What is Sustainable Development? (SD)

Ice Breaker Start with a simple game to kick the session off

Aims and Objectives Understand the three elements of Sustainable Development (SD) Understand what SD actually is Determine why SD is important to you and your future in the workplace

What is Sustainable Development? 'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.' (Brundtland 1987) Sustainable development is about using resources more efficiently, in order for society to reduce not only its impact on the environment, but on the economy, whilst improving social impacts both locally and globally to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future.

What is Sustainability? Education for Sustainable Development Education is essential to sustainable development, and in order to improve SD we need to understand it and how it impacts on us. The education of today is crucial to enhancing the ability of the leaders and citizens of tomorrow to create solutions and find new paths to a better, more sustainable future. SD will impact on you in the workplace You can make a difference 'Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations to meet their own needs.' (Brundtland 1987) Sustainable development is about using resources more efficiently and educating people about the issues of sustainable development in order for society to reduce not only its impact on the environment, but on the economy, whilst improving social impacts both locally and globally to ensure a fairer and more sustainable future. Later on we will think about thing you may experience in your life time and how SD will impact on you.

What do we need? To live? To lead comfortable lives? To have health & well being? To have economic well being?

Our Most Basic Needs Water, Heat, Food, Light, ….

Human needs in the developed world Transport Heating Lighting Cooking Fashion clothing Learning Leisure Health care Communication

The Three Elements of Sustainable Development The diagram illustrates the three elements of SD and focuses not just on the economic value of a company or project, but also on the environmental and social value Environmental Economic Social Social – Environmental Environmental-Economic Sustainability = Human happiness Economic- Social As the circles get closer together sustainability increases and so too does human happiness – SD is about enabling everyone to live happy comfortable lives All three elements are required in order to achieve sustainable development and an impact on one element will usually have a knock on effect for the other two elements

To put it another way…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2FaIFt5I4o

Simple SD facts 7.2 million tonnes of food and drink from our homes is thrown away every year in the UK, and more than half of this is food and drink we could have eaten 50% of waste collected by local authorities in the UK was sent to landfill in 2010/11, compared to an EU-27 average of 40% Recycling saves more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year – equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road We would need 3 planet earths if everyone lived like we do in the UK Turning PC’s off in the computer suites for 1 hour a day would save over £11,000 per year in waste energy National figures gathered on the use of plastic carrier bags show 9 billion are used in the UK each year, of which most of this ends up in landfill sites 99.4% international aid money goes to men not women. In developing countries 90% of the money women earn goes back into the family, but only 35% of the money earned by men goes to the back into the family. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vq2mfF8puE

Take a moment to think about oil Crude oil is "unprocessed“ oil that comes from the ground It is a major fossil fuel and is used in the production of many synthetic materials such as plastic There are an estimated 1.3 trillion barrels of oil reserve left This should last us for the next 30 years By 2040, around 20% of what we currently consume will be available It is likely by then that the world’s population will be twice as large, and more of it industrialised (and therefore oil dependent) Now think about how reliant we are on oil Refer to slide 8

Plastic is extremely versatile and can be used for so many different things – cars to toys varied applications of oil – resist corrosion, lightweight, shatter resistant types , strong , flexible etc Petroleum Distillates (Petroleum Jelly) Found in hair relaxers, hair dyes, soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturisers, anti-ageing products, make-up, lip balms Petroleum distillates or gels are derived from crude oil and are used in a variety of beauty products, particularly those which claim to moisturise and protect injured skin. The jelly-like substance slows down the loss of water from the skin by forming a barrier on its surface. http://www.channel4.com/4beauty/make-up-skin-care/skin-care/guide-to-cosmetic-ingredients

Understanding Sustainable Development Activity

UNESCO Framework The UNESCO Framework 2003 identifies 10 key themes for SD: Overcoming poverty Gender equality Health promotion Environmental protection and conservation Rural transformation Human rights Intercultural understanding & peace Sustainable production & consumption Cultural diversity Information & communication technologies

Initiatives at the College Green Impact scheme Mend Not Spend Fair Charity Collections Car Share scheme Paper Recycling Clothes Swap Sale of Equality and Diversity Bags Climate Week Fairtrade Fortnight

What you can do Recycle your products after use Join the College Green Impact Scheme Buy and support Fairtrade Volunteer Get involved with charity events at the College Switch electrical items off after use Use public transport or car share Try to walk or cycle more Waste less food Buy energy efficient products Consider the durability of a product before you buy it Reuse plastic bags

How would you make the college more sustainable ?