| Front | Back | | --- | --- | | How does modernization theory use the Environmental Kuznets Curve to argue that economic growth eventually solves environmental degradation? | It argues that environmental damage is a temporary phase; as nations industrialize and get richer, they transition to service economies and can afford cleaner, sustainable technologies. | | How does dependency theory explain why Global South nations struggle to achieve environmental sustainability? | The global capitalist system forces the Global South to export cheap raw materials to the Global North, locking them into extractive, resource-depleting development to service foreign debt. | | How would a post-development theorist critique the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? | They argue the SDGs impose Western-centric assumptions of economic growth and modernization, ignoring indigenous knowledge and non-growth alternatives. | | How does realism explain why international climate agreements, like the Paris Agreement, often fail to meet emission targets? | States prioritize their own national economic growth and relative power over global climate action, creating a collective action problem where states free-ride on others' emissions cuts. | | How do liberal institutionalists and realists differ on the role of Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) in tracking SDG progress? |

Liberal institutionalists: VNRs foster transparency, build trust, and encourage international cooperation.
Realists: VNRs are toothless because they are voluntary, lack enforcement, and cannot override state sovereignty.

| | What is the core argument of developing nations under the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)? | Historically industrialized nations caused the majority of cumulative emissions and have more wealth, so they must bear the primary financial and mitigation burden. | | How does the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 (2022) address the tension between development and sustainability? | It acknowledges that wealthy nations owe financial compensation to vulnerable Global South nations suffering climate impacts they did not historically cause. | | Contrast how "strong sustainability" and "weak sustainability" view the destruction of a natural resource like the Amazon rainforest. |

Strong sustainability: The ecological functions of the rainforest are irreplaceable and cannot be substituted by human-made capital.
Weak sustainability: The loss is acceptable if technological innovations (like carbon capture or synthetic alternatives) can replace its utility.

| | Why do critics argue that SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) directly contradicts SDG 13 (Climate Action)? | Continuous GDP growth historically requires increased energy consumption and resource extraction, which drives up carbon emissions and undermines climate mitigation. | | How does the Kok-Aral Dam project illustrate the limitations of regional cooperation in transboundary environmental management? | The dam successfully restored the North Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, but the South Aral Sea in Uzbekistan remains dry because Uzbekistan prioritizes cotton irrigation revenues over water-sharing agreements. | | What was the fundamental structural shift between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? | The MDGs isolated sustainability as one of eight separate goals for developing nations, while the SDGs integrate sustainability as a universal, cross-cutting principle across all 17 goals. | | Contrast the "green growth" and "degrowth" solutions to planetary environmental limits. |

Green growth: Technology and circular economies can decouple GDP growth from environmental harm.
Degrowth: Wealthy nations must deliberately reduce consumption to stay within planetary boundaries, as decoupling is impossible.

| | The concept of sustainable development was first popularized in the Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) in 1987, which defined it as meeting present needs without compromising future generations. | The concept of sustainable development was first popularized in the Brundtland Report (Our Common Future) in 1987, which defined it as meeting present needs without compromising future generations. | | The first global summit to explicitly link development with environmental protection was the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. | The first global summit to explicitly link development with environmental protection was the UN Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972. | | The limits to growth debate was catalyzed in 1972 by the Club of Rome, which used computer models to argue that infinite economic growth on a finite planet is physically impossible. | The limits to growth debate was catalyzed in 1972 by the Club of Rome, which used computer models to argue that infinite economic growth on a finite planet is physically impossible. | | Under Agenda 2030, progress on the SDGs is tracked through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by member states to the UN High-Level Political Forum. | Under Agenda 2030, progress on the SDGs is tracked through Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by member states to the UN High-Level Political Forum. | | The concept of ecological debt argues that wealthy nations owe the Global South trillions of dollars for centuries of resource extraction and carbon emissions. | The concept of ecological debt argues that wealthy nations owe the Global South trillions of dollars for centuries of resource extraction and carbon emissions. | | The seminal 1962 book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson launched the modern environmental movement by exposing the ecological damage of synthetic pesticides. | The seminal 1962 book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson launched the modern environmental movement by exposing the ecological damage of synthetic pesticides. |

Core: Understanding power and global politics6 subtopics

Rights and Justice4 subtopics

Development and Sustainability4 subtopics

Peace and Conflict4 subtopics

IB Global Politics The Relationship Between Development and Sustainability Flashcards

Core: Understanding power and global politics6 subtopics

Rights and Justice4 subtopics

Development and Sustainability4 subtopics

Peace and Conflict4 subtopics

Flashcards for The Relationship Between Development and Sustainability

Flashcards for The Relationship Between Development and Sustainability - IB