1. Sustainability Education Program
Connecting
Communities
By: Jody Holmes
Sustainable Living

2. Core Learning Objectives
Mental Clarity
Appreciation for Life
Self Respect
Pursuit of Sustainable Happiness
Eternal Motivation
Community Responsibility
Environmental Stewardship

3. What is sustainability?
Sustaining life
Protecting life support systems
Living in harmony with nature
Green economic growth
“we can’t continue living the way we are now” (first sentence in The Climate Nexus)

4. What is a Sustainable Lifestyle?
A conservative lifestyle
Enjoying simple living
Giving more than you take
Self-sufficiency

5. Environmental Footprint
Energy and resources used
Carbon emitted
Waste created
Degradation caused

6. Consequences of Actions
Every action has consequences
Understand impacts of actions
Research your options
Consume responsibly

7. Global Awareness Think of global issues Globalization
Industrialization
Environmental degradation

8. Carrying Capacity Ecosystem limitations Inputs vs outputs
Population growth and decline
Stresses on ecosystems

9. Finite Resources vs Infinite Resources
Fossil Fuels and Minerals
Renewable Resources
Oil
Natural Gas
Gold
Diamonds
Solar, wind, geothermal energy
Trees and plants
Soil
Animals

10. Closed System Fossil fuels not replenished Minerals not replenished
Fragile ecosystems
Vulnerable animal populations

11. Global Ecosystem Network
Limitless energy from Sun
Oxygen production
Water purification
Food production

12. Compromising Ecosystems
Ocean acidification
Cutting of forests
Habitat destruction
Bottom trawling

13. Compromising Ecosystems
Soil erosion
Air and water pollution
Unsustainable logging
Overfishing

14. Economic System Major influence Financial implications
Affects security and freedom
Reason for living conservatively

15. Small Communities Sustainable Self-sufficient Local production
Live within bioregion limitations

16. Large Cities More complex Many challenges Many opportunities
Design is critical

17. Personal and Community Gardens
Local organic food production
Benefits communities
Increases soil quantity
Benefits local biodiversity

18. Car-pooling/car-sharing
Reduces emissions and pollution
Reduces traffic
Reduces infrastructure requirements
Reduces vehicle maintenance

19. Reduce Consumption Energy and Resources Products
Reduce use of electricity
Reduce use of water
Reduce use of vehicles
Reduce use of fossil fuels
Purchase less material items
Prolong use of current items
Reuse and upcycle
Purchase ‘needs’ not ‘wants’

20. Renewable Energy Use solar; affordable, easy
Research wind energy options
Consider geothermal
Biomass

21. Questions, Comments, or Concerns
Do you understand what sustainability is?
Are you clear on what a sustainable lifestyle should be like?
Do you think you can live more sustainably?
Do you want to try to live more sustainably?
What are your values and ethics? What is important to you?
Do you think you have a responsibility to try and live more sustainably?