meet the needs of all
people within the means of the planet.

https://www.recipesforwellbeing.org/doughnut-
economy/
 1.3.20 Doughnut Economics Model
Developed in 2012 by economist Kate Raworth, integrates the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with planetary boundaries,
resembling a doughnut
Outer ring - The
ecological ceiling based
on planetary boundaries
science

Inner Boundary - The

social foundation based
on the social SDGs

Middle hole - where

people are falling short of
life’s essentials.
 1.3.20 Doughnut Economics Model
● Center represents social foundation:
basic human rights (water, housing,
justice, social equity).
● Outer ring symbolizes ecological
ceiling: critical environmental limits
(climate change, freshwater, air
pollution).
● Must not exceed ecological ceiling to
respect Earth and ensure harmonious
prosperity.
● Intersection of circles indicates the zone
where human progress can align with
planet's boundaries.
● All aspects of the doughnut model https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/04/the-new-
correspond to the United Nations economic-model-that-could-end-inequality-doughnut/
 1.3.20 Doughnut Economics Model
Uses Limitations
● Environmental justice: ● Difficult paradigm shift: rejects
includes both ecological and the goal of economic growth that
social elements most governments and businesses
● Popularity: it has reached still aim for; shifting worldviews
popular awareness has been difficult
● Developing: being used at ● Developing: a work in progress,
different scales (for example, so some questions about the
countries, cities, model’s possible application
neighbourhoods, businesses) to cannot be answered yet
support action on sustainability. ● Broad: it advocates broad
principles of regenerative and
distributive practice but does not
propose specific policies.
 1.3.21 Regenerative and distributive
design
● The doughnut economics model incorporates the concepts of
regenerative and
distributive design
● Regenerative economy: works with and within the cycles and limits of
the living world.
● Distributive economy: shares value and opportunity far more equitably
among all stakeholders
 1.3.21 Regenerative and distributive
design
Individual households
● Conserving and enlarging green spaces,
● Sowing diverse species to ensure ecosystem robustness,
● Removing unnecessary pavement to allow better water
infiltration,
● Establishing environments that support insect populations
● Composting kitchen scraps.

https://images.buildwithrise.com/image/upload/
c_limit,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto,w_925/article_media/
 1.3.21 Regenerative and distributive
design
Businesses
● Crafting products that contribute to human well-being,
● Partnering with suppliers committed to environmental
sustainability
● Curtailing waste while adopting principles of the circular economy

https://www.shareyourgreendesign.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/photo-3.jpg
 1.3.21 Regenerative and distributive
design
Government agencies:
● Comprehensive environmental protection laws seen in Costa
Rica, which include payments for ecosystem services and forest
conservation
● Japan's stringent recycling regulations
● Financial encouragements (subsidies, tax breaks, or accessible
loans) for sustainable transitions, mirroring efforts like Norway's
aggressive electric vehicle (EV) incentives, which include tax
exemptions and grants for EV infrastructure
● Urban greenery initiatives in Singapore that offer funding for roof
and vertical gardens to enhance urban biodiversity.
Circular Economy
 1.3.21 The circular economy
The circular economy is a model that promotes decoupling economic
activity from the consumption of finite resources. It has three principles:
eliminating waste and pollution, circulating products and materials, and
regenerating nature.
 1.3.21 The circular economy
The circular economy has three related principles:

● eliminate waste and pollution

● circulate products and materials
● regenerate nature.

https://www.tbsnews.net/sites/default/files/styles/
infograph/public/images/2023/05/14/circular-
 1.3.21 The linear economy
In a linear economic system, we take Earth's raw materials, we make
products from the raw materials, and finally we throw products away as
waste..

https://www.sei.org/publications/transformational-change-through-a-circular-economy/
 1.3.21 The circular economy
The butterfly diagram from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation is a useful
illustration of the circular economy.

Watch the video on the Butterfly Diagram

● Summarize the main points made in the
video.
● Why is it called the ‘butterfly diagram
● What do the wings of the butterfly
represent?
● How does the diagram demonstrate the
circular economy?
 1.3.21 The circular economy

Technical cycle materials and products

are:
● produced high quality to last longer
● shared among people
● reused by multiple consumers
● repaired when damaged
● refurbished and remanufactured as
needed
● only as a last option, recycled.

Biological cycle
● returns biodegradable materials to
earth through natural processes
https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy-diagram
 1.3.21 Circular Economy Practices
Uses Limitations
● Nature's principles: the circular ● Business awareness: existing
economy uses nature's time-tested businesses may not be aware of
principles to improve sustainability circular economy practices; lack of
● Natural resources: keeping materials expertise
and products in use means that we will ● Business costs: existing businesses
need to extract fewer materials from may not be able to transition to circular
nature, preserving land, water, and strategies due to costs of changing
biodiversity production; new businesses may find
● CO2 emissions: keeping materials and that using circular strategies makes
products in use means we need to products unprofitable
produce less, and will emit less CO2 ● Lack of government laws: most
● Natural resources: reduction of waste governments do not have regulations
by extending product life cycle; requiring businesses to use circular
● Pollution: keeping materials and practices
products in use means less waste, which ● Pollution: it may not be possible to
 1.3.21 Circular Economy Practices
Outline a named example of how the circular economy has
been applied to the production of one commodity. (Q54)

Example:
Take-back Schemes in Germany:
Adidas Infinite Play: In Germany, Adidas runs a program
called Infinite Play, where customers can return their used
Adidas gear in exchange for a voucher. The returned products
are then cleaned, repaired if necessary, and resold. This not only
keeps the materials in use for longer but also encourages
sustainable consumer behavior.
Citizen Scientist
 1.3.16 Citizen science
● Citizen science has a role in the larger picture of scientific research
on environmental systems.
● Information for citizen science projects can be gathered through
crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing involves obtaining information from
a large group of people who submit their data via the internet and/or
social media
1.3.16 Citizen science

Scuba divers and snorkelers can

become citizen scientists by
participating in the Reef Check
program. Reef Check is a global coral
reef monitoring and conservation
organization that trains volunteers to
conduct scientific surveys of reef
health