Basic Sustainability Concepts

Explain the following sustainability-related concepts and give an example with each concept:

Obsolescence - 

extinction - 

incineration -  

inequity -  

closed-loop production - 

overconsumption -  

fashion recycling -  

green chemistry - 

water cycles - 

biotic - 

precipitation - 

respiration - 

condensation -  

dredging -  

endangered species -

dugong - 

algae - 

Hawksbill turtles - 

thriving economy - 

decomposers -  

mangroves -  

biotic and abiotic factors -  

marine ecosystems -  

linear system - 

biodegradable materials - 

brackish and salty water -  

raw materials - 

habitat -  

landfills - 

Egan Wheel -  

per capita -  

GM crops - 

GMO - 

perceived obsolescence - 

planned obsolescence -  

complex food webs -  

carbon footprint -  

symbiotic algae -  

ecotourism -  

ecosystem -  

Al Samur tree - 

obsolescence - 


Some sustainability-related concepts explained:

• linear economy (raw materials are used to make a product, and after its use, any waste is thrown away)

• circular/closed loop economy (encourages recycling and reuse of resources, reduces waste)

• UAE SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) - affordable and clean energy

• materials economy (extraction of raw materials from the ground)

• planned obsolescence (designing a product with an artificially limited useful life)

• perceived obsolescence (designed for the dump)

• closed loop economy (recycling)

• externalized production (positive and negative - see https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/externality-of-production.asp)

• externalized costs (the price of the product doesn't reflect the true cost of production)

• finite resources (non-renewable resources)

• incineration of waste (produces toxic materials)

• plogging (picking up trash while exercising).