CHE3163 Sustainable Development Problem Set Solutions

1. SD is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs.

This is a description of intergenerational equity in that it considers people in the future,

in particular avoiding closing down future options for development to people in the
future and maximising future choices available to those in the future.

2. Weak sustainability seeks to maintain constant capital between various forms of

capital (human, financial, social, environmental) but it assumes they are substitutable
for each other. Strong sustainability seeks to maintain constant natural capital for
future generations (does not assume substitution is possible).

3. The triple bottom line is the targeting, monitoring and measurement of indicators in all
three key areas of SD: economic, social and environmental. Typical indicators
include:

a. Environmental: Global Warming Potential, Ozone Depletion, Resource

Depletion, Photochemical Smog;

b. Economic: GDP, Value added, Ethical Investments, Capital Expenditure;

c. Social: Income distribution, international work practices/standards,

stakeholder inclusion in development.

4. Practical steps include:

a. reducing resource needs;

b. reducing energy intensity;
c. reducing toxic dispersion;
d. enhancing material recyclability;
e. maximising use of renewable resources;
f. extending product durability;
g. increasing service intensity.

Examples might include a computer manufacturer who designs a computer to be

more energy efficiency (uses less energy), reduces or substitutes the use of toxic
materials in its construction, makes components easy to separate for recycling, and
makes the product physically robust so it lasts longer.

5. The precautionary principle says that where there are threats of serious or
irreversible environmental damage, lack of full scientific certainty should not be used
as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradation. It is a
statement of risk management pertaining to new developments. For GMOs it may be
applied through careful avoidance of transfer of genes from known allergenic species,
careful control of the spread of GMO crops into non-GMO crop areas, and significant
testing of the eco- and human-toxicity of the GMO crop before its release to market.