Number
AS90811
Version
1
Page 1 of 2
Achievement Standard
Subject Reference
Education for Sustainability 2.2
Title
Describe the consequences of human activity within a biophysical
environment in relation to a sustainable future
Level
2
Credits
4
Subfield
Science
Domain
Environmental Sustainability
Assessment
Internal
Status
Registered
Status date
18 December 2007
Planned review date
28 February 2009
Date version published
18 December 2007
This achievement standard involves the description of the consequences of human activity
within a biophysical environment in relation to a sustainable future.
Achievement Criteria
Achievement
Achievement with Merit
Achievement with
Excellence
 Describe consequences of
human activity within a
biophysical environment in
relation to a sustainable
future.
 Explain consequences of
human activity within a
biophysical environment in
relation to a sustainable
future.
 Discuss consequences of
human activity within a
biophysical environment in
relation to a sustainable
future.
Explanatory Notes
1
This achievement standard is derived from the Guidelines for Environmental
Education in New Zealand Schools, Learning Media, Ministry of Education, 1999.
2
This achievement standard is based on Level 7 of the New Zealand Curriculum
Framework including learning outcomes from the Science, Social Science, Health &
Physical Education, Technology curriculum objectives.
3
A sustainable future requires the development of ways of thinking and acting to meet
the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability includes, but is not limited to:
 maintenance of biodiversity, ecological processes and life support systems
 an economy relative to its ecological life support system
 a fair distribution of resources and opportunities
 looking beyond direct consequences of activities to explore attitudes, values and
moral issues that create particular views on the use of natural resources
 personal and social responsibility.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
Number
AS90811
Version
1
Page 2 of 2
4
Describe requires students to give an account or characteristics of a biophysical
environment, and identify human activity within that environment and its associated
consequences in relation to a sustainable future.
Explain requires students to provide reasons as to how or why human activity has
had consequences on the biophysical environment in relation to a sustainable future
Discuss requires students to demonstrate understanding of links between the
biophysical environment and human activity in relation to a sustainable future. It may
involve students in justifying decisions, making judgments, stating opinions,
considering implications, projecting future impacts, evaluating options, comparing
and contrasting, analysing or suggesting alternatives.
5
Consequences, in relation to a sustainable future refers to all the aspects of
sustainability – environmental, social, economic and cultural, and the
interdependence between them; and/or Māori concepts. The expression of Māori
concepts will vary between hapū and between iwi. It is expected that the local Māori
community be consulted on how these concepts are expressed. Consequences
could be the result of activity taken that promote or disrupt the sustainability of an
environment. Activity taken for a sustainable future could be preventative, mitigating
or remedial.
6
Students will be expected to have visited the environment that they are referring to
and/or communicated with appropriate stakeholders.
7
Biophysical environment includes, but is not limited to, geological, hydrological,
climatic and biological systems. An environment refers to a definable area such as a
stream, estuary, bush, urban community, national park, business, home or farm.
8
Human activities are those that change the biophysical environment, for example
land use, industrial development, transport, housing, waste management, recreation,
tourism, establishment of marine reserves, energy production and consumption,
political, fishing, water use or introduction of exotic species.
Quality Assurance
1
Providers and Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by NZQA before
they can register credits from assessment against achievement standards.
2
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against
achievement standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to
those achievement standards.
Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP) reference
0226
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016