What is a Global System?
To understand complex issues and distant connections, need tools: space, place, scale, and time.
What is the spatial scale?
- Dividing space into larger and smaller units
- Global, national, regional, local, household, the body.. and more
- these levels are not rigid, fixed, or natural
What did Edward Soja call the spatial scale?
A ‘hierarchy of nested locales’
What is the temporal scale?
- dividing time into larger and smaller units
- long- and short term connections
- time usually seen as linear in Western culture
What is the significance of spatial and temporal scales in geography?
Help divide space and time into smaller units, affecting how problems and solutions are interpreted
What is time-space compression?
David Harvey describes it as: technology “shrinks” the world
- rapid travel and communication let people and goods move farther, faster
- physical distance becomes less relevant
Define Planetary boundaries.
Concept of a “safe operating space for humanity” with respect to biological limits
- according to scientists, we are already outside the “safe space” in 6 of 9 areas assessed
What is telecoupling?
Distant impacts of local actions or events.
Give an example of telecoupling.
Local greenhouse gas emissions (from cars and industry in London) contribute to climate change globally, with concentrated local impacts in other places (the Arctic, small island states)
What is the Brundtland Commission’s definition of sustainable development?
Meeting the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs
Focus on inter-generational equity
- intra = within
- inter = between
What does “just sustainability” emphasize?
Social equity and inclusion, arguing that societies with more equality have stronger environmental protections and stressing the intersection of race, class, and environmental issues.
What are the three pillars of sustainable development?
- economic development
- social equity
- environmental protection
How is environmental justice defined?
- unequal exposure to environmental risks along lines of race and class
e.g.
- Aamjiwnaang First Nation exposed to pollution from Sarnia refineries
- environmental racism
- focus on intra-generational equity
What is “just sustainability”?
the need to ensure better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting the ecosystems
What’s the critique of sustainable development?
often ‘development’ is interpreted as economic growth
How does sustainability differ from sustainable development?
Sustainability puts a focus on equity and environment
What is the doughnut model?
adds social ‘floor’ to the planetary boundaries framework’s ecological ‘ceiling’
What does Kate Raworth say about growth?
- It’s a phase; nothing in nature grows forever
- if something tries to grow endlessly within a healthy system, it threatens the whole
- we need economies that thrive without growing
Is any country within the doughnut?
no
What is IPAT?
Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology
What is Impact of IPAT?
Impact: human impact on the environment
What is Population of IPAT?
Population: number of people
What is Affluence of IPAT?
Affluence: consumption per person
What is Technology of IPAT?
Technology: resource intensity of production
