Environmental Sustainability
The Big Idea: Environmental sustainability = using nature's resources slowly enough that nature can keep up. Think of it like a bank account — if you spend faster than you earn, you go broke!
The 4 Goals of Environmental Sustainability
- Don't use faster than nature replaces— fish can breed, trees can grow, but only so fast
- Reduce pollution — stop dumping trash in nature's living room
- Protect biodiversity— every species plays a role
- Let ecosystems recover— give nature a break to heal
Simple test: Can nature bounce back? Then it is sustainable. Can't recover? Then it is unsustainable.
How Nature Does It Right (Biomimicry)
Nature has been "sustainable" for billions of years. Here's its secret playbook:
Exam phrase: "Healthy ecosystems are sustainable because they recycle materials and can recover naturally from disturbances."
How Humans Get It Wrong
Compare nature's approach to how most human societies work:
The Problem:When we ignore nature's limits, we're basically writing cheques nature can't cash
What Happens When It's Unsustainable?
When humans push past nature's limits, things collapse like dominoes:
- Ecosystems collapse— cod fishery crashed in 1992, still hasn't recovered
- Species go extinct— once gone, gone forever
- People lose livelihoods— no fish = no fishing jobs
- Economies suffer— environmental damage costs billions
It's all connected:Environmental damage → Economic damage → Social damage. You can't have a healthy economy on a dead planet!
Exam Cheat Sheet
5 Things to Remember: 1⃣ Environmental sustainability = ecosystems canrecover and keep working2⃣ Naturerecycleseverything; humans mostlywaste3⃣Overuse = collapse(see: cod, rainforests, aquifers)
4⃣ Human well-beingdepends onhealthy ecosystems
5⃣ The test: Can naturebounce back? That's sustainability.
Interactive diagram
Explore the labelled diagram, charts and maps for this topic in full study mode.
Free preview
This is the free notes preview
You're reading the free notes. Aimnova Pro unlocks the full study experience — and you can try it with your first topic free to keep:
- FlashcardsLock in vocabulary and key terms with spaced repetition.
- Practice questionsAnswer exam-style questions and get instant AI marking.
- Mock exams & past-paper vaultSit full mocks and see exactly how examiners award marks.
- Personalised study planA daily plan built around your exam date and weak areas.
Start Studying Free Full access to Aimnova Pro · cancel anytime