Brenna Copeland

NCSSM Online Honors Energy and Sustainability

Reading Questions - Sustainability Primer

Reading questions will often be assigned in this course. The purpose

of reading questions is to help students to identify key or important
points within the context of a report, article or primer. It is not a test
of reading retention or your memorizing skills. A grade is assigned but
that is for completion and an honest effort to understand and
reformulate information in your own way, using your own words and
your own experiences. Use reading question assignments to focus on
the parts of the assigned reading that are worth exploring in more
depth perhaps even through additional Internet or other research on
your part.

1. What was the Brundtland Commission? How did that commission

define sustainability?
The Brundtland Commission was convened to address growing
concern about the decline of environmental systems and the
consequences for economic and the human development. It was
established in 1987. Under Brundtlands definition of
sustainability, something that is sustainable would be something
that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

2. What fields of academic study are important to finding

sustainable solutions globally?
We need leaders on all levels to promote sustainability. Academic
fields that would be important range from environmental
scientist, engineering, architecture, business managing, and
many more. To find successful sustainable solutions
environmental leaders must come together and work together.

3. How are we contributing to these problems even now, even 28

years after the Brundtland Commission Report? What are the
basic problems that make our current ways of living
unsustainable? (describe 3 key problems).
Three contributing problems are the plant index, ecological
footprint, and global consumption of resources. Americans
consume way too much. The living plant index is decreasing. The
average size of our ecological footprint is increasing. Our current
ways of living incorporate too much consuming and not enough
replenishing.

4. How well does the Funnel Metaphor work for you? Does it help
you to understand the problem better? Would you use it to

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 Brenna Copeland
NCSSM Online Honors Energy and Sustainability

explain sustainability to a friend or a colleague? Why or why

not?
The funnel metaphor made a lot of sense for me. It did a great
job explaining the changes over time. When first explaining
sustainability, I would not use the funnel metaphor. If a friend or
colleague had trouble understanding or wanted to know more I
would them incorporate the funnel metaphor into the
conversation.

5. What is a system and how will understanding how systems

functions help us to build a more sustainable world?
A system has individual but interrelated parts that depend on
relationships. You must look at a system as a whole.
Understanding systems will ensure that you dont leave anything
out when building a more sustainable world.

6. What Max-Neefs nine human needs? Do you think this list covers
all of your own and your familys needs? Are there some needs
on the list that you think are not essential?
Max-Neef has defined, nine fundamental human needs which
are considered to be universal across all cultures and historical
time periods. They are: subsistence, protection, affection,
understanding, participation, leisure, creation, identity and
freedom. I believe the list covers all my familys needs that I can
think of at this moment. I believe subsistence, protection, and
affection are the only essential needs. This is based off Maslows
hierarchy of needs.

7. What is the Triple Bottom Line? What does it mean for creating
a more sustainable world?
The triple bottom line is thought to be the environment,
economy, and society. These ideas are represented as three
nested, independent shapes. Environment in the biggest, with
society inside of it. Economy is inside society. They are shown in
this way because you cant have one at the expense of another.
To create a sustainable world all three of the factors would need
to be taken into consideration.

8. How does the concentration of wealth in the hands of a small

portion of society make us less sustainable? Can you provide an
example from your own experience or from something you have
read other than this Sustainability Primer?
If wealth is majorly given to only a small amount of people, they
may misuse the money. They could possibly use all the money in
unsustainable ways. This also takes away money from the
majority of people. With more money others, can meet their

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 Brenna Copeland
NCSSM Online Honors Energy and Sustainability

basic human needs. Today much of our countrys wealth is in the

hands of large companies. Almost all of these companies do not
prioritize sustainability. This results in many unsustainable
practices on large scales happening in America. Only a few
people chose these unsustainable practices, but many people
are affected by them.

9. What is backcasting? Have you ever used this method to

accomplish goals before? Describe an experience where you
have used backcasting. Was it helpful?
Backcasting is starting with the end in mind. I use this method to
accomplish many goals. One goal I am currently trying to
accomplish is getting into college. I am using backcasting to
reach this goal. I am currently planning and taking steps to reach
my goal. I am doing things like taking challenging classes and
participating in clubs.

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