Sustainability (Cambridge (CIE) AS Environmental Management)

Sustainability

• Sustainability is the use and management of natural resources that allow full natural regeneration of the resources exploited and full recovery of the ecosystems affected by their extraction and use

  • Sustainable living involves using resources in a way that allows for their renewal and regeneration

• It is important to manage natural resources in a sustainable manner to avoid depletion, degradation, or destruction of these resources

• Sustainable practices include:

  • Reducing waste (e.g. recycling)

  • Reducing resource use (e.g. reducing water consumption)

  • Conserving energy (e.g. using public transport or cycling, eating locally grown foods)

  • Using renewable resources (e.g. solar or wind power)

  • Protecting biodiversity (e.g. nature reserves)

• Sustainable fashion is a good example of how sustainable practices can be applied to an industry (e.g. the clothing industry) that has traditionally been very wasteful, as well as very energy- and resource-intensive

  • Fashion and clothing can become more sustainable in many ways, some of which are outlined in the table below

Applying Sustainable Practices to the Clothing Industry

• Overall, sustainable fashion aims to reduce the environmental and social impact of the fashion industry while still providing consumers with fashionable and functional clothing

Sustainable Management

• Sustainable management involves using resources in a way that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

• Sustainable management:

  • Is crucial for environmental preservation, as it can help preserve ecosystems, biodiversity, and natural resources

  • Promotes fair distribution of resources, benefiting current and future generations

  • Ensures long-term economic stability by avoiding resource depletion and environmental degradation

• Many resources, such as fossil fuels and certain minerals, are finite and can be exhausted (completely used up) if not managed sustainably

• Overexploitation of resources can also lead to habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity

• Sustainable forestry is a good example of sustainable management:

  • Implementing sustainable practices such as selective logging, reforestation, and maintaining biodiversity can ensure the continued provision of timber, non-timber forest products, and ecosystem services while preserving the integrity of forest ecosystems

Renewable Resources

• Renewable resources can be naturally replenished over time (e.g. solar energy, wind power)

  • In other words, these are natural resources that can be replaced or regenerated at a rate equal to or faster than they are being used

• Living species and ecosystems that can be naturally replaced include forests, wetlands, coral reefs, and grasslands, which can regenerate through natural processes - these systems are typically able to do this due to their ability to harness solar energy and use photosynthesis to convert it into biomass

  • For example, forests (which provide fuel wood for many communities and are harvested for timber) have the capacity to regenerate through seed dispersal and natural growth, allowing new trees to replace the ones that have been harvested

  • Likewise, wetlands (which play a vital role in maintaining water quality, regulating floods, and providing habitat for diverse species) can self-sustain and regenerate, through natural processes like sedimentation and nutrient cycling, even after disturbances such as droughts or human activities like mining or construction

• Non-living systems can also be naturally replenished over time

  • For example, groundwater is recharged by precipitation and infiltration, ensuring that it can be sustainably used as a freshwater resource

  • The ozone layer can also regenerate itself naturally, as long as the emissions of ozone-depleting substances are significantly reduced, allowing the stratospheric ozone concentration to recover over time

Non-renewable Resources

• Non-renewable resources are limited in supply and cannot be replaced within a human timeframe (e.g. fossil fuels, minerals)

  • These are natural resources that cannot be replaced or regenerated at a rate equal to or faster than they are being used

• Fossil fuels:

  • Coal, oil, and natural gas are finite resources formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals

  • Once extracted and burned for energy production, they cannot be replaced within human timescales

• Uranium:

  • Although not a fossil fuel, uranium, which is used in nuclear power plants, is also considered to be a non-renewable energy source, as uranium reserves cannot be replenished within human timescales

• Soil:

  • While soil is a renewable resource to some extent, it can be considered non-renewable when it is degraded or eroded at a faster rate than it can be naturally replenished

  • Unsustainable agricultural practices, such as excessive tilling and deforestation, can lead to soil erosion and depletion, rendering the soil non-renewable for practical purposes

  • Urbanisation and construction activities can result in the permanent loss of fertile soil, effectively removing its ability to regenerate in those areas

• Minerals:

  • These include various elements and metals extracted from the Earth's crust, which are finite and cannot be replenished within human timescales

  • For example, rare-earth minerals used in electronics and technology, such as neodymium and lithium, are non-renewable resources with limited reserves

  • Similarly, precious metals like gold and silver must be recycled or obtained from existing stockpiles once natural reserves have been completely extracted

Ecosystem Services

• Sustainable management recognises the importance of ecosystems in providing natural services like clean water, pollination, and climate regulation

  • These services directly impact human health and well-being, so must be preserved for future generations

Waste Management

• Sustainable management involves minimising waste generation and promoting practices that reduce, reuse, and recycle materials

  • The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves sharing, leasing, reusing, repairing, refurbishing and recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible

  • The ideal scenario is a closed-loop system where products and materials are repeatedly reused, reducing the demand for new resources