GGH3702: SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMPLETE EXAM
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS WELL EXPLAINED 2026/2027
University of South Africa (UNISA) | Department of Geography
1. What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. This definition was established by the Brundtland
Commission (WCED) in 1987.
2. Which report first popularised the term 'sustainable
development'?
Our Common Future (1987), also known as the Brundtland Report,
produced by the World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED), first popularised the concept of sustainable
development.
3. What are the three pillars of sustainable development?
The three pillars are: (1) Economic sustainability – maintaining
economic growth and efficiency; (2) Social sustainability – ensuring
social equity and human well-being; and (3) Environmental
sustainability – protecting natural ecosystems and resources.
4. What does intergenerational equity mean in sustainable
development?
Intergenerational equity means ensuring that current generations do
not deplete or damage natural resources and the environment in
ways that prevent future generations from meeting their own needs.
5. How does the concept of 'carrying capacity' relate to sustainable
development?
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population or level of
resource use an environment can support without suffering
degradation. Sustainable development requires that human activities
remain within the carrying capacity of ecosystems.
6. What is the difference between weak and strong sustainability?
, Weak sustainability allows substitution between natural and human-
made capital, assuming technology can replace natural resources.
Strong sustainability holds that natural capital is irreplaceable and
must be maintained independently of human-made capital.
7. What is the precautionary principle?
The precautionary principle states that when an action raises threats
of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures
should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not
fully established scientifically.
8. What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
The SDGs are 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015
as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They
address poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental
degradation, peace, and justice.
9. How many SDGs are there and by when should they be
achieved?
There are 17 SDGs with 169 associated targets, and they should be
achieved by the year 2030.
10. What is the significance of the Rio Earth Summit (1992) for
sustainable development?
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) was a landmark event that
produced Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, and the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
laying the foundation for international sustainable development policy.
11. What is Agenda 21?
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action adopted at the 1992 Rio
Earth Summit. It is a non-binding resolution that addresses various
aspects of sustainable development across social, economic, and
environmental dimensions at global, national, and local levels.
12. What is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework?
The MDGs were eight international development goals established in
2000 by the United Nations, to be achieved by 2015. They focused on
reducing poverty, improving health, education, and promoting gender
equality, preceding the SDGs.
13. What is ecological footprint?
An ecological footprint measures the amount of biologically
productive land and water an individual, population, or activity
requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb the
waste it generates.
,14. Define 'green economy'.
A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being
and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and
ecological scarcities. It is low carbon, resource efficient, and socially
inclusive.
15. What is the relationship between poverty and environmental
degradation?
Poverty and environmental degradation are mutually reinforcing. Poor
communities often depend heavily on natural resources for survival,
leading to overexploitation. Environmental degradation worsens
poverty by reducing the availability of clean water, fertile land, and
clean air.
16. What is the concept of 'planetary boundaries'?
Planetary boundaries define the safe operating space for humanity
with respect to the Earth system. Scientists identified nine boundaries
– including climate change, biodiversity loss, and freshwater use –
beyond which there is risk of abrupt or irreversible changes.
17. What is the triple bottom line (TBL)?
The triple bottom line is a framework measuring a company or
organisation's commitment to social responsibility, environmental
sustainability, and financial performance – often referred to as
People, Planet, and Profit.
18. What is climate change and why is it central to sustainable
development?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and
weather patterns, largely driven by human activities since the
industrial age. It threatens food security, water availability, human
health, and biodiversity, making it central to all dimensions of
sustainable development.
19. What is the Paris Agreement (2015)?
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change,
adopted in 2015 under the UNFCCC. It aims to limit global warming
to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to
limit it to 1.5°C.
20. What is 'sustainable economic development' as a concept?
Sustainable economic development refers to economic growth that is
maintained over the long term by ensuring that economic activity
does not deplete natural resources, exacerbate inequality, or
, undermine the social and environmental systems that support human
well-being.
21. How does globalisation affect sustainable development?
Globalisation can both positively and negatively affect sustainable
development. It can spread technology, investment, and growth, but
can also increase inequality, environmental degradation, and
dependency on global commodity prices, particularly in developing
economies.
22. What is 'decoupling' in the context of sustainable economic
development?
Decoupling refers to separating economic growth from environmental
degradation – achieving growth without proportional increases in
resource consumption, pollution, or carbon emissions. It is a key
objective of sustainable development strategies.
23. What role does technology play in sustainable development?
Technology plays a critical role by enabling more efficient use of
resources, developing renewable energy sources, improving
agricultural productivity, and facilitating cleaner production methods.
Innovation is key to achieving sustainable development goals.
24. What is the circular economy?
A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating
waste and the continual use of resources through reuse, repair,
refurbishment, and recycling. It contrasts with the traditional linear
economy of 'take, make, dispose'.
25. What is 'inclusive growth'?
Inclusive growth is economic growth that creates opportunity for all
segments of the population and distributes the dividends of increased
prosperity broadly across society, particularly targeting poverty
reduction and reducing inequality.
26. What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its limitation as a
measure of sustainable development?
GDP is the total monetary value of goods and services produced in a
country. Its limitation is that it measures quantity of economic activity
but not quality – it ignores inequality, environmental degradation, and
social well-being.
27. What alternative indicators have been proposed to measure
sustainable development beyond GDP?
Alternatives include the Human Development Index (HDI), the
Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), the Index of Sustainable Economic
QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED ANSWERS WELL EXPLAINED 2026/2027
University of South Africa (UNISA) | Department of Geography
1. What is sustainable development?
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet
their own needs. This definition was established by the Brundtland
Commission (WCED) in 1987.
2. Which report first popularised the term 'sustainable
development'?
Our Common Future (1987), also known as the Brundtland Report,
produced by the World Commission on Environment and
Development (WCED), first popularised the concept of sustainable
development.
3. What are the three pillars of sustainable development?
The three pillars are: (1) Economic sustainability – maintaining
economic growth and efficiency; (2) Social sustainability – ensuring
social equity and human well-being; and (3) Environmental
sustainability – protecting natural ecosystems and resources.
4. What does intergenerational equity mean in sustainable
development?
Intergenerational equity means ensuring that current generations do
not deplete or damage natural resources and the environment in
ways that prevent future generations from meeting their own needs.
5. How does the concept of 'carrying capacity' relate to sustainable
development?
Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population or level of
resource use an environment can support without suffering
degradation. Sustainable development requires that human activities
remain within the carrying capacity of ecosystems.
6. What is the difference between weak and strong sustainability?
, Weak sustainability allows substitution between natural and human-
made capital, assuming technology can replace natural resources.
Strong sustainability holds that natural capital is irreplaceable and
must be maintained independently of human-made capital.
7. What is the precautionary principle?
The precautionary principle states that when an action raises threats
of harm to human health or the environment, precautionary measures
should be taken even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not
fully established scientifically.
8. What are the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?
The SDGs are 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015
as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They
address poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental
degradation, peace, and justice.
9. How many SDGs are there and by when should they be
achieved?
There are 17 SDGs with 169 associated targets, and they should be
achieved by the year 2030.
10. What is the significance of the Rio Earth Summit (1992) for
sustainable development?
The 1992 Rio Earth Summit (UNCED) was a landmark event that
produced Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration on Environment and
Development, and the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
laying the foundation for international sustainable development policy.
11. What is Agenda 21?
Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action adopted at the 1992 Rio
Earth Summit. It is a non-binding resolution that addresses various
aspects of sustainable development across social, economic, and
environmental dimensions at global, national, and local levels.
12. What is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) framework?
The MDGs were eight international development goals established in
2000 by the United Nations, to be achieved by 2015. They focused on
reducing poverty, improving health, education, and promoting gender
equality, preceding the SDGs.
13. What is ecological footprint?
An ecological footprint measures the amount of biologically
productive land and water an individual, population, or activity
requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb the
waste it generates.
,14. Define 'green economy'.
A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being
and social equity while significantly reducing environmental risks and
ecological scarcities. It is low carbon, resource efficient, and socially
inclusive.
15. What is the relationship between poverty and environmental
degradation?
Poverty and environmental degradation are mutually reinforcing. Poor
communities often depend heavily on natural resources for survival,
leading to overexploitation. Environmental degradation worsens
poverty by reducing the availability of clean water, fertile land, and
clean air.
16. What is the concept of 'planetary boundaries'?
Planetary boundaries define the safe operating space for humanity
with respect to the Earth system. Scientists identified nine boundaries
– including climate change, biodiversity loss, and freshwater use –
beyond which there is risk of abrupt or irreversible changes.
17. What is the triple bottom line (TBL)?
The triple bottom line is a framework measuring a company or
organisation's commitment to social responsibility, environmental
sustainability, and financial performance – often referred to as
People, Planet, and Profit.
18. What is climate change and why is it central to sustainable
development?
Climate change refers to long-term shifts in global temperatures and
weather patterns, largely driven by human activities since the
industrial age. It threatens food security, water availability, human
health, and biodiversity, making it central to all dimensions of
sustainable development.
19. What is the Paris Agreement (2015)?
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change,
adopted in 2015 under the UNFCCC. It aims to limit global warming
to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursue efforts to
limit it to 1.5°C.
20. What is 'sustainable economic development' as a concept?
Sustainable economic development refers to economic growth that is
maintained over the long term by ensuring that economic activity
does not deplete natural resources, exacerbate inequality, or
, undermine the social and environmental systems that support human
well-being.
21. How does globalisation affect sustainable development?
Globalisation can both positively and negatively affect sustainable
development. It can spread technology, investment, and growth, but
can also increase inequality, environmental degradation, and
dependency on global commodity prices, particularly in developing
economies.
22. What is 'decoupling' in the context of sustainable economic
development?
Decoupling refers to separating economic growth from environmental
degradation – achieving growth without proportional increases in
resource consumption, pollution, or carbon emissions. It is a key
objective of sustainable development strategies.
23. What role does technology play in sustainable development?
Technology plays a critical role by enabling more efficient use of
resources, developing renewable energy sources, improving
agricultural productivity, and facilitating cleaner production methods.
Innovation is key to achieving sustainable development goals.
24. What is the circular economy?
A circular economy is an economic system aimed at eliminating
waste and the continual use of resources through reuse, repair,
refurbishment, and recycling. It contrasts with the traditional linear
economy of 'take, make, dispose'.
25. What is 'inclusive growth'?
Inclusive growth is economic growth that creates opportunity for all
segments of the population and distributes the dividends of increased
prosperity broadly across society, particularly targeting poverty
reduction and reducing inequality.
26. What is Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and its limitation as a
measure of sustainable development?
GDP is the total monetary value of goods and services produced in a
country. Its limitation is that it measures quantity of economic activity
but not quality – it ignores inequality, environmental degradation, and
social well-being.
27. What alternative indicators have been proposed to measure
sustainable development beyond GDP?
Alternatives include the Human Development Index (HDI), the
Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), the Index of Sustainable Economic
