Sustainability
What does sustainability mean?
Using resources responsibly so they remain available for future generations.
What are the THREE traditional R's of waste management?
Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Name THREE types of environmental pollution.
air, water, land, noise and light pollution.
What does Caring for Country mean?
Looking after and maintaining relationships with land, waters, plants, animals and cultural heritage.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes long-term weather patterns and averages.
Give TWO examples of unsustainable human activities.
Reveal answerBack to board
wasting water, excessive use of fossil fuels, overconsumption and unnecessary waste.
What is the difference between reusing and recycling?
Reusing means using an item again; recycling means processing materials to make new products.
What is the difference between pollution and a pollutant?
Pollution is the contamination of the environment; a pollutant is the substance or agent causing that contamination.
Give ONE example of a sustainable practice used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Examples include cultural burning, seasonal harvesting and selective harvesting.
Name THREE greenhouse gases found in Earth's atmosphere.
carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, nitrous oxide, CFCs.
Explain why reducing food waste is considered sustainable.
It reduces wasted resources such as water, energy and land used to produce and transport food.
Name the FIVE R's of waste management.
Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair and Recycle.
Explain ONE way plastic pollution can harm marine animals.
Animals may swallow plastic, mistake it for food or become entangled in it, causing injury or death.
Why is understanding seasonal changes important for sustainable harvesting?
It helps identify appropriate times to harvest while allowing plants and animals to reproduce and populations to recover.
Name a greenhouse gas that does NOT occur naturally in Earth's atmosphere
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Explain why a resource being renewable does not automatically mean it is used sustainably.
Renewable resources can still be consumed faster than they are naturally replaced or managed in ways that damage the environment.
Explain why refusing unnecessary packaging is usually better than recycling it.
Refusing prevents waste from being produced in the first place and avoids resources needed for production and recycling.
Explain how chemicals entering a river can affect both wildlife and humans.
Chemicals may poison aquatic organisms, damage habitats and contaminate water or food sources used by humans.
Explain how cultural burning can contribute to sustainable land management.
Carefully planned, low-intensity cultural burning can reduce fuel loads, support habitat diversity and encourage regeneration in suitable ecosystems.
Why is the natural greenhouse effect important for life on Earth?
It helps keep Earth warm enough to support life. Without it, Earth would be much colder.
A company claims its product is sustainable because its packaging is recyclable. Explain TWO other factors that should be considered before accepting this claim.
Consider energy and water used in manufacturing, raw material sourcing, transport emissions, product lifespan and whether the packaging is actually recycled.
Explain how a circular economy reduces waste compared with a take–make–dispose system.
It keeps materials and products in use through reuse, repair and recycling rather than disposing of them after one use.
A factory releases smoke into the air and chemical waste into a nearby river. Identify the TWO types of pollution and explain a possible consequence of each.
Air pollution may cause breathing problems or damage air quality. Water pollution may poison aquatic organisms or make water unsafe.
Explain why Caring for Country involves more than simply protecting natural resources.
It includes reciprocal responsibilities and ongoing relationships with land, water, living things, culture, knowledge and community.
What would happen to Earth's temperature if the greenhouse effect did not exist? Explain your answer.
Earth would be much colder because less heat would be retained in the atmosphere.