AP Human Geography Ann Linsley Bellaire High School

AP Human Geography Ann Linsley Bellaire High School Houston ISD Houston, Texas

“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

College Board AP Human Geography: VI. Industrialization and Economic Development B. Contemporary patterns and impacts of industrialization and development 1. Spatial organization of the world economy 2. Variations in levels of development 3. Deindustrialization and economic restructuring 4. Globalization and international division of labor 5. Natural resources and environmental concerns 6. Sustainable development 7. Local development initiatives: government policies 8. Women in development

Geographic Perspective of Sustainable Development The definition of sustainable development is the same for science and social science. In a Geographic context we would cover economic, political, social, and spatial development that allows for change/growth without affecting future generations ability to thrive. Geographers apply our unique perspectives.

Geographic Perspective of Sustainable Development con’t. . Geographers understand: · relationships between humans and environments; · the importance of spatial variability and the placedependence of processes; · that processes operate at multiple and interlocking geographic scales; and · the integration of spatial and temporal analysis. It is key to understand the idea that what might be sustainable in one place may not be somewhere else-the place dependence of processes and the idea of scale. Dr. Sarah Bednarz, Texas A&M University; AP Human Geography Test Development Committee

It is APHG & APES from Environment… Academic Geography for Sustainability The Advanced Placement (AP) program offered in many U. S. secondary schools treats geography somewhat differently than the British system. An environmental science AP exam covers much of the physical science aspects of geography, often referred to as physical geography. A stand-alone exam on human geography focuses on how people interact with built environments and across space with each other. Human-environment geography, which pertains to human interactions with natural, environmental, and agricultural features and processes, is somewhat awkwardly divided between the two exams.

Sustainability – Sustainable Development • Sustainability is the potential of an ecosystem to subsist overtime in a balanced way • Sustainable development includes environmental considerations in the steering of societal change

The Three Pillars of Sustainable Development • “The social: this relates to human mores and values, relationships and institutions • The economic: This concerns the allocation and distribution of scarce resources • The ecological: this involves the contribution of both the economic and the social and their effect on the environment and its resources” (Ekins 2000)

Characteristics of Sustainable Development/SD • SD is an ongoing process across space, time, societies and cultures • SD will be different in different societies but needs common normative principles • SD is a dynamic, comprehensive concept of modernizing living patterns (Baker 2000)

Paradigm of Sustainable Development • Changing the quality of growth • Reducing population growth • Food security • Maintaining biodiversity • Establishing safe energy • Ecological modernization of industry • Guiding landuse and urbanization • (Brundtland Report/WCED 1987)

Geographical Qualifications for Sustainable Development Knowledge and Understanding of - Major natural systems and -Major socio-economic systems Skills in - Using communication-, thinking-, practical and social skills to explore geographical topics from local to global scales Attitudes and Values to - Dedication to seeking solutions to local, regional, national and international problems (International Charter on Geographical Education 1992)

SUSTAINABILITY IS A TRANSITION From To • short-term thinking • an economy outside of nature • a linear flow of resources • fossil fuels • keeping score with a gross cash flow • seeing Environmental, social and economic challenges as separate and competing • long-term thinking • an economy Integrated with nature • a systems flow of resources • solar-derived • keeping score with a whole systems balance sheet • seeing Environmental, social, and economic challenges as an interconnected whole ed energy

Taking the Planetary Pulse: What is Non-sustainability? • The great unraveling • The great warming • The great inequalities

The Great Unraveling • Ecosystem decline • Habitat loss • Species extinction • Human body burden and chemical stressors

The Great Warming • Disruption of the global heat engine • The planet’s response • Economic dislocation • Climate refugees and security

The Great Inequalities • Concentrations of wealth • Access to resources and information • Conflict and national security

Global Sustainability… • • • • 1972 UNEP & Human Environment Conference 1975 Worldwatch Institute 1976 UN Conference on Human Settlements 1982 UNCLOS 1989 Stockholm Conference 1992 Rio Earth Summit 1995 Copenhagen Conference on global poverty 1995 Beijing Conference on women 1996 ISO 14001 2000 UN Millennium Development Goals 2002 Johannesburg Conference on Sustainable development 2005 Kyoto Protocol 2009 Copenhagen conference on Climate

1972 Stockholm Conference – Declaration on the Human Environment Principle 1: Man is both creature and molder of his environment, which gives him physical sustenance and affords him the opportunity for intellectual, moral, social and spiritual growth. In the long and tortuous evolution of the human race on this planet a stage has been reached when, through the rapid acceleration of science and technology, man has acquired the power to transform his environment in countless ways and on an unprecedented scale. Principle 3: Man has constantly to sum up experience and go on discovering, inventing, creating and advancing. In our time man's capability to transform his surroundings, if used wisely, can bring to all peoples the benefits of development and the opportunity to enhance the quality of life. Wrongly or heedlessly applied, the same power can do incalculable harm to human beings and the human environment.

1972 Stockholm Conference – Principle 6: A point has been reached in history when we must shape our actions throughout the world with a more prudent care for their environmental consequences. Through ignorance or indifference we can do massive and irreversible harm to the earthly environment on which our life and well-being depend. Conversely, through fuller knowledge and wiser action, we can achieve for ourselves and our prosperity a better life in an environment more in keeping with human needs and hopes. To defend and improve the human environment for present and future generations has become an imperative goal for mankind-a goal to be pursued together with, and in harmony with, the established and fundamental goals of peace and of world-wide economic and social development. Principle 11: The environmental policies of all States should enhance and not adversely affect the present or future development potential of developing countries, nor should they hamper the attainment of better living conditions for all, and appropriate steps should be taken by States and international organizations with a view to reaching agreement on meeting the possible national and international economic consequences resulting from the application of environmental measures.

1992 UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT (“Rio Conference”) Charged by the UN General Assembly to “elaborate strategies. . . to promote sustainable and environmentally sound development in all countries. ” � Principle 1: Human beings are at the center of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature. � Principle 3: The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations. � Principle 4: In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.

2002 Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development Principle 18: We welcome the focus of the Johannesburg Summit on the indivisibility of human dignity and are resolved, through decisions on targets, timetables and partnerships, to speedily increase access to such basic requirements as clean water, sanitation, adequate shelter, energy, healthcare, food security and the protection of biodiversity. � Principle 19: We reaffirm our pledge to place particular focus on, and give priority attention to, the fight against the worldwide conditions that pose severe threats to the sustainable development of our people, which include: chronic hunger; malnutrition; foreign occupation; armed conflict; illicit drug problems; organized crime; corruption; natural disasters; illicit arms trafficking; trafficking in persons; terrorism; intolerance and incitement to racial, ethnic, religious and other hatreds; xenophobia; and endemic, communicable and

United Nation Millennium Goals Eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were agreed at the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000. Nearly 190 countries have agreed to these Goals by 2015. The eight Millennium Development Goals are: • Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger • Achieve universal primary education • Promote gender equality and empower women • Reduce child mortality • Improve maternal health • Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases • Ensure environmental sustainability • Develop a global partnership for development

Millennium Development Goal: Target 7 Goal 7: Ensure environmental sustainability * Target 7 A: Integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programs; reverse loss of environmental resources * Target 7 B: Reduce biodiversity loss, achieving, by 2010, a significant reduction in the rate of loss Proportion of land area covered by forest CO 2 emissions, total, per capita and per $1 GDP (PPP) Consumption of ozone-depleting substances Proportion of fish stocks within safe biological limits Proportion of total water resources used Proportion of terrestrial and marine areas protected Proportion of species threatened with extinction

Millennium Goal: Target 7 con’t. * Target 7 C: Halve, by 2015, the proportion of the population without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation (for more information see the entry on water supply) Proportion of population with sustainable access to an improved water source, urban and rural Proportion of urban population with access to improved sanitation * Target 7 D: By 2020, to have achieved a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slumdwellers Proportion of urban population living in slums

The System of Sustainable Practices A system is any set of interdependent or temporarily interacting parts. Systems Thinking What do we mean by “system? ” What does a system need to have? What are the values of seeing and thinking in systems? http: //people. tribe. net

Elements of a Systems Framework - • Seeing the whole and its parts • Networks of mutuality between the parts (relationships) • Self-organizing and selfsustaining • Recognizing system boundaries (limits) • “Constant” creation and destruction • Time scales often long and feedback loops hard to observe The Lessons of Working in Systems • Everything is connected to everything else • You can never do just one thing • There is no “away” • Nothing grows forever • There are no simple solutions • When there are serious imbalances, don’t fight positive feedback; support negative feedback instead • Competition is often cooperation in disguise

Our Responsibility as a Systems Thinker • See the systems (product, process, system) • See the parts • See the relationships • See and understand feedback loops • Look for interdependencies (information flows) • Expect unanticipated consequences • Keep options open; value flexibility and resilience • Can’t get economies of scale out of a system • Understand the temporality of relationships • Pay attention and give voice to the long term

In Conclusion: Sustainable Development is an integrated systems approach to “meeting the needs of the World’s population today, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. ” Sustainability can be summarized in four key principles: First, benefits of economic activity must be considered in relation to their respective social and environmental consequences; Second, in using resources, we must consider the needs and expectations of future generations; Third, government, business and other segments of civil society must act together to balance these needs; Fourth, the corporate governance contributes to sustainable economic development by enhancing the performance of the company and increasing its access to land capital.

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Discussion Topics How important is sustainable development to you? Is it a hype or should we take it seriously? What is being done to promote sustainable development in your country and your own region? Which energy sources can we use without compromising the environment? How could individuals contribute to a sustainable future? What could your role be?

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