English summary of 'An Introduction to Sustainability', Sustainability Challenges (GEO1-2415) GSS
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Course
Sustainability Challenges (GEO12415)
Institution
Universiteit Utrecht (UU)
Book
An Introduction to Sustainability
A summary of the whole Introduction to Sustainability book written by Martin Mulligan. All important concepts are explained and defined, possibly supported with pictures.
An Introduction to Sustainability
- Martin Mulligan
Summary Introduction to Sustainability
Chapter 1 (Introduction):
-
Chapter 2 (Global Emergence of the Sustainability concept):
Key concepts:
Emergence of global environmental concerns in the 1970’s
- ‘Spaceship Earth’ showed a sense of vulnerability. Also, the book Silent
Spring by Rachel Carson.
Significance of Rachel Carson’s 1962 book Silent Spring
- Sparked the upsurge in ecological awareness modern environmental
movement.
Brundtland Report defines sustainability
- Definition sustainable development: ‘meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
needs.’
Brundtland Report links the environmental and social dimensions
- Sustainability is achieved by an interplay of environmental and social
factors. (e.g. reduce environmental impact by reducing poverty)
- ESD: Environmentally Sustainable Development.
Intragenerational and intergenerational equity
- Intra: equity of people in the same generation.
- Inter: to encourage greater consideration of the needs of people living
in the future. “We have inherited this Earth and have to keep it
suitable for the ones to come.”
Outcomes of Rio Earth Summit 1992
- Agenda 21: action plan for environmental sustainable development.
Non-binding.
- Local Agenda 21: self-explanatory
- UN Framework Convention on Climate Change: binding protocol on
reducing greenhouse gases.
- UN Convention of Biological Diversity
- Establishment Globally Environment Facility funded by developed
nations to support ESD initiatives in developing countries
Strengths and weaknesses global summits
- If there is a common goal which can be solved, governments will work
together. (CHK’s)
- Failure: Copenhagen 2009. Unrealistic expectations and its
achievements were underrated.
Reinvigorating political will
- Much bigger need for global action, than local, national, sub-
governmental action. Local impacts lead to global implications. Local
environmental movements might impact global political will.
Club of Rome (1972): ‘we live on a finite and vulnerable planet.’ there are
limits to growth. They also wrote the book ‘Limits to Growth’
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,An Introduction to Sustainability
- Martin Mulligan
Chapter 3 (Consumption and consumerism):
Key Concepts:
The rise of hyperconsumption
- Definition hyperconsumption: excessive or non-functional consumption
- More people = more use of energy and resources. More opportunities
to consume (food, tech, etc) leads to more consumption.
- In part driven by anxiety of not succeeding in life. (e.g. perfect homes,
holidays and lives. Try to fix it with products which claim to improve
life)
- Many negative impacts, such as: expanding waste-streams; depletion
of natural resources; reductions in biodiversity; more GHG; loss of
social connectedness; stress
Individualism and cocooning
- Definition cocooning: tendency for people to stay in their homes
in an attempt to have a ‘better’ life, ppl move to nicer homes,
often far away. Leads to increase car usage (commute, shopping, etc),
which increases CO2 emissions, but decreases contact with the
neighbourhood. This causes cocooning.
- Cocooning has the risk that people accept where they are and forget
environmental impacts of their way of life (bc their life is ‘good’).
Planned obsolescence and the generation of desire
- Definition planned obsolescence: conscious efforts to reduce the
lifespan of a product so it has to be bought again (aka more profit).
- Media and the advertising industry convinces everyone that the latest
products are necessary, but there is little evidence that these products
meet actual needs.
- Also done with brands, creating ‘brand loyalty’ (always buy the newest
version of X)
- Everybody just wants more and more: desire to consume
Illusions of choice
- One thinks he has a choice in buying a certain product, but often parts
or whole engines are the same. Choices are influenced by ads and
brand loyalty.
- Use brand power (putting more emphasis on the name than the
product itself) causes people to fail to see the relation of quality and
price of the product.
Addictive consumption
- Definition addictive consumption: thinking that new and more products
and services will meet our needs better which causes endless cycles of
purchase and consumption.
- We need to take time to think more deeply about the difference
between needs and wants and consider the personal costs of being
trapped within endless cycles of addictive consumption.
- “Addicted to having, rather than being”
Ethical consumption and voluntary simplicity
- Definition ethical consumption: values-based approach to purchase and
consumption which makes the consumer think about the decision.
Desire to consume wisely and carefully.
- Upsurge due to concerns about negative human impacts on the world’s
natural environment. Also includes working conditions of the producer.
(e.g. FairTrade)
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, An Introduction to Sustainability
- Martin Mulligan
- Definition voluntary simplicity: efforts to live with less as a result of a
conscious decision to avoid waste or complexity in life. Low
consumption lifestyle.
Collaborative consumption
- Definition collaborative consumption: increase collaboration or
cooperation in the purchase of goods and services. In the idea that
individual consumption is wasteful and damaging. E.g. car poolen, or
renting out your home when you’re on a holiday.
The search for the good life
- The aforementioned ways of consumption are good ways to achieve
better personal, social and environmental outcomes. But, there is a
need for a wider public shift. E.g. policies.
Social and ecological flows:
Social; the global movement of people, goods, ideas etc.
Ecological; the flow of water, energy and nutrients through the local, regional
and global ecosystems.
Commodification: the process which turn goods and services into commodities
(something you can buy) for exchange within a market economy.
Relocalisation: ‘reverse globalisation’ aka locally produced foods and goods. Not
ideal, since not everything can be produced everywhere (rice in Australia isn’t
possible, for example).
Chapter 4 (Global Challenges as Wicked Problems):
Key points:
The concept of ‘wicked problems’
- Definition ‘wicked problems’: wicked problems are often symptoms of
other complex problems; these are also complex problems which have
no single, complete or trial-and-error solutions. These are:
1. emergence of human-induced climate change
2. looming spectre of ‘Peak Oil’ (see Chapter 5)
3. intransigence (inflexibility) of global poverty
(many others, such as deforestation; desertification; declining fish
stocks; declining soil fertility; transborder pollution; etc.)
Climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Definition mitigation: attempts to reduce GHG.
Definition adaptation: actions taken to adapt to the impacts of climate
change.
- Many scientists have concluded that climate change is mostly due to
human-induced emissions of CO2, methane and nitrous oxide, and that
immediate action is necessary.
Threats and opportunities posed by climate change
- Weather ≠ climate. The weather is influenced by the climate.
Weather: local, ‘right now’
Climate: region/global, average weather over ±30 yrs.
- Ocean currents play a big role in global weather patterns.
- Threats: salinization; loss of coral reefs; extreme weather conditions;
droughts; extinction of species; etc.
- Opportunities: the Copenhagen summit did have some positive
outcomes: China has promised to reduce GHG; small nations are more
aware; global human consensus; etc.
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