Sustainable Development: Protecting Earth for the Future

Sustainable development means using Earth's resources carefully so that people today can meet their needs and future generations can meet their needs too. It is about making smart choices that protect our planet for the children and grandchildren who will live here after us.

You have already learned about Sharing Earth's Resources and Using Earth's Resources. Sustainable development builds on those ideas by asking: how do we use resources wisely so they never run out?

A renewable resource is something that can be naturally replaced, like sunlight, wind, and water. Canada uses sunlight for solar energy and moving air for wind energy both are clean and will never run out.

A non-renewable resource is something that cannot be replaced once it is used up, like coal, oil, and natural gas. These took millions of years to form, so it is very important to use them carefully and look for better alternatives.

You can help protect the environment every day by following the three Rs. To reduce means to use less of something so you create less waste this is the most powerful of the three Rs. To reuse means to use something again instead of throwing it away, like using a reusable water bottle. To recycle means to turn old materials into new products, which saves trees and reduces landfill waste.

You can also sort your recyclables from your garbage at home to make a real difference in your community. Learn more about how your choices affect the world through Making Good Choices.

Canada's forests clean the air, provide homes for animals, and protect water sources. When too many trees are cut down, animals lose their habitat and the air becomes harder to keep clean. Reforestation planting new trees helps restore forests that have been lost.

Canada has about 20% of the world's fresh water, making its lakes and rivers extremely important. Turning off the tap while brushing your teeth can save several litres of water every day. Protecting freshwater is part of Protecting Our World and connects to Parks and Conservation.

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in Earth's temperatures caused partly by burning fossil fuels. You can help by turning off lights when leaving a room, riding a bicycle instead of driving, and using carpooling to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Communities that plan new buildings to use less energy are called sustainable communities. They balance people's needs with protecting the environment. Explore how this connects to Community Design and Community Development.

Sustainable Development: Using resources carefully so people today and future generations can both meet their needs.

Recycling: Turning used materials like paper, plastic, and glass into new products, which reduces landfill waste.

Conservation: Protecting and carefully managing natural resources and wildlife so they stay healthy for the future.

Renewable Resource: A resource like sunlight or wind that can be naturally replaced and will not run out.

Non-Renewable Resource: A resource like coal or oil that cannot be replaced once it has been used up.

Composting: Turning food scraps and yard waste into rich soil that helps plants grow, while reducing landfill waste.

Pollution: Harmful substances like car exhaust or chemicals that damage the environment, air, or water.

Reforestation: Planting new trees to restore forests that have been cut down or lost.

Carpooling: Sharing a car ride with others to reduce the number of vehicles on the road and cut down on harmful emissions.

Water Conservation: Using water carefully and wisely to protect rivers, lakes, and groundwater for the future.

Energy Conservation: Using less electricity so that fewer fossil fuels need to be burned, which reduces pollution.

Biodiversity: The variety of different plants, animals, and living things found in an area high biodiversity makes ecosystems stronger.

Carbon Footprint: The total amount of greenhouse gases released by a person's daily activities, like driving or using electricity.

Climate Change: Long-term shifts in Earth's temperatures caused partly by human activities like burning fossil fuels.

Reduce: Using less of something so you create less waste the most important of the three Rs.

Reuse: Using an item again instead of throwing it away, like using a reusable shopping bag.

Future Generations: The children and grandchildren who will live on Earth after us and who also need clean air, water, and resources.

You can start making a difference right now! Try turning off lights when you leave a room, using both sides of paper at school, and sorting your recyclables at home. These small habits add up to big changes when everyone does them together.

You can also plant trees in your community, compost food scraps, and choose to ride a bicycle instead of asking for a car ride. Every action you take connects to the bigger goal of Environmental Protection and supports Individual Environmental Responsibility.

You have already explored important ideas that lead to this topic. In Caring for Our World and Human Effects on Nature, you learned how people's actions affect the environment. In Environmental Consequences of Economic Activities, you discovered how industries can impact nature.

You also learned about New Ideas and Solutions and Community Environmental Protection Values, which show how communities work together to solve environmental problems. All of these ideas come together in sustainable development.

Sustainable development connects to many other important topics you will explore. Environmental Protection and Community Environmental Effects show you how communities impact and protect the natural world around them.

You will also connect this topic to Communities and Their Environments, Parks and Conservation, and Resource Industries to understand how people use and protect natural spaces. Topics like Resource Exploration and Development and Land Modification show how development changes the land.

Changing Landscapes, Community Design, and Community Development help you see how communities can be planned sustainably. You can also explore how people work together through Making Change and International Cooperation.

This topic prepares you for more advanced learning in Sustainable Environmental Protection Practices, Human Effects, Natural Resources, Geographic Areas, and Ecosystems.