Sustainability Fundaments
Why VET should embrace the transition?
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
KEY FACTORS TO DRIVE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION
1. INTRODUCTION
This mini-course provides an overview of the concept of sustainability, its history, its three pillars, challenges and opportunities, and introduces the factors that may drive the sustainability transition in VET. On completion of this minicourse, you’ll walk away with:
- Comprehensive understanding of sustainability concept, the three pillars of sustainability, its challenges and opportunities.
- Knowledge on sustainability and related issues, such as climate change, and the need for multi-disciplinary collaboration.
- Full awareness about the importance of individual and collective actions.
- A clear meaning of sustainable transition in your VET organisation
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
All Economic production systems are based on the resources provided by nature
There are Renewable resources, such as plants, wind, etc., which regenerate relatively quickly.
And others, such as oil, coal, copper, etc., that take much longer to form and are considered non-renewable.
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
Our relentless demand for natural resources has been accelerating extinction rates The following are six resources under severe pressure from current rates of consumption. For example, rates of global freshwater use increased sharply from the 1950s onwards.
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/water-use-stress
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
Such overexploitation threatens the livelihoods and wellbeing
Source: Updated Planetary Boundaries. Figure designed by Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Wang-Erlandsson et al., 2022, Persson et al 2022 and Steffen et al 2015
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
Maintaining the long-term use of resources lead us to the concept of sustainability Watch it on this short video:
Source :UN Environment’s Global Resources Outlook 2019
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
Examine the history and background leading us to the concept of sustainability The word ‘Sustainability’ and its current connotation are fairly modern, only since when UN Commission on Environment and Development started to use the term as we understand it today. The concept itself is not new and can be traced back to prehistory
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1789, the capacity of the natural resources versus the population growth was postulated
Thomas Robert Malthus postulated that human population tended to grow in a geometric progression, while subsistence could grow in only an arithmetic progression, and for that matter, population growth was likely to outstrip the capacity of the natural resources to support the needs of the increasing population.
In the 19th century the focus shifted to coal as most important source of energy and alarms were raised that coal deposits may be exhausted. The most influential publication in this regard was W. Stanley Jevons's The coal question of 1866, in which he concluded that english coal reserves would be depleted in a hundred years.
Sources: Jacobus A. Du Pisani Professor of History (2006) Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept, Environmental Sciences, 3:2, 83-96
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1864, the book ¨Man and nature¨ was published In Principles of political economy, first published in 1848, John Stuart Mill included a short chapter on the ‘stationary state’, which implied a stationary condition of capital and population, but not of human improvement.
Marsh, Man and nature, published first in 1864, stated: ‘Man has long forgotten that the earth was given to him for usufruct alone, not for consumption, still less for profligate waste’
Sources: Jacobus A. Du Pisani Professor of History (2006) Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept, Environmental Sciences, 3:2, 83-96
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1970s, Brundtland Report was released From the 1960s hair-raising scientific information about the damage caused to the natural environment by human activities was published in books such as:
The silent spring (1962) and A blueprint for survival (Goldsmith et al.1972). Small is beautiful (1973).
By that time, ecological disasters also received much media publicity.
The Limits to Growth (LTG), a 1972 report that discussed the possibility of exponential economic and population growth with finite supply of resources, studied by computer simulation.
Source : https://donellameadows.org/archives/the-history-of-the-limits-to-growth/
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1987, Brundtland introduced the concept of sustainable development Other initiatives followed, like the establishment of the Worldwatch Institute in 1975, and finally the term sustainable development was officially coined by the United Nations Commission (usually referred to as the “Brundtland Commission”
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Source :The Brundtland report: ‘Our common future’
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
Now, see the international frameworks actually calling collective global action by setting agreed targets. .
Source https://www.france24.com/en/20151130-timeline-climate-change-negotiations-kyoto-copenhagen-cop21
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
Specifically, we will consider the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The main goal is a global transition towards a sustainable world characterised by equality, wealth, peace and ecological sustainability (UN, 2019).
© United Nations (2015) The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to economic impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to social impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to environmental impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
The SDGs are connected to each other, the interdependency and connection between issues is outlined in examples like the following
Find more information in minicourse : SDG Explorer
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Particularly, the SDG 13 - aims to combat climate change As Climate Change is among the most pressing challenges for environmental sustainability.
The following 4 slides intend at summarizing the causes and the scientific evidence.
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
To understand SDG 13, let's clarify the concept of climate versus weather Watch this video to understand these concepts:
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Why the climate has changed? The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning fossil fuels ( coal, natural gas, oil, etc). Burning these fuels, releases like greenhouse gases (GHG) go into Earth’s atmosphere. Those, these GHG trap heat from the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere causing Earth’s average temperature to rise.
Find more information in minicourse : Metrics & Awareness
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Throughout Earth's history, climate has continually changed In summary, the concentration of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change.
The video on the right shows the variations over the years and you can compare the pre-industrial age and the recent concentrations.
The real evidence of the anthropogenic effect on climate change is based on short-term temperature variation. In the last 150 years we can see that CO2 concentration has increased exponentially and the temperature has increased by 1.3°C which is alarming.
Source :: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/history.html
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
The signal now is becoming large enough that we can see it play out in real time Every week, every day news!!!
Source :https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/19/michael-mann-we-can-see-the-fingerprint-of-human-influence-on-our-climate.html
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Do we have time to act ?
This chart shows current and future generations will experience a hotter and different world depending on the choices we do now and in the near - term.
( IPCC Report, 2022) The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We have options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030
Take some minutes and feflect upon how you can add your voice to the call for collective action for a sustainable transition.
Source: IPCC Report , 2022
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
However, sustainability goes beyond carbon footprint
Source :https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/19/michael-mann-we-can-see-the-fingerprint-of-human-influence-on-our-climate.html
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The Three Pillars of Sustainability are environmental, social and economic sustainability
Source: Source: Brundtland Commission's view (1987)
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Economically sustainable: Viable and Fair
Economic attributes involve efficiently using corporate resources and productive capacity to create long-term economic prosperity without harming social and environmental well-being.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The economic pillar of sustainability is where most organisations feel they are on firmer ground
In fact, profit at any cost is not what the economic pillar concerns. It's about compliance, proper governance, and risk management.
Boards of directors and management aligning with shareholders' interests as well as those of the community, value chains, and customers.
You can go into more detail in Governance by clicking to the minicourse 5.
Minicourse 5: Strategy and Governance
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Socially sustainable: Liveable and Fair
This is the sustainability dimension that encompasses collaboration and participation of the diverse and various stakeholders in the production process, such as providers, consumers, and government, staff, students, community etc.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The social pillar is more challenging
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Environmentally sustainable: Livable and Viable
This pillar is generally understood as protection of the diversity and functioning of natural ecosystems as well as the ecosystem services they provide for future generations.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The environmental pillar often gets the most attention
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Challenges and new opportunities arise when embracing sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Sustainability in business: more an opportunity than a threat
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The sustainability transition will definitively create new employment opportunities
The transition to an environmentally sustainable, circular and climate- neutral economy will have significant social, economic and employment impacts.
A skilled workforce is key to protect the environment, secure energy supplies and ensure that our industry remains competitive.
Source: Compendium for VET. European Commission, 2023
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
As opportunities arise, so do the challenges of building capacity to support sustainable transition
There are challenges to develop skills to support the sustainable transition approach to vocational education and training.
.
Find more information in minicourse Green Jobs and the role of VET
Source: Global LinkedIn, Green Skills Report 2023
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Therefore, VET is preparing for the sustainable transition
Since 2020, several documents with recommendations have been published in the European Union, which can be consulted in the following documents:
Find more information in minicourse Embedding Sustainability to VET activities
KEY FACTORS TO DRIVE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION
The sustainability transition will definitively create new employment opportunities
The main factors or mechanisms to drive a sustainable transition are listed below. To learn more, we invite you to attend the following minicourses.
- Environmental Indicators and Life Cycle of Products:
- Financing the sustainable transition
- Sustainability : Strategy & Governance:
4. CONCLUSIONS
- Sustainable development and related problems, such as climate change, require multidisciplinary collaboration and problem-solving skills.
- Over the years International policies on sustainable development are in place, some of them are under the current 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Paris Agreement five years on.
- Climate action is just one form of sustainability actions. The sustainability. focus is on the 3 pillars: Economic, Environmental and Social.
- The sustainable transition bring opportunities, so do challenges. Specifically, VET sustainable transition is one sector becoming relevant to train the skills needed to fill the gap in the more sustainable economic sectors.
5. Let's practice what we've learned!
QUIZ TIME
EVERGREEN QUIZ
Quiz
Sustainability Fundaments
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 1/5
Climate action is the only way to embrace sustainability transition?
No. sustainability goes beyond climate actions
Depends on the action
Yes
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 2/5
Sustainable development is defined as:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”
Biodiveristy and climate change plan
To social and economic development
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 3/5
The three pillars of sustainability are:
Climate change Recycling Circular Economy
EconomicalEnvironmental Geothermic
EconomicalSocial Environmental
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 4/5
On the social scale, the organisation needs to be aware of how its supply chain functions, for example:
The energy sources are eolic
The product cost is increasing
The work environment is safe
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 5/5
As opportunities arise, so do the ___________ of building capacity to support sustainable transition
cost
Challenges
Lack
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
RESULTS
EVERGREEN QUIZ
1-2Correct
5Correct
3-4Correct
0Correct
Please read the minicourse.
Please read the minicourse.
Congratulations!
We advise you to read carefully the quiz
6. REFERENCES
Should you wish to take a ‘deeper dive’, we invite you to explore the additional resources below.
Books/Papers/Articles
Further reading
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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Transcript
Sustainability Fundaments
Why VET should embrace the transition?
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs)
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
THE THREE PILLARS OF SUSTAINABILITY
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
KEY FACTORS TO DRIVE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION
1. INTRODUCTION
This mini-course provides an overview of the concept of sustainability, its history, its three pillars, challenges and opportunities, and introduces the factors that may drive the sustainability transition in VET. On completion of this minicourse, you’ll walk away with:
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
All Economic production systems are based on the resources provided by nature
There are Renewable resources, such as plants, wind, etc., which regenerate relatively quickly. And others, such as oil, coal, copper, etc., that take much longer to form and are considered non-renewable.
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
Our relentless demand for natural resources has been accelerating extinction rates The following are six resources under severe pressure from current rates of consumption. For example, rates of global freshwater use increased sharply from the 1950s onwards.
Source: https://ourworldindata.org/water-use-stress
NATURAL RESOURCES LIMITATION
Such overexploitation threatens the livelihoods and wellbeing
Source: Updated Planetary Boundaries. Figure designed by Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, based on analysis in Wang-Erlandsson et al., 2022, Persson et al 2022 and Steffen et al 2015
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
Maintaining the long-term use of resources lead us to the concept of sustainability Watch it on this short video:
Source :UN Environment’s Global Resources Outlook 2019
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
Examine the history and background leading us to the concept of sustainability The word ‘Sustainability’ and its current connotation are fairly modern, only since when UN Commission on Environment and Development started to use the term as we understand it today. The concept itself is not new and can be traced back to prehistory
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1789, the capacity of the natural resources versus the population growth was postulated
Thomas Robert Malthus postulated that human population tended to grow in a geometric progression, while subsistence could grow in only an arithmetic progression, and for that matter, population growth was likely to outstrip the capacity of the natural resources to support the needs of the increasing population.
In the 19th century the focus shifted to coal as most important source of energy and alarms were raised that coal deposits may be exhausted. The most influential publication in this regard was W. Stanley Jevons's The coal question of 1866, in which he concluded that english coal reserves would be depleted in a hundred years.
Sources: Jacobus A. Du Pisani Professor of History (2006) Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept, Environmental Sciences, 3:2, 83-96
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1864, the book ¨Man and nature¨ was published In Principles of political economy, first published in 1848, John Stuart Mill included a short chapter on the ‘stationary state’, which implied a stationary condition of capital and population, but not of human improvement.
Marsh, Man and nature, published first in 1864, stated: ‘Man has long forgotten that the earth was given to him for usufruct alone, not for consumption, still less for profligate waste’
Sources: Jacobus A. Du Pisani Professor of History (2006) Sustainable development – historical roots of the concept, Environmental Sciences, 3:2, 83-96
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1970s, Brundtland Report was released From the 1960s hair-raising scientific information about the damage caused to the natural environment by human activities was published in books such as: The silent spring (1962) and A blueprint for survival (Goldsmith et al.1972). Small is beautiful (1973). By that time, ecological disasters also received much media publicity. The Limits to Growth (LTG), a 1972 report that discussed the possibility of exponential economic and population growth with finite supply of resources, studied by computer simulation.
Source : https://donellameadows.org/archives/the-history-of-the-limits-to-growth/
THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT BUILT IN HISTORY
In 1987, Brundtland introduced the concept of sustainable development Other initiatives followed, like the establishment of the Worldwatch Institute in 1975, and finally the term sustainable development was officially coined by the United Nations Commission (usually referred to as the “Brundtland Commission”
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Source :The Brundtland report: ‘Our common future’
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
Now, see the international frameworks actually calling collective global action by setting agreed targets. .
Source https://www.france24.com/en/20151130-timeline-climate-change-negotiations-kyoto-copenhagen-cop21
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
Specifically, we will consider the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The main goal is a global transition towards a sustainable world characterised by equality, wealth, peace and ecological sustainability (UN, 2019).
© United Nations (2015) The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to economic impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to social impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
SDG directly or indirectly linked to environmental impacts
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
INTRODUCTION TO THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS)
The SDGs are connected to each other, the interdependency and connection between issues is outlined in examples like the following
Find more information in minicourse : SDG Explorer
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Particularly, the SDG 13 - aims to combat climate change As Climate Change is among the most pressing challenges for environmental sustainability. The following 4 slides intend at summarizing the causes and the scientific evidence.
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
To understand SDG 13, let's clarify the concept of climate versus weather Watch this video to understand these concepts:
Source :UN The Sustainable Development Goals Report , 2016
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Why the climate has changed? The cause of current climate change is largely human activity, like burning fossil fuels ( coal, natural gas, oil, etc). Burning these fuels, releases like greenhouse gases (GHG) go into Earth’s atmosphere. Those, these GHG trap heat from the sun’s rays inside the atmosphere causing Earth’s average temperature to rise.
Find more information in minicourse : Metrics & Awareness
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Throughout Earth's history, climate has continually changed In summary, the concentration of Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere warms the planet, causing climate change. The video on the right shows the variations over the years and you can compare the pre-industrial age and the recent concentrations. The real evidence of the anthropogenic effect on climate change is based on short-term temperature variation. In the last 150 years we can see that CO2 concentration has increased exponentially and the temperature has increased by 1.3°C which is alarming.
Source :: https://gml.noaa.gov/ccgg/trends/history.html
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
The signal now is becoming large enough that we can see it play out in real time Every week, every day news!!!
Source :https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/19/michael-mann-we-can-see-the-fingerprint-of-human-influence-on-our-climate.html
SDG 13 : CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCY AND ITS IMPACTS
Do we have time to act ?
This chart shows current and future generations will experience a hotter and different world depending on the choices we do now and in the near - term. ( IPCC Report, 2022) The evidence is clear: the time for action is now. We have options in all sectors to at least halve emissions by 2030
Take some minutes and feflect upon how you can add your voice to the call for collective action for a sustainable transition.
Source: IPCC Report , 2022
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
However, sustainability goes beyond carbon footprint
Source :https://www.cnbc.com/video/2021/02/19/michael-mann-we-can-see-the-fingerprint-of-human-influence-on-our-climate.html
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The Three Pillars of Sustainability are environmental, social and economic sustainability
Source: Source: Brundtland Commission's view (1987)
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Economically sustainable: Viable and Fair
Economic attributes involve efficiently using corporate resources and productive capacity to create long-term economic prosperity without harming social and environmental well-being.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The economic pillar of sustainability is where most organisations feel they are on firmer ground
In fact, profit at any cost is not what the economic pillar concerns. It's about compliance, proper governance, and risk management. Boards of directors and management aligning with shareholders' interests as well as those of the community, value chains, and customers.
You can go into more detail in Governance by clicking to the minicourse 5. Minicourse 5: Strategy and Governance
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Socially sustainable: Liveable and Fair
This is the sustainability dimension that encompasses collaboration and participation of the diverse and various stakeholders in the production process, such as providers, consumers, and government, staff, students, community etc.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The social pillar is more challenging
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
Environmentally sustainable: Livable and Viable
This pillar is generally understood as protection of the diversity and functioning of natural ecosystems as well as the ecosystem services they provide for future generations.
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY: THREE PILLARS
The environmental pillar often gets the most attention
Source :Purvis, B., Mao, Y. & Robinson, D. Three pillars of sustainability: in search of conceptual origins., 2019
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Challenges and new opportunities arise when embracing sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Sustainability in business: more an opportunity than a threat
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
The sustainability transition will definitively create new employment opportunities
The transition to an environmentally sustainable, circular and climate- neutral economy will have significant social, economic and employment impacts. A skilled workforce is key to protect the environment, secure energy supplies and ensure that our industry remains competitive.
Source: Compendium for VET. European Commission, 2023
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
As opportunities arise, so do the challenges of building capacity to support sustainable transition
There are challenges to develop skills to support the sustainable transition approach to vocational education and training. .
Find more information in minicourse Green Jobs and the role of VET
Source: Global LinkedIn, Green Skills Report 2023
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Therefore, VET is preparing for the sustainable transition
Since 2020, several documents with recommendations have been published in the European Union, which can be consulted in the following documents:
Find more information in minicourse Embedding Sustainability to VET activities
KEY FACTORS TO DRIVE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSITION
The sustainability transition will definitively create new employment opportunities
The main factors or mechanisms to drive a sustainable transition are listed below. To learn more, we invite you to attend the following minicourses.
4. CONCLUSIONS
5. Let's practice what we've learned!
QUIZ TIME
EVERGREEN QUIZ
Quiz
Sustainability Fundaments
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 1/5
Climate action is the only way to embrace sustainability transition?
No. sustainability goes beyond climate actions
Depends on the action
Yes
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 2/5
Sustainable development is defined as:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”
Biodiveristy and climate change plan
To social and economic development
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 3/5
The three pillars of sustainability are:
Climate change Recycling Circular Economy
EconomicalEnvironmental Geothermic
EconomicalSocial Environmental
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 4/5
On the social scale, the organisation needs to be aware of how its supply chain functions, for example:
The energy sources are eolic
The product cost is increasing
The work environment is safe
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
NEXT QUESTION
EVERGREEN QUIZ
QUESTION 5/5
As opportunities arise, so do the ___________ of building capacity to support sustainable transition
cost
Challenges
Lack
EVERGREEN QUIZ
RIGHT!
RESULTS
EVERGREEN QUIZ
1-2Correct
5Correct
3-4Correct
0Correct
Please read the minicourse.
Please read the minicourse.
Congratulations!
We advise you to read carefully the quiz
6. REFERENCES
Should you wish to take a ‘deeper dive’, we invite you to explore the additional resources below.
Books/Papers/Articles
Further reading
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.