JUNIOR CYCLE BUSINESS STUDIES SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
As well as thinking about how our behaviour as consumers can affect people in other parts of the world, we should also be aware of how the choices we make now will affect the well-being of people in the future.
We will learn more about sustainable development in chapter 34
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It is our responsibility to take care of the planet. By making consumer choices that do not harm the environment, we will help make sure that the planet supports society’s needs for many years to come. This is called sustainable development.
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Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without stopping future generations meeting their own needs.
There are number of things that we can do as consumers to protect the world we live in:
• Look for products that have a reduced impact on the environment (e.g. products that are biodegradable or reusable, or that have no or very little packaging).
• Reduce the amount of waste we produce.
• Reuse and repair products, rather than replacing them.
• Recycle.
• Have energy efficient homes (e.g. good insulation, efficient appliances, solar panels).
• Use environmentally friendly transport (e.g. cycle or walk rather than driving or taking the bus).
