Pillars of sustainability
Define sustainability
capable of being maintained in existence without interruption or diminishing
What is biodiversity and what is ecosystem diversity
bio = variety of living species flora and fauna
eco = variety of biomes like alpine, grasslands etc.
name a threat to the environment
Feral/introduced species (rabbits, deer, black berries, weeds), land degradation, soil salinity, soil contamination, erosion, Urbanisation, climate change, floods, fire,
why is a clean environment important for biodiversity
Rubbish maybe mistaken for food by some species resulting in premature death due to consumption of contaminates.
rubbish may injure or wrap itself around flora and fauna
pollution like petrol near water ways may contaminate it causing illness or death
give a local mitigation and adaptation
green home design, glass bottle bins, green waste, recycling, electric cars, sea walls.
Give 2 examples of sustainable home design practices.
Water tanks, solar panels, insulation, recycled building materials. grey water
name 3 of the 5 observable characteristics of the environment
water quality
soil quality
air quality
species biodiversity
ecosystem biodiversity
What possible issues could fire or floor cause
reduction in habitat, reduction in urban spaces, reduction of populations of flora and fauna, injury to fauna, impact food supply chains, impact on safe water access. etc
outline aesthetic value and its importance
is how nice/beautiful something is. This is important to maintain as it encourages people to keep it clean and in existence / fight to protect it
difference between mitigation and adaptation
mitigation - reducing impact before its too late
adaption - changing to climate related issues as reducing impact is no longer an option and survival is the key
What are the 3 Pillars of Sustainability
Economic
Social/Society
Environmental
Name a method you could use to measure water quality
taste, odour and appearance or Turbidity, temp, pH
Define land degragation
detrimental changes in the condition of the land due to human interaction. examples could be higher salinity levels in soil, raising ground water, erosion, soil compaction
What is the difference between individual impacts and societal impacts
Individual is about one person society is the greater good. Eg an individual impact maybe rising food costs may mean someone cannot afford to eat health a reduction in quality or quantity of food means we have less access generally to food
what are the two global conferences to combat climate change - include the year for bonus
Kyoto Protocol 1997/2005
Paris Agreement - 2015
What are the 4 critiques of sustainability
Cost, Vagueness, measuring sustainability and developing nations
Name 3 methods to measure air quality
rainfall, smog, location, smell
What was a reason feral/introduced species ended up in Australia
Cane toads brought in to deal with insects eating that were destroying sugar cane plantations in QLD
Weeds including grasses may have been brought in for a sense of home, introduction of familiar species in cottage gardens. Or accidently on boots or ships
Rabbits brought over for recreational purpose of hunting
thinking about Common Ground which areas of importance do they directly address, give a reason
physical and emotional wellbeing - the social enterprise group - community, job skills, etc, increased quality of nutritious food
Education - sharing information on their practice to influence better decision making and awareness of food cycles
what was Australia's commitment to reducing emissions by 2030 during the Paris Agreement
40% by 2030
What does the term greenwashing mean and what is an ecological footprint?
Greenwashing -promoting the misleading or false perception that an organisation's products are green (low or no impact on environment)
Ecological footprint - a calculation that allows individuals to see the individual impact their everyday choices have on the environment. It includes travel, living situation, food consumption and other factors.
Name 5 methods for measuring soil quality
Colour, salinity, moisture, texture, structure, organic content, temp, pH
describe a negative impact of soil contamination on food chain supplies.
reduction in soil quality could reduce the volume and quality of food production, this may result in an increased reliance on supplements or an increase in overall cost of the average food bill.
This could result in contaminates ending up in food that is consumed and result in illness in the community
name 5 of the 9 importance's of a healthy outdoor environment
Aesthetic, recreational and adventure, physical and emotional wellbeing, intrinsic value, biodiversity, education, economic value, future food and medicinal source, scientific research
The Paris agreement was a legally binding international treaty on climate change with a goal of limiting global warming by ...
well below 2 degrees preferably 1.5 degrees compared to pre industrial levels