Physical Geography - Exercises: Chapter 4

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Chapter 4 introduces the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development. This exercise gets you to explore these ideas further.
(a) Give a definition of sustainable development in your own words.

(b)

Go to the website of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs,      Division of Sustainable Development (http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/). Using their
     A-Z of sustainable development issues      (www.un.org/esa/sustdev/sdissues/sdissues.htm), produce a short summary
     of the key issues for sustainable development in at least three of the sectors      listed. Some appropriate sectors you can choose from are:

Agriculture
Atmosphere
Biodiversity
Demographics
Desertification and drought
Energy
Forests
Health
Human settlements
Industry
Land management
Mountains
Oceans and seas
Poverty
Sanitation
Tourism
Trade
Transport
Waste (solid)

       Your summary should include social, economic and environmental dimensions
       of sustainability in each case. What similarities and differences exist between
       the sectors you have considered?

       (c) Using the sectors you examined in your answer to (b) develop a set of
            indicators which could be used to assess progress towards sustainability
            in each.
            You can use the Indicators section in the A-Z list to help you get some ideas.

2. What is the IGBP? Explain why it was set up and discuss its achievements.