Chapter 1

Introduction to Sustainability


Learning Objectives

After studying this chapter, the reader will be able to:

  • Define sustainability
  • Discuss the Conference of Parties meeting in Paris in 2015
  • Define the term Carbon War Room or CWR
  • Describe the “1.5 to Stay Alive” initiative
  • Explain the six leading green economy investments
  • Identify how sustainability can be introduced into schools and the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) curriculum
  • List the programs that can prepare the future green workforce

Key Terms

  • 3 E’s
  • Brundtland Commission
  • Carbon War Room
  • Center for Our Common Future
  • Conference of Parties (COP)
  • Green
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  • Maker Movement
  • Maximum sustainable yield (MSY)
  • Net zero
  • Precautionary Principle
  • Stanford marshmallow experiment
  • STEM
  • Sustainabe Land Management (SLM)
  • Sustainability
  • Techshop
  • UN Agenda 21
  • UNCED
  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
  • WCED

Animations

All animations are in Adobe Flash format. Click link to play. To download, right mouse click on the animation and choose Save Link As and save it to your computer.

Circles of Sustainability


Chapter Powerpoint

Coming Soon


Student Activities

Microsoft Word file format: Click activity to download. Open with Microsoft Word to edit. Save to your computer.

What is Sustainability

Sustainability Elevator Pitch

Finding Academic Solutions for Sustainability

Sustainability Around the World

Adobe Acrobat file format: Click activity to download. Open with Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Acrobat Reader to fill out. Save to your computer.

What is Sustainability

Sustainability Elevator Pitch

Finding Academic Solutions for Sustainability

Sustainability Around the World