Understanding Sustainability and Environmental Management

Sustainability

• Definition: Sustainability is the use and management of resources that allows for the full natural replacement of exploited resources and the recovery of ecosystems affected by their extraction.
• All living things depend either directly or indirectly on Earth's resources.
• Importance of Sustainability: Economies may have different views of sustainability (e.g., a sustainable laptop).
• Environmental Perspectives: Key points include:
  • Earth's resources are limited; they require time to be replenished.
  • Resources should be used at a rate that prevents exhaustion.
  • Sustainability involves not being harmful to the environment and maintaining a stable condition.

Sustainable Development

• The original definition originated from the 1992 Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit.
• "Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."
• Focuses on meeting human development goals while sustaining the environment.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA)

• Started in 2001 by the UN.
• A research program analyzing how ecosystems have changed over recent decades.
• Provides predictions regarding future environmental changes.

Tragedy of the Global Commons

• Global issues include greenhouse gases, overgrazing, overfishing, deforestation, population growth, and the proliferation of automobiles and factories.

Natural Capital and Natural Income

• Natural Capital: Natural resources that produce a sustainable natural income of goods or services.
• Example: Petroleum (natural capital) provides electricity (natural income).
• Example: Sheep (natural capital) provide milk, cheese, meat, and wool (natural income).

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Definition: A report conducted before a development project to evaluate and modify the use of a natural land area.
• The EIA assesses the advantages and disadvantages of proposed developments.
• Purpose: Used to document local flora and fauna and serve as leverage in planning.
• Common Projects Requiring EIA:
  1. Major new road networks.
  2. Airport and port developments.
  3. Building power stations.
  4. Building dams and reservoirs.
  5. Quarrying.
  6. Large state housing projects.

EIA History and Weaknesses

• Different countries maintain different standards, making it difficult to compare reports.
• Challenges include defining the boundaries of investigation and the high costs and time required.
• In 1969, the US passed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), requiring federal agencies to consider the environment during planning.
• Many countries have since adopted EIAs as part of their planning and policy processes.

Ecological Footprint

• The Ecological Footprint (EF) is a model used to estimate the demands that human populations place on the environment.
• A high EF relative to available land indicates a lack of sustainability.