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Teaching Notes Sustainability & the Environment

Environment - Advanced

In recent years, the world has become generally a more environmentally aware place. All products have an impact on the environment, no matter how small.

Sustainable Development
Basically sustainable development means ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, both now and for future generations.

The following internationally accepted definition was put forward by the Brundtland Commission in their report 'Our Common Future'

"....development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

In practical terms, the Government is now interpreting this to mean achieving four objectives:

Social progress that recognises the needs of everyone - Everyone should share in the benefits of increased prosperity and a clean and safe environment. We have to improve access to services, tackle social exclusion, and reduce the harm to health caused by poverty, poor housing, unemployment and pollution. Our needs must not be met by treating others, including future generations and people elsewhere in the world unfairly.

Effective protection of the environment - We must act to limit global environmental threats, such as climate change; to protect human health and safety from hazards such as poor air quality and toxic chemicals; and to protect things which people need or value, such as wildlife, landscapes and historic buildings.

Prudent use of natural resources - This does not mean denying ourselves the use of non-renewable resources like oil and gas, but we do need to make sure that we use them efficiently and that alternatives are developed to replace them in due course. Renewable resources such as water, should be used in ways that do not endanger the resource, cause serious damage or pollute the environment.

Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment - so that everyone can share in high living standards and greater job opportunities. The UK is a trading nation in a rapidly changing world. For our country to prosper, our businesses must produce the high quality goods and services that consumers throughout the world want, at prices they are prepared to pay. To achieve that, we need a workforce that is equipped with the education and skills for the 21st century. And we need businesses ready to invest, and an infrastructure to support them.

In order to achieve these objectives, we must:

• Put people at the centre - Sustainable development must enable people to enjoy a better quality of life, now and in the future. In the words of the Rio Declaration, 'human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature'
• Take a long term perspective - Sustainable development thinking cannot restrict itself to the life of a Parliament, or the next decade. Radical improvements have to begin now to safeguard the interests of future generations. At the same time we must meet today's needs - for example, people need warm homes, which at present, means using predominantly fossil fuels
• Take account of costs and benefits - Decisions must take account of a wide range of costs and benefits, including those that cannot easily be valued in money terms. In pursuing any single objective, we should not impose disproportionate costs elsewhere. Public values, the timing of costs and benefits and risks and uncertainties should be taken into account
• Create an open and supportive economic system - Sustainable development requires a global economic system that supports economic growth in all countries. We need to create conditions in which trade can flourish and competitiveness can act as a stimulus for growth and greater resource efficiency
• Combat poverty and social exclusion - Eradicating poverty is essential for sustained development. We must help developing countries to tackle widespread abject poverty. In this country everyone should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, through access to high quality public services, education and employment opportunities, decent housing and good local environments
• Respect environmental limits - Serious or irreversible damage to some aspects of the environment and resources would pose a severe threat to global society. Examples are major climate change, overuse of freshwater resources, or collapse of globally significant fish stocks. In these cases, there are likely to be limits that should not be breached. Defining such limits is difficult, so precautionary action needs to be considered

Air Pollution
There are many different types of air pollutants and these affect our health and the natural and built environment in different ways. Some pollutants have relatively localised effects, some have an impact on the region, while others contribute to changing national and global atmospheric conditions.

One of the major sources of air pollution are motor vehicle emissions together with a number of industrial processes. The Environment Agency regulates emissions from the most potentially polluting processes. The prevention of pollution from other sources, including homes, is the responsibility of local authorities. They have a duty to review and assess their local air quality to ascertain if national air quality objectives are being met.

Health Effects of Pollutants
If your health is good, then the levels of air pollution we usually experience in the UK are unlikely to have any serious short-term effects. However occasionally air pollution levels are greater than normal. It is particularly during these episodes that potential risks increase for those people with asthma, allergies, sensitivity to pollutants, lung diseases, heart conditions or the seriously ill or elderly.

What can I do about air quality?
Road vehicles are a major sources of air pollution in urban areas. They are responsible for over half the nitrogen dioxide emissions and over 75% of carbon monoxide in the UK. If possible:

• Avoid using your car for short journeys - 2.5 km (1.5 miles or less)
• Start your engine only once you are ready to move off
• Don't rev the engine unnecessarily
• Drive smoothly. Heavy breaking and rapid acceleration means you use more fuel, costs more and increases pollution
• Maintain your car. Keep the engine properly tuned and the tyres at the right pressure
• Try public transport instead of your car, especially at periods of high pollution such as rush hour

When at home, conserving energy and other resources can save you money and help reduce emissions from power stations, industrial processes and goods transportation. Pollutant concentrations can also be reduced by:

• Using water-based or low-solvent products - paints, glues, varnishes, wood preservatives, etc.
• In the garden, do not light a bonfire when air pollution levels are high or the weather is still and cold. Try never to burn household waste, especially plastics and rubber.
• Avoid burning solid fuels if possible. If you live in a smoke control area, only burn authorised smokeless fuels.