CGU4U/C
Unit # 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment
Urban Sustainability: Who should be on the Hook?
Take the following quiz. Indicate who you think should be responsible in each situation.
Situation
1. Promoting the sorting of curbside waste into streams:
plastics, paper, compost trash
2. Providing clean water in adequate amounts to people
3. Capping emission of pollution or greenhouse gases
4. Paying for the clean-up of contaminated soil in urban
spaces.
5. Building a community garden in a low income
neighborhood
6. Building a community garden in an affluent
neighborhood
7. Requiring new buildings to meet a certain level of
energy efficiency.
8. Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels
9. Reducing the emissions from motor vehicles
10. Waste collection and disposal
11. The financial costs associated with higher levels of
environmental protection
12. Determining the density of new housing construction
13. Determining the path of a new oil pipeline through a
community
14. Changing land use zoning from one type of land use
to another
15. Snow removal on a sidewalk
16. Mitigating traffic congestion around a new theme
park
17. Mitigating traffic congestion around a newly
Government
Companies
Individuals
CGU4U/C
Unit # 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment
constructed neighborhood.
18. Reducing air and noise pollution around an
international airport
19. Expanding the lanes and roads around the ever
growing Google and Apple headquarters.
20. Hospital visits related to air pollution
Case Studies of Sustainable Contributions
Everyone has their role in supporting sustainable development in our society. Often times the decision of one
level has direct impacts on other levels. Let’s look at 3 examples of sustainable change and how that impacts
the other levels.
GOVERNMENT
CORPORATIONS
INDIVIDUALS
France
Greenside Electric
UrbanGreenEnergy
SumofUs.org
CGU4U/C
Unit # 3: Sustainability in the Global Environment