This document provides an introduction to the topic of sustainability. It discusses key concepts like resources, population growth, sustainable development, and interdependence. Resources are defined as anything taken from the environment to make goods and products for human needs and wants. However, using resources leads to waste. Sustainable development means meeting current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It involves considering consumption, waste, and responsible use of Earth's finite resources. The document stresses thinking globally about how our actions impact others and acting locally through sustainable practices in our own communities.

1. S1 Geography
Sustainability:
An Introduction

2. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
TOPIC 1- SUSTAINABILITY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

By the end of topic 1 you should be able to:

1.1Know what we mean by the term resources
1.2Know the link between population growth and our
use of the world’s resources
1.3Know what the term sustainable development
means
1.4Know and give examples of ways in which different
places and people in the world are connected and
understand the term, “Think Global Act Local”




3. WORD CHECK FOR TOPIC 1
Here are the main words and ideas that we shall be
looking at in Unit 1.

Resource(s)
Non –renewable energy (Fossil fuel)
 Renewable energy

Consumption (“using”)
 Production (“making”)
 Sustainable
 Conservation
 Interdependence
 Recycle


4. Resources
Any thing that we take from the physical landscape to make other
things that we need or want for our lives, eg
•Drink
•Food
•Shelter
•Fuel/Power
•Manufactured goods
But, using resources can lead to a lot of waste
Resources
+
Activities
=
Finished
products
waste

5. ie we make stuff that we
never use.
It just gets thrown out as
waste!

6. Resources: soil
Gives support and
nutrients to crops
Absorbs water, so
helps to slow
down or stop the
risk of flooding
Soaks up some
harmful
chemicals
Eroded and blown
away by wind
Over use by people
and/or animals can
cause lasting damage
to soils
Washed away by
heavy rains

7. Resources: crops

8. Resources: coal, oil, gas and minerals
China & India Are Building 4 New Coal Power Plants – Every
Week
More than 1,000 new coal plants are planned
worldwide,
with about three-quarters of these in China and India
alone
Coal, oil and gas are Fossil Fuels.
We dig up coal and drill for oil.
We then burn the coal and oil (and
gas) to generate electricity

9. Resources: seas and oceans
70 % of the Earth’s surface is
water
To think about:
What do you think will be
the impact of these types
of fishing on the resources
of the sea?

10. Resources: forests

11. Resources: minerals
Iron ore mine, Australia
Granite quarry, Glensanda,
Argyll

12. Consuming resources in New York
Click here
Resources
Activities
Finished
products
waste

13. Consuming resources in North West India
Click here
Resources
Activities
Finished products
waste

14. Sustainable
 Development
development
means making life better, eg, to
have a better standard of living and an
improved quality of life
 Sustainable Development means making sure
that the things we do, the goods we buy and
the lifestyle we have today will not harm the
environment for us, for people in other places
and for future generations

15. Sustainable development means
•Looking at levels of consumption and
waste
•Thinking about our careful use of the
Earth's resources
•Realising that we are each responsible
for our actions, and that what we do can
have a huge effect on other people, and
places

16. So, big question:
How many people can the Earth sustain, and at
what standard of living?
1950 2 Billion
2013 7 Billion
Contrasting lifestyles, Manilla

18. 1.5 million tons of clothes a
year are thrown out
...9,000 garments thrown into
Is this
sustainable?
landfill every five
minutes

19. Sustainable living-recycling clothes and other textiles
Where do recycled clothes go?
60% of old
clothes go
abroad
35% used for mattress
stuffing

20. Sustainability? what’s the message here?
Think Global
Act Local !
What do you do with
your plastic bags?

21. Is this
sustainable?

22. If you recycle a tonne of paper, how
many trees are you saving?
A. 12 trees.
B. 17 trees.
C. 23 trees.
D. 28 trees.

23. Recycling just one aluminium can saves
enough energy to run a television for how
long?
A. 3 hours.
B. 6 hours.
C. 9 hours.
D. 12 hours.

24. How many years does it take a single aluminium
can to decompose?
A. 20 – 40 years.
B. 60 – 80 years.
C. 80 – 100 years.
D. 100 – 120 years.

25. Sustainability: plastic bags; a problem or not?

26. Recently, as part of our commitment to
sustainable living, Hutchesons' has been
working with Friends of Maxwell Park to
create a community orchard.
We also have
conservation area in the
school grounds...
And a textile bank
... Two beehives...
As well as paper recycling in each classroom and office.

29. Plastic Bottles and bags Get Recycled? Right?
Aye, Right!
In the US people throw away 2.5m plastic
bottles every hour and less than 3% are
recycled.
In the UK: of the 15m plastic bottles used
every day, much less than 3% gets
recycled.
Less than 1% of the billions of plastic bags
used each year are recycled and the
majority are used only once
Do we recycle enough at school?

30. Old computer parts just keep piling up!!
Since the late 1980s, computer waste from developed countries
has been imported to China and broken down by poorly paid
workers.

31. Landfill is becoming a growing problem....