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Unit 7
Sustainable Development
28
Geography
Undergraduate 2
04/10/2014

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Term
What is sustainable development?
Definition
the development of economic and social well-being in a way that can be maintained into the future without degrading the natural environment or depleting natural resources

-Economic, Social & Environmental well being
Term
What is the Brundtland Report's definition of sustainable development?
Definition
development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the abillity of future generations to meet their own needs
Term
What are the 3 key statements in the Brundtland Report?
Definition
-giving all people equal access to resources is possible

-there are limits to the natural environments ability to meet human needs

-human activity needs to be modified so that it is less resource intensive
Term
What UN convention is responsible for international discussions on sustainable development?
Definition
there is none!
Term
True or False

We have made significant achievements in our goal of achieving global sustainability since the first Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro
Definition
false

many feel we should be further ahead than we currently are
Term
What is the mathematical equation suggested to calculate the impact of a given population on the natural environment?
Definition
I = PCT

Impact = People X Consumption X Technology
Term
True or False

A country with a high population but limited individual consumption of resources will often have a smaller environmental impact than a technologically advanced country with smaller population
Definition
true
Term
What are the 3 types of capital described in reference to sustainability?
Definition
Human-made capital
e.g. factories, automobiles, medical care

Natural Capital
renewable non-renewable resources

Human Capital
skills, education & well-being of people
Term
In terms of capital, when is an activity considered to be unsustainable? Give an example
Definition
if it decreases the available amount of one type of capital without increasing another

e.g. deforestation by a non-local company, without replanting trees, does not improve the life of the people living in the forested area
Term
In terms of capital, when is an activity considered to be weakly sustainable?
Definition
When one type of capital is depleted, but another type is partially augmented

e.g. clear-cut the forest, but use some revenue to build a school in the region
Term
When might tree harvesting be considered strongly sustainable?
Definition
If the logging process is selective so that the forests are not depleted, and revenues are fully re-invested into the local economy
Term
What are the goals of the Fraser River Valley of British Columbia for sustainable development?
Definition
Maintain the integrity and diversity of the natural environment of the valley while meeting basic human, social and economic needs

Ensure resources are shared equitably and that resources are preserved for future generations

Increase the decision-making authority of local governments
Term
True or False

The Fraser River Valley initiative for sustainable development is a strictly top-down governmental approach
Definition
False

The council includes rep's from non-government & governmental organizations, private companies & First Nations
Term
What is the biggest challenge in sustainable development?
Definition
creating indicators of sustainability

e.g. everyone agrees that a healthy planet should be the goal, but agreeing on the definition within that is difficult
Term
What is an individual's ecological footprint?
Definition
The amount of land & water required to produce everything the individual consumes & assimilate the waste they produce
Term
What is the average Canadian's ecological footprint? What should it be in order to maintain sustainable development?
Definition
7.2 hectares of productive land & sea surface

2.2 hectares per person is sustainable
Term
When did it first start to become truly apparent that there is a finite limit to the Earth's resources?
Definition
1970's
Term
What is SCOPS?
Definition
a DEFRA initiative to work with sheep farmers to control parasites in sheep which have become resistant to chemicals
-reduce the amount of chemicals, use as needed to treat the sheep
Term
What is the National Forest's initiative for sustainability?
Definition
re-growth of forest on land previously cleared for development
Term
True or False

Sustainable development strategies have become more mainstream ways of thinking in governmental policies
Definition
true
Term
What are some of the issues to be considered when creating sustainable development projects in Africa?
Definition
-human capitol
-mobilization of resources
-conflict between urban development & food production (land uses)
-engaging & disengaging the community
Term
Why is directly replicating a successful, sustainable development project elsewhere not likely to succeed?
Definition
-relationships between humans & the environment are specific to a location, you won't have the exact same factors to consider
-physical & social conditions shape development projects, can't apply one solution to all issues
Term
Why was Tanzania's attempt to replicate the Chinese model of 'barefoot doctors' to provide medical treatment in rural areas not successful?
Definition
-having basic medical care in villages wasn't enough
-people were very dispersed throughout the country
-meant they still had to travel long distances to receive basic medical care
Term
Why is fixed field cattle ranching not a viable method in countries such as Nigeria?
Definition
-different environment there, not in constant equilibrium
-traditional migratory pastoralism allows farmers to 'follow the resources' e.g. drought cycles, confining cattle to a field won't work!
Term
What are some key factors to consider in the human-environmental relationship for planning sustainable development?
Definition
-marketing
-gender relations
-culture, customs & skills
-seasonality
-soil conditions
-climate variability
Term
What is the One Planet Perspective?
Definition
Preserving ecosystem integrity, biodiversity conservation and food/water/energy security through global efforts
Term
What are the key step we need to take to achieve sustainability, in regards to the One Planet Perspective?
Definition
Redirect Financial Flows (value nature)
Equitable Resource Governance
Preserve Natural Capital
Produce Better (energy input, waste etc)
Consume More Wisely
Term
What is GDP?
Definition
Gross Domestic Product

-an indicator used to measure the health of a country's economy
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