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Sustainability

Explore the principles of sustainability for a more responsible and eco-friendly lifestyle. Learn about ecosystem goods and services, precautionary principles, and how to live sustainably.

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Sustainability

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  1. Sustainability • "We have a responsibility to sustain - if not enhance - our natural environment and our nation's economy for future generations."-Steve Johnson, Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

  2. Sustainability Principles • Dealing transparently and systemically with risk, uncertainty and irreversibility. • Ensuring appropriate valuation, appreciation and restoration of nature. • Integration of environmental, social, human and economic goals in policies and activities. • Equal opportunity and community participation/Sustainable community. • Conservation of biodiversity and ecological integrity. • Ensuring inter-generational equity. • Recognizing the global integration of localities. • A commitment to best practice. • No net loss of human capital or natural capital. • The principle of continuous improvement. • The need for good governance.

  3. Precautionay Principle • The precautionary principle is a moral and political principle which states that if an action or policy might cause severe or irreversible harm to the public, in the absence of a scientific consensus that harm would not ensue, the burden of proof falls on those who would advocate taking the action.

  4. Ecosystem Goods and Services • Healthy ecosystems carry out a diverse array of processes that provide both goods and services to humanity. Here, goods refer to items given monetary value in the marketplace, whereas the services from ecosystems are valued, but are rarely bought or sold. • (Modified from Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1991, Lubchenco et al. 1993, and Richardson 1994)

  5. Index Card • Name 5 Ecosystem Goods Or Services • How much is each worth ($)?

  6. Ecosystem Processes • Maintenance of energy flux, dissipation, climate modulation • Maintenance of hydrologic flux, hydrologic cycle, water quality • Biological productivity, plant pollination • Maintenance of biogeochernical cycling, storage, mineral-gaseous cycles, water-air quality • Decomposition, weathering, soil development-stability, soil quality • Maintenance of biological diversity • Absorbing, buffering, diluting, detoxifying pollutants-xenobiotics

  7. Ecosystem Goods • Food • Construction materials • Medicinal plants • Wild genes for domestic plants and animals • Tourism and recreation

  8. Ecosystem Services • Maintaining hydrological cycles • Regulating climate • Cleansing water and air • Maintaining the gaseous composition of the atmosphere • Pollinating crops and other important plants • Generating and maintaining soils • Storing and cycling essential nutrients • Absorbing and detoxifying pollutants • Providing beauty, inspiration, and recreation

  9. What can you do to live a more “sustainable” lifestyle • List 5 things you would be willing to do • Which will have the most impact?

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