Env

• Environment


  All the living and non-living external factors that affect an organism
• Environmental studies


  The interdisciplinary study of human interactions with the environment, with the aim of solving environmental problems
• Environmental science


  The science of understanding how the world works at the level of the natural environment, i.e. how the natural environment regenerates natural resources and how human activities are affecting this regenerative capacity
• Environmental scientists


  • Monitor the quality of the environment
  • Interpret the impacts of human activities on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
  • Develop strategies for restoring ecosystems
  • Help planners develop and construct buildings, transportation corridors and utilities
• Natural capital/Natural resources


  Goods and services provided by the Earth through natural processes
• Types of natural resources

  • Renewable
  • Non-renewable
• Renewable resources


  Resources that can be replenished rapidly (hours to several decades) through natural processes as long as they are not used up faster than they are replaced
• Non-renewable resources

  Resources that exist in a fixed amount in the earth's crust and have the potential for renewal by geological, physical, and chemical processes taking place over hundreds of millions to billions of years
• Pollution

  An undesirable change that can adversely affect humans or other living organisms
• Types of pollutants

  • Degradable
  • Non-degradable
• Degradable pollutants


  Potentially polluting chemicals that are broken down completely or reduced to acceptable levels by natural physical, chemical, and biological processes
• Non-degradable pollutants

  Materials that are not broken down by natural processes
• Current unsustainable practices


  • Unchecked use of non-renewable resources
  • Renewable resources being used faster than nature can replenish them
  • Pollution of the environment
  • Human population growth
• Environmental ethics

  A discipline that studies moral convictions about, or commitments to, one type of behaviour over another as it relates to the environment
• Environmentalism


  A response to the threat to the natural environment and advocates for the implementation of solutions to environmental problems
• Anthropocentric worldview


  The dominant worldview held by Western civilisations throughout most of its history, which embodies the assumption that all parts of the environment are natural resources that must be exploited for the advantage of humans
• Ecocentric worldview

  The view that we have an ethical responsibility to avoid causing the premature extinction of species through our activities, and that the Earth's resources are finite and will be limited by the regenerative capacities of the natural environment
• Environmental sustainability


  The environment's ability to function indefinitely
• Sustainable development


  Development that encourages forms of economic growth that meet the basic needs of the current generations of humans and other species without preventing future generations of humans and other species from meeting their basic needs
• At the first United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development held in September 2002, world leaders from 170 countries, including Jamaica, adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration committing their nations to reduce extreme poverty. Seven millennium goals were developed with targets to be achieved by 2015. Goal 7 addressed environmental sustainability. Some targets were not achieved and on September 25, 2015 the 193 member states of the United Nations adopted 17 sustainable development goals with 169 targets to be achieved over 15 years.
• Green economy


  An economy that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities
• Common green economy principles

  • It is a means to achieving sustainable development
  • Creates decent work and clean jobs
  • Is resource and energy efficient
  • Protects biodiversity and ecosystems
  • Improves governance and the rule of law. It is inclusive, democratic, participatory, accountable, transparent and stable
• In 2010 the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) issued a release stating that moving to a Green Economy with investments in clean energy, sustainable transport, forests and environmentally-friendly agriculture can reduce poverty and help meet Millennium Development Goals. These principles are reflected in Jamaica's Vision 2030 national development plan. Strategic Goal 4 of Jamaica's Vision 2030 is for a healthy, natural environment. One of the outcomes of this goal is sustainable management and use of environmental and natural resources.
• United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030

  • Goal 1 - No poverty
  • Goal 2 - Zero hunger
  • Goal 3 - Good health and wellbeing
  • Goal 4 - Quality education
  • Goal 5 - Gender equality
  • Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy
  • Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth
• Goal 1 - No poverty


  • This goal seeks to eradicate extreme poverty by 2030 and ensure that all men and women have equal rights to economic resources and reduce the poor's vulnerability to climate-related extreme events and other economic, social and environmental shocks and disasters
• Goal 2 - Zero hunger

  • Hunger and malnutrition mean less productive individuals who are more prone to disease and are thus often unable to earn more and improve their livelihoods
• Goal 3 - Good health and wellbeing


  • Access to good health and well-being is a human right and it is therefore important to ensure that universal health coverage is achieved, essential medicines and vaccines are made affordable, women have access to sexual and reproductive health care and all preventable deaths in children end
• Goal 4 - Quality education


  • Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people's lives and sustainable development. This may allow people to break out of the poverty cycle, reduce inequalities and achieve gender equality
• Goal 5 - Gender equality


  • Providing women and girls with equal access to education, health care, decent work and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large
• Goal 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation


  • Millions of people die each year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Managing water sustainably allows us to better manage our production of food and energy, as well as contribute to decent work and economic growth
• Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy

  • A lack of access to energy supplies is a constraint to human and economic development. However, the burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change and can negatively impact people's well-being and the environment. It is therefore recommended that countries invest in renewable energy resources, prioritising energy efficient practices and adopting clean energy technologies and infrastructure
• Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth

  • Poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs. Job creation and the improvement of work conditions for those who are currently working, but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty is
• Millions of people die each year from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene
• Managing water sustainably allows us to better manage our production of food and energy, as well as contribute to decent work and economic growth
• Goal 7 - Affordable and clean energy

  A lack of access to energy supplies is a constraint to human and economic development. However, the burning of fossil fuels contributes to climate change and can negatively impact people's well-being and the environment. It is therefore recommended that countries invest in renewable energy resources, prioritising energy efficient practices and adopting clean energy technologies and infrastructure.
• Goal 8 - Decent work and economic growth

  Poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs. Job creation and the improvement of work conditions for those who are currently working, but not earning enough to lift themselves and their families out of poverty is needed. Productive employment and "decent" work are key elements to achieving fair globalisation and poverty reduction. In addition, unemployment can lead to unrest and disrupt peace if it is left unaddressed.
• Goal 9 - Industry, innovation and infrastructure

  Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and empowering communities in many countries.
• Goal 10 - Reduced inequalities


  Sustainable development cannot be achieved if people are excluded from opportunities, services and the chance for a better life.
• Goal 11 - Sustainable cities and communities

  Since the future will be urban for a majority of people, the solutions to some of the greatest issues facing humans – poverty, climate change, healthcare, education – must be found in city life. By choosing to act sustainably we choose to build cities where all citizens live a decent quality of live and form a part of the city's productive dynamic, creating shared prosperity and social stability without harming the environment.
• Goal 12 - Responsible consumption and production


  Sustainable consumption and production refers to promoting resource and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Its implementation helps to achieve overall development plans, reduce future economic, environmental and social costs, strengthen economic competitiveness and reduce poverty.