Practice Flashcards
Flip to reveal answersDefine economic sustainability.
Track your progress — Sign up free to save your progress and get smart review reminders based on spaced repetition.
All 50 Flashcards — Sustainability
Sign up free to track progress and get spaced-repetition review schedules.
Question
Define economic sustainability.
Answer
Organising the economy so people’s needs are met over time without the system breaking down.
💡 Hint
Needs over time.
Question
Define sustainability in one line.
Answer
Meeting needs now without reducing future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
💡 Hint
Needs now + future.
Question
Define environmental sustainability.
Answer
Using natural resources and producing waste at rates that stay within ecosystem regeneration and absorption limits.
💡 Hint
Within limits.
Question
Define economic sustainability.
Answer
Organising the economy so people’s needs are met over time without the system breaking down.
💡 Hint
Needs over time.
Question
Define social sustainability.
Answer
Building societies where people can live healthy, fair, meaningful lives now and in the future.
💡 Hint
Health + fairness + future.
Question
Define social sustainability.
Answer
Building societies where people can live healthy, fair, meaningful lives now and in the future.
💡 Hint
Health + fairness + future.
Question
Define sustainability (IB phrasing).
Answer
Meeting current needs without reducing future generations’ ability to meet their needs.
💡 Hint
Needs now + future.
Question
Define environmental sustainability.
Answer
Using natural resources and producing waste at rates that stay within ecosystem regeneration and absorption limits.
💡 Hint
Within limits.
Question
Define sustainability (IB phrasing).
Answer
Meeting current needs without reducing future generations’ ability to meet their needs.
💡 Hint
Needs now + future.
Question
Define sustainability in one line.
Answer
Meeting needs now without reducing future generations’ ability to meet theirs.
💡 Hint
Needs now + future.
Question
Name two components of social sustainability.
Answer
Access to healthcare and education (also equality, safety, strong communities, culture).
💡 Hint
Pick any two.
Question
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
Answer
Environmental, social, and economic sustainability (all interconnected).
💡 Hint
3 pillars.
Question
What is a provisioning system?
Answer
How raw materials and energy are turned into goods and services that people use.
💡 Hint
Raw → goods/services.
Question
Name one goal of environmental sustainability.
Answer
Do not use resources faster than they are replaced (also reduce pollution, protect biodiversity, allow recovery).
💡 Hint
Any 1 goal.
Question
What is the environmental sustainability “test”?
Answer
Can the ecosystem recover within its natural limits after use/disturbance?
💡 Hint
Recovery.
Question
What are the 3 pillars of sustainability?
Answer
Environmental, social, and economic sustainability (all interconnected).
💡 Hint
3 pillars.
Question
Name one goal of environmental sustainability.
Answer
Do not use resources faster than they are replaced (also reduce pollution, protect biodiversity, allow recovery).
💡 Hint
Any 1 goal.
Question
Name two components of social sustainability.
Answer
Access to healthcare and education (also equality, safety, strong communities, culture).
💡 Hint
Pick any two.
Question
What is a provisioning system?
Answer
How raw materials and energy are turned into goods and services that people use.
💡 Hint
Raw → goods/services.
Question
What is the environmental sustainability “test”?
Answer
Can the ecosystem recover within its natural limits after use/disturbance?
💡 Hint
Recovery.
Question
Strong vs weak sustainability (core difference)?
Answer
Strong: natural capital is irreplaceable; weak: technology can substitute for natural capital.
💡 Hint
Strong = non-substitutable nature.
Question
Why can markets alone fail in provisioning systems?
Answer
Prices can make essentials unaffordable for vulnerable groups, so support/regulation may be needed.
💡 Hint
Affordability.
Question
Why can markets alone fail in provisioning systems?
Answer
Prices can make essentials unaffordable for vulnerable groups, so support/regulation may be needed.
💡 Hint
Affordability.
Question
Why does biodiversity matter for sustainability?
Answer
Biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning and resilience, helping systems recover from disturbance.
💡 Hint
Function + resilience.
Question
What is social capital?
Answer
Trust, cooperation, and supportive connections between people that increase community resilience.
💡 Hint
Trust + networks.
Question
Define social capital.
Answer
Trust and supportive connections that help communities function and cope with crises.
💡 Hint
Trust + support.
Question
Why does biodiversity matter for sustainability?
Answer
Biodiversity supports ecosystem functioning and resilience, helping systems recover from disturbance.
💡 Hint
Function + resilience.
Question
Strong vs weak sustainability (core difference)?
Answer
Strong: natural capital is irreplaceable; weak: technology can substitute for natural capital.
💡 Hint
Strong = non-substitutable nature.
Question
Define social capital.
Answer
Trust and supportive connections that help communities function and cope with crises.
💡 Hint
Trust + support.
Question
What is social capital?
Answer
Trust, cooperation, and supportive connections between people that increase community resilience.
💡 Hint
Trust + networks.
Question
Why does social capital matter during crises?
Answer
Communities with high trust/support cope better and recover faster, improving resilience.
💡 Hint
Support = resilience.
Question
Define provisioning system.
Answer
How raw materials and energy become goods and services people use.
💡 Hint
Raw → goods.
Question
What simple “test” can students use for environmental sustainability?
Answer
Ask if ecosystems can recover naturally after resource use or disturbance. If not, it is unsustainable.
💡 Hint
Recovery test.
Question
What “hidden role” do households play in sustainability?
Answer
Unpaid care and domestic work supports health and social stability; stressed households weaken system sustainability.
💡 Hint
Unpaid work matters.
Question
What simple “test” can students use for environmental sustainability?
Answer
Ask if ecosystems can recover naturally after resource use or disturbance. If not, it is unsustainable.
💡 Hint
Recovery test.
Question
Why does social capital matter during crises?
Answer
Communities with high trust/support cope better and recover faster, improving resilience.
💡 Hint
Support = resilience.
Question
What “hidden role” do households play in sustainability?
Answer
Unpaid care and domestic work supports health and social stability; stressed households weaken system sustainability.
💡 Hint
Unpaid work matters.
Question
What is an example of environmental unsustainability?
Answer
Overfishing can exceed reproduction rates and cause fishery collapse.
💡 Hint
Use overfishing example.
Question
What is an example of environmental unsustainability?
Answer
Overfishing can exceed reproduction rates and cause fishery collapse.
💡 Hint
Use overfishing example.
Question
Define provisioning system.
Answer
How raw materials and energy become goods and services people use.
💡 Hint
Raw → goods.
Question
Best exam phrase for environmental sustainability?
Answer
Healthy ecosystems are sustainable because resources are used within limits and materials can be recycled or absorbed naturally.
💡 Hint
Within limits + recovery.
Question
Exam key: economic sustainability is not just what?
Answer
Not just growth; it is meeting basic needs reliably and fairly over time.
💡 Hint
Beyond GDP/growth.
Question
Top-mark move in essays about sustainability?
Answer
Link environment → society → economy as a chain of dependence; damage in one spreads to others.
💡 Hint
Nested dependencies.
Question
Why are the pillars interconnected?
Answer
Environmental damage can reduce livelihoods and health, increasing inequality and harming economies.
💡 Hint
Chain link.
Question
Top-mark move in essays about sustainability?
Answer
Link environment → society → economy as a chain of dependence; damage in one spreads to others.
💡 Hint
Nested dependencies.
Question
Best exam phrase for environmental sustainability?
Answer
Healthy ecosystems are sustainable because resources are used within limits and materials can be recycled or absorbed naturally.
💡 Hint
Within limits + recovery.
Question
Why are the pillars interconnected?
Answer
Environmental damage can reduce livelihoods and health, increasing inequality and harming economies.
💡 Hint
Chain link.
Question
Exam link: how does environmental damage affect social sustainability?
Answer
It can harm health, reduce livelihoods, increase inequality, and weaken community stability.
💡 Hint
Environment → society.
Question
Exam key: economic sustainability is not just what?
Answer
Not just growth; it is meeting basic needs reliably and fairly over time.
💡 Hint
Beyond GDP/growth.
Question
Exam link: how does environmental damage affect social sustainability?
Answer
It can harm health, reduce livelihoods, increase inequality, and weaken community stability.
💡 Hint
Environment → society.
Read the notes
Full study notes for Sustainability
Topic 1.4 hub
Sustainability
More from Topic 1.4
All flashcards in this topic
ESS exam skills
Paper structures & tips
Track your progress with spaced repetition
Sign up free — Aimnova tells you exactly which cards to review and when, so you remember everything before your IB exam.
Start Free