Development that meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs
Slide 3
College Board AP Human Geography: VI.Industrialization and
Economic Development B.Contemporary patterns and impacts of
industrialization and development 1. Spatial organization of the
world economy 2. Variations in levels of development 3.
Deindustrialization and economic restructuring 4. Globalization and
international division of labor 5. Natural resources and
environmental concerns 6. Sustainable development 7. Local
development initiatives: government policies 8. Women in
development
Slide 4
Geographic Perspective of Sustainable Development The
definition of sustainable development is the same for science and
social science. In a Geographic context we would cover economic,
political, social, and spatial development that allows for
change/growth without affecting future generations ability to
thrive. Geographers apply our unique perspectives.
Slide 5
Geographic Perspective of Sustainable Development cont..
Geographers understand: relationships between humans and
environments; the importance of spatial variability and the place-
dependence of processes; that processes operate at multiple and
interlocking geographic scales; and the integration of spatial and
temporal analysis. It is key to understand the idea that what might
be sustainable in one place may not be somewhere else-- the place
dependence of processes and the idea of scale. Dr. Sarah Bednarz,
Texas A&M University; AP Human Geography Test Development
Committee
Slide 6
It is APHG & APES from Environment Academic Geography for
Sustainability The Advanced Placement (AP) program offered in many
U.S. secondary schools treats geography somewhat differently than
the British system. An environmental science AP exam covers much of
the physical science aspects of geography, often referred to as
physical geography. A stand-alone exam on human geography focuses
on how people interact with built environments and across space
with each other. Human- environment geography, which pertains to
human interactions with natural, environmental, and agricultural
features and processes, is somewhat awkwardly divided between the
two exams.An environmental science AP examA stand-alone exam on
human geography
Slide 7
Sustainability Sustainable Development Sustainability is the
potential of an ecosystem to subsist overtime in a balanced way
Sustainable development includes environmental considerations in
the steering of societal change
Slide 8
The Three Pillars of Sustainable Development The social: this
relates to human mores and values, relationships and institutions
The economic: This concerns the allocation and distribution of
scarce resources The ecological: this involves the contribution of
both the economic and the social and their effect on the
environment and its resources (Ekins 2000)
Slide 9
Characteristics of Sustainable Development/SD SD is an ongoing
process across space, time, societies and cultures SD will be
different in different societies but needs common normative
principles SD is a dynamic, comprehensive concept of modernizing
living patterns (Baker 2000)
Slide 10
Paradigm of Sustainable Development Changing the quality of
growth Reducing population growth Food security Maintaining
biodiversity Establishing safe energy Ecological modernization of
industry Guiding landuse and urbanization (Brundtland Report/WCED
1987)
Slide 11
Geographical Qualifications for Sustainable Development
Knowledge and Understanding of - Major natural systems and -Major
socio-economic systems Skills in - Using communication-, thinking-,
practical and social skills to explore geographical topics from
local to global scales Attitudes and Values to - Dedication to
seeking solutions to local, regional, national and international
problems (International Charter on Geographical Education
1992)
Slide 12
From short-term thinking an economy outside of nature a linear
flow of resources fossil fuels keeping score with a gross cash flow
seeing Environmental, social and economic challenges as separate
and competing To long-term thinking an economy Integrated with
nature a systems flow of resources solar-derived keeping score with
a whole systems balance sheet seeing Environmental, social, and
economic challenges as an interconnected whole ed energy
SUSTAINABILITY IS A TRANSITION
Slide 13
Taking the Planetary Pulse: What is Non-sustainability? The
great unraveling The great warming The great inequalities
Slide 14
The Great Unraveling Ecosystem decline Habitat loss Species
extinction Human body burden and chemical stressors
Slide 15
The Great Warming Disruption of the global heat engine The
planets response Economic dislocation Climate refugees and
security
Slide 16
Concentrations of wealth Access to resources and information
Conflict and national security The Great Inequalities
Slide 17
Slide 18
Global Sustainability 1972 UNEP & Human Environment
Conference 1975 Worldwatch Institute 1976 UN Conference on Human
Settlements 1982 UNCLOS 1989 Stockholm Conference 1992 Rio Earth
Summit 1995 Copenhagen Conference on global poverty 1995 Beijing
Conference on women 1996 ISO 14001 2000 UN Millennium Development
Goals 2002 Johannesburg Conference on Sustainable development 2005
Kyoto Protocol 2009 Copenhagen conference on Climate
Slide 19
1972 Stockholm Conference Declaration on the Human Environment
Principle 1: Man is both creature and molder of his environment,
which gives him physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity
for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long
and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has
been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and
technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment
in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale. Principle 3: Man
has constantly to sum up experience and go on discovering,
inventing, creating and advancing. In our time man's capability to
transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all
peoples the benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance
the quality of life. Wrongly or heedlessly applied, the same power
can do incalculable harm to human beings and the human
environment.
Slide 20
1972 Stockholm Conference Principle 6: A point has been reached
in history when we must shape our actions throughout the world with
a more prudent care for their environmental consequences. Through
ignorance or indifference we can do massive and irreversible harm
to the earthly environment on which our life and well-being depend.
Conversely, through fuller knowledge and wiser action, we can
achieve for ourselves and our prosperity a better life in an
environment more in keeping with human needs and hopes. To defend
and improve the human environment for present and future
generations has become an imperative goal for mankind-a goal to be
pursued together with, and in harmony with, the established and
fundamental goals of peace and of world-wide economic and social
development. Principle 11: The environmental policies of all States
should enhance and not adversely affect the present or future
development potential of developing countries, nor should they
hamper the attainment of better living conditions for all, and
appropriate steps should be taken by States and international
organizations with a view to reaching agreement on meeting the
possible national and international economic consequences resulting
from the application of environmental measures.
Slide 21
1992 UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT
(Rio Conference) Charged by the UN General Assembly to elaborate
strategies... to promote sustainable and environmentally sound
development in all countries. Principle 1: Human beings are at the
center of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled
to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. Principle
3: The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably
meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future
generations. Principle 4: In order to achieve sustainable
development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral
part of the development process and cannot be considered in
isolation from it.
Slide 22
2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development
Principle 18:We welcome the focus of the Johannesburg Summit on the
indivisibility of human dignity and are resolved, through decisions
on targets, timetables and partnerships, to speedily increase
access to such basic requirements as clean water, sanitation,
adequate shelter, energy, healthcare, food security and the
protection of biodiversity. Principle 19:We reaffirm our pledge to
place particular focus on, and give priority attention to, the
fight against the worldwide conditions that pose severe threats to
the sustainable development of our people, which include: chronic
hunger; malnutrition; foreign occupation; armed conflict; illicit
drug problems; organized crime; corruption; natural disasters;
illicit arms trafficking; trafficking in persons; terrorism;
intolerance and incitement to racial, ethnic, religious and other
hatreds; xenophobia; and endemic, communicable and chronic
diseases, in particular HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Slide 23
United Nation Millennium Goals Eight Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in
September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have agreed to these Goals by
2015. The eight Millennium Development Goals are: Eradicate extreme
poverty and hunger Achieve universal primary education Promote
gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Improve
maternal health Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases
Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership
for development
Slide 24
Millennium Development Goal: Target 7 Goal 7: Ensure
environmental sustainability * Target 7A: Integrate the principles
of sustainable development into country policies and programs;
reverse loss of environmental resources * Target 7B: Reduce
biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in
the rate of loss Proportion of land area covered by forest CO2
emissions, total, per capita and per $1 GDP (PPP) Consumption of
ozone-depleting substances Proportion of fish stocks within safe
biological limits Proportion of total water resources used
Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected Proportion of
species threatened with extinction
Slide 25
Millennium Goal: Target 7 cont. * Target 7C: Halve, by 2015,
the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe
drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see the
entry on water supply) Proportion of population with sustainable
access to an improved water source, urban and rural Proportion of
urban population with access to improved sanitation * Target 7D: By
2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at
least 100 million slum- dwellers Proportion of urban population
living in slums
Slide 26
The System of Sustainable Practices A system is any set of
interdependent or temporarily interacting parts. Systems Thinking
What do we mean by system? What does a system need to have? What
are the values of seeing and thinking in systems?
http://people.tribe.net
Slide 27
Seeing the whole and its parts Networks of mutuality between
the parts (relationships) Self-organizing and self- sustaining
Recognizing system boundaries (limits) Constant creation and
destruction Time scales often long and feedback loops hard to
observe Elements of a Systems Framework - The Lessons of Working in
Systems Everything is connected to everything else You can never do
just one thing There is no away Nothing grows forever There are no
simple solutions When there are serious imbalances, dont fight
positive feedback; support negative feedback instead Competition is
often cooperation in disguise
Slide 28
Our Responsibility as a Systems Thinker See the systems
(product, process, system) See the parts See the relationships See
and understand feedback loops Look for interdependencies
(information flows) Expect unanticipated consequences Keep options
open; value flexibility and resilience Cant get economies of scale
out of a system Understand the temporality of relationships Pay
attention and give voice to the long term
Slide 29
In Conclusion: Sustainable Development is an integrated systems
approach to meeting the needs of the Worlds population today,
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. Sustainability can be summarized in four key
principles: First, benefits of economic activity must be considered
in relation to their respective social and environmental
consequences; Second, in using resources, we must consider the
needs and expectations of future generations; Third, government,
business and other segments of civil society must act together to
balance these needs; Fourth, the corporate governance contributes
to sustainable economic development by enhancing the performance of
the company and increasing its access to land and capital.
Slide 30
www.mudcitypress.com/images/pattern1.jpg
Slide 31
Discussion Topics How important is sustainable development to
you? Is it a hype or should we take it seriously? What is being
done to promote sustainable development in your country and your
own region? Which energy sources can we use without compromising
the environment? How could individuals contribute to a sustainable
future? What could your role be?