SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

WARM UP
Will humanity prevent catastrophic climate change?

VOCABULARY
1. Net Zero = the balance between the amount of greenhouse gas
produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere. We
reach net zero when the amount we add is no more than the
amount taken away.
2. SDGs = The UN sustainable development goals.
3. An initiative = a new plan or process to achieve something or
solve a problem.
4. A stake in society = If you have a stake in society, you will get
advantages if it is successful, and you feel that you have an
important connection with it.
5. Crises = times of intense difficulty or danger.
6. To root out = to find and remove.
7. The heart of (something) = the central or most important part of
something.
8. Carbon-free energy = an energy source that generates no carbon
emissions.
9. You’ve made your bed, now lie in it = said to someone who must
accept the unpleasant results of something they have done.
10. To foster = to encourage the development of.
11. Consumption = the action of using up a resource.
SDG's
Watch the video and answer the questions.

1. Which 3 SDG’s are the most important? Why?

2. Who is the target audience for this video? Why?
3. Do you think that this initiative will have a significant impact on
humanity? Why?

SAVING THE PLANET

What would you be prepared to do?

1. Only fly once every 2 years.

2. Stop using a car and travel everywhere on public transport.
3. Become a vegetarian.
4. Stop using AC.
5. Quit your job and live in a cave in the countryside.

DISCUSSION
1. Who is responsible for the dire state of the environment?
2. What laws could be changed, or investments made, to improve
the sustainability of the earth?
3. Is having children bad for the environment?
4. Achieving net zero in the UK is estimated to cost approximately
£50,000 per household1 or £3,000,000,000,000. Total UK GDP for
2020 was £2,700,000,000,000. Who should pay for the
transformation?
5. Why should corporations care about sustainable development?
1
https://www.thegwpf.org/content/uploads/2020/02/ThreeTrillion-1.pdf
6. Is the current capitalist model sustainable?
7. Why should people, without a stake in society, care about the
sustainability of society?
8. The world's average salary is $1,480 (£928) a month, which is just
less than $18,000 (£11,291) a year. Would you be in favour of
increasing global financial equality if it negatively affected your
own income?
9. What would you be willing to give up to help achieve net zero?
10. Is global population growth sustainable?

LESSON NOTES

VOCABULARY
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PRONUNCIATION
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GRAMMAR
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KEY POINTS
1.