Sustainability Outline
Topic 1: Intro to sustainability (definitions and terms) what is sustainability: sustainability is the capacity to endure. “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (Brundtland Commission of the UN on March, 20, 1987)
“Three pillars” of sustainability: environmental, social equity, and economic demands. A certain view of sustainability, which uses three overlapping circles indicating that the three pillars are not mutually exclusive and can be mutually reinforcing. Have been used as a common ground for sustainability standards and certification systems
Sustainable resources: resource that is used up at the same speed that it is renewed examples: wood can be a sustainable resources if trees are harvested at the same rate as new trees mature wind (because wind is not “used” up) solar and hydroelectric power is considered sustainable non-sustainable resources: resources that are not used up at the same speed that it is renewed examples: oil, natural gas, minerals from earth do not regenerate fish stock can be renewed and used in a sustainable fashion, but are non-sustainable
sustainability terms and definitions environment: The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism examples: Everglades in Florida, Amazon Rainforest, and Appalachian Mts.
Juniata examples: Muddy Run River, East?, the Library on a Sunday night, and Raystown Lake sustainability: World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 (meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) examples: long-lived and healthy wetlands are examples of sustainable biological systems carbon footprint: usually stands for a certain amount of gaseous emissions that are relevant to climate change and associated with human production or consumption
“Three pillars” of sustainability: environmental, social equity, and economic demands. A certain view of sustainability, which uses three overlapping circles indicating that the three pillars are not mutually exclusive and can be mutually reinforcing. Have been used as a common ground for sustainability standards and certification systems
Sustainable resources: resource that is used up at the same speed that it is renewed examples: wood can be a sustainable resources if trees are harvested at the same rate as new trees mature wind (because wind is not “used” up) solar and hydroelectric power is considered sustainable non-sustainable resources: resources that are not used up at the same speed that it is renewed examples: oil, natural gas, minerals from earth do not regenerate fish stock can be renewed and used in a sustainable fashion, but are non-sustainable
sustainability terms and definitions environment: The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism examples: Everglades in Florida, Amazon Rainforest, and Appalachian Mts.
Juniata examples: Muddy Run River, East?, the Library on a Sunday night, and Raystown Lake sustainability: World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987 (meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs) examples: long-lived and healthy wetlands are examples of sustainable biological systems carbon footprint: usually stands for a certain amount of gaseous emissions that are relevant to climate change and associated with human production or consumption