The document discusses key concepts related to sustainability including: - Sustainable development meets present needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs. - Environmental indicators and ecological footprints can assess sustainability. - The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reported that humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the past 50 years than ever before, with mixed impacts on human well-being. - Environmental impact assessments play an important role in sustainable development by evaluating potential impacts of projects.

1. 1.4. Sustainability
Miltiadis Kitsos
Platon school IB diploma
Econpomy
SocieyEconomy
Society
Environment

2. Significant ideas
• All systems can be viewed through the lens of sustainability.
• Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Environmental indicators and ecological footprints can be used to assess
sustainability.
• Environmental impact assessments (EIAs) play an important role in
sustainable development.
Application and Skills
• Explain the relationship between natural capital, natural income and
sustainability.
• Discuss the value of ecosystem services to a society.
• Discuss how environmental indicators such as MA can be used to evaluate the
progress of a project to increase sustainability.
• Evaluate the use of EIAs
• Explain the relationship between ecological footprint (EF) and
sustainability.

3. Sustainability
Sustainability is the use of natural resources in ways that do not reduce
or degrade the resources (full replacement, non-degradation of ecosysytem),
so that they are available for future generations.
Environmental
systems
Societies
Resources
Exploitation
Sustainable
Management

4. Sustainability
Sustainability is the use of natural resources in ways that do not reduce
or degrade the resources (full replacement, non-degradation of ecosysytem),
so that they are available for future generations.
Resources
Renewal
Exploitation
Degradation
Due to polution
A use of a resource (natural
capital) is sustainable when
the rates of degradation and
exploitation are lower than
the renewal rate
Renewal rate > Exploitation
rate

5. Non-sustainable use of resources: case study
Collapse of the Atlantic northwest cod fishery
In 1992 the Canadian government paused a
moratorium in the Northern Cod fisheries after
a collapse of the fishing stock.
The fisheries of the cod was one of the major
economic incomes of the communities in the
Eastern Canadian coast.
The main reasons of the collapse were:
The unsustainable exploitation of the resource
The degradation of the bentic community due to
the large volume of non-commercial fish killed
as discards.
The uncertainty in the management of the stock
due to the lack of a concise scientific
background.
https://www.turners-seafood.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Atlantic-Cod-1-
770x510.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/73/Time_series_for_collapse
_of_Atlantic_northwest_cod.png

6. Sustainable development
Sustainable development means ‘meeting the needs of the
present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs’.
In 1983 the general assembly of the United Nations asked the
World Commission on Environment and Development under Gro
Harlem Brundtland to form "A global agenda for change”,
that is to propose long-term environmental strategies for
achieving sustainable development by the year 2000 and
beyond.
Our Common Future, also known as the Brundtland Report, from
the United Nations World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED) was published in 1987.
This report was the firs serious effort atan international
context to address the issue and recommend strategies that
may lead to sustainable development. You can read the report
here.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/t
humb/a/aa/Our_Common_Future_book_cove
r.gif/220px-
Our_Common_Future_book_cover.gif

7. Sustainable development
The three pillars
Environment
Society
Economy
Andrew, Davis, et al. Pearson Baccaularete Environmental
Systems And Socieities For The Ib Diploma

8. Sustainable development
However, the definition of sustainable development is subjective
In fact is heavily biased by the EVS’s
(ecocentric vs Technocentric)
Economists think that sustainable
development results in a stable annual
income regardless the impact on the
environment
On the other hand environmentalists
and ecologists would focus on
achieving a steady production without
degrading the environment
http://d2ouvy59p0dg6k.cloudfront.net/downloads/sdg_birthday_cartoon_eu_stars_twitter_panda.jpg

9. Sustainable development: a dream or reality?
Is sustainable development possible?
No,
There is a continuous increase in the rate
humans are using natural resources to produce
profit.
The world population is increasing as well as
the demand for natural resources.
In this context, most resources are likely to
be used in an unsustainable manner.
https://ourworldindata.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/updated-World-
Population-Growth-1750-2100.png
https://mipt.ru/upload/iblock/127/oil_extraction.jpg

10. Sustainable development: a dream or reality?
Is sustainable development possible?
Yes, given certain conditions.
Investing on technologies using renewable
resources (e.g., wind turbines, solar
panels)
Use alternative sources of fuels (e.g.,
hydrogen vs fossil fuels)
Recycling and other personal choices that
could minimise energy overconsumption.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/Recycle001.s
vg/2000px-Recycle001.svg.png
http://s3.amazonaws.com/digitaltrends-uploads-prod/2016/03/Wind-turbines.jpg

11. Sustainable development: @Global or local context?
Is sustainable development possible?
Many environmental problems are of
global importance (e.g., global
warming, pollution) and are related
to processes happening at a global
scale
Thus, a global perspective
• enhances understanding of the
effects and scaffolds global
awareness
•
• Emphasises cooperation
• Helps governments being more
responsible
a local perspective
Sometimes, the geographical diversity
and variability of ecosystems require
a more localised approach in
sustainability issues
Sustainability problems may be solved
in a small scale by individuals or
small-scale community action.
https://climate.nasa.gov/system/content_pages/main_images/1321_cc-vs-gw-vs-wx-768px.jpg

12. Natural capital and natural income
The economics of natural resources
From an anthropocentric point of view natural resources are discussed in
terms of their use by and relationship to human populations.
Renewable recourses
Natural resources that are
not depleted; they are
repeatedly used and naturally
replenished.
• Solar energy
• Wind energy
• Tidal energy
• Biomass
Non-Renewable recourses
They are not naturally
replenished and they run a
risk of being depleted if the
exploitation rate is very igh
• Fossil fuels
• Nuclear power
• Certain aquifers

13. Natural capital and natural income
The economics of natural resources
The environment
(renewable and non-renewable resources)
Raw materials
Natural capital
forms of Wealth (goods and Services)
Producers Consumers
Emissions and waste
products
Natural income
Profit

14. Natural capital and natural income
The economics of natural resources
Natural capital: the resources and services provided from the ecosystems

15. Natural capital and natural income
The economics of natural resources
Natural income: then Annual yield provided by the natural capital
http://sciencesauceonline.com/ibessbyss/images/topi
csummaries/ess1-4-sustainability.png

16. The Millennium ecosystem assessment.
The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) was an
international scientific effort aiming at
reporting on the condition of the world’s
ecosystems and the services they provide. The
development of the MA is an excellent example of
International scientific cooperation (more than
1360 experts worldwide)
Initiated in 2001 aiming at:
• assessing the conditions of the world’s
ecosystems
• investigating the consequences of ecosystems
changes for human well-being.
• developing good practices that would enhance
conservation and sustainable use of ecosystems.
https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg

17. The Millennium ecosystem assessment.

18. The Millennium ecosystem assessment: Main findings
• Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the
past 50 years than in any previous period in history
• irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.
• substantial overall gains in human well-being and
economic development, but at the cost of many
ecosystems and the services they provide.
• Changes have increased the poverty of some groups of
people.
• Ecosystem degradation unless addressed, will
substantially reduce the benefits that future
generations obtain from ecosystems.
• Restoring ecosystems while meeting increasing demands
for services can be achieved, but will involve
significant changes in policies and practices.
https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg

19. The Millennium ecosystem assessment: Main findings
in numbers
• 60% of world ecosystems have been degraded
• 25% of world land has been cultivated
• We use 40-50% of surface freshwater; have
doubled underground withdrawals in last 40 years
• 25% of all fish stocks are overharvested
• 35% of mangroves have been destroyed
• Since 1980, 20% of coral has been destroyed,
another 20% degraded
• Eutrophication has led to coastal dead zones
• Species extinction rates are 100-1,000 times
typical background rates
• Humans have had more of an effect on ecosystems
in last 50 years tha ever before.

20. The Millennium ecosystem assessment: Main findings
• Humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly in the
past 50 years than in any previous period in history
• irreversible loss in the diversity of life on Earth.
• substantial overall gains in human well-being and
economic development, but at the cost of many
ecosystems and the services they provide.
• Changes have increased the poverty of some groups of
people.
• Ecosystem degradation unless addressed, will
substantially reduce the benefits that future
generations obtain from ecosystems.
• Restoring ecosystems while meeting increasing demands
for services can be achieved, but will involve
significant changes in policies and practices.
https://islandpress.org/sites/default/files/BookCovers/9781559632270.jpg

21. The Millennium ecosystem assessment: Main findings
• The MA Board of Directors has developed an
interpretation of the key messages to emerge
from the assessment, entitled Living Beyond Our
Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-Being.
• You may read the report here

22. Environmental impact assessment
• Before any big construction project takes place , an Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) project must be carried out.
• The EIAs incorporate a baseline study and assess the environmental,
social, and economic impacts of the project, predicting and evaluating
possible impacts and suggesting mitigation strategies. They are usually
followed by an audit and continued monitoring.
• The purpose of an EIA is to:
 establish the impact of the project on the environment.
 Predict possible impacts on habitats, species and ecosystems
 help decision makers on decide if the development should go ahead.
address the mitigation of potential environmental impacts associated
with the development.

23. Environmental impact assessment
• The report should provide a non-technical summary at the conclusion so
that lay-people and the media can understand the implications of the
study.
• Some countries incorporate EIAs within their legal framework, with
penalties and measures that can be taken if the conditions of the EIA
are broken. However, in other the EIA’s are often ignored, or take
second place to economic concerns.

24. Environmental impact assessment: base-line study
• The first stage of an EIA is to carry out a baseline study.
• Important to know what the physical and biological environment is like
before the project starts so that it can be monitored during and after
the development.
Variables measured as part of a baseline study should include:
• habitat type and abundance
• species list
• species diversity
• list of endangered species
• land use – assess land use type and use coverage
• hydrology – assess hydrological conditions in terms of volume,
discharge, flows, and water quality
• human population – assess present population
• soil – quality, fertility, and pH.

25. Environmental impact assessment: limitations
 It is often difficult to put together a complete baseline study due
to lack of data.
 Not all of the impacts are identified specially indirect impacts.
 An EIA may be limited by the quality of the baseline study.
 Environmental impact prediction is speculative because of the
complexity of natural systems and the uncertainty of feedback
mechanisms.
 Lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners.

26. Environmental impact assessment: limitations
 It is often difficult to put together a complete baseline study due
to lack of data.
 Not all of the impacts are identified specially indirect impacts.
 An EIA may be limited by the quality of the baseline study.
 Environmental impact prediction is speculative because of the
complexity of natural systems and the uncertainty of feedback
mechanisms.
 Lack of a standard practice or training for practitioners.

27. Environmental footprint
 An ecological footprint (EF ) of an individual or population
demonstrates the ongoing rate of resource consumption and roughly
estimates the ecosystem surface area necessary to support the
individual or the population in a sustainable manner.
 Comparing the calculated area with the actual area occupied by the
population gives an indication of whether or not the population is
living sustainably.
 Some times the results are not promising at all…

28. References
Andrew, Davis, et al. Pearson Baccaularete Environmental Systems And Socieities For The Ib Diploma.
Rutherford, Jill. Environmental Systems and Societies. Oxford University Press, 2015.