Download GCE AS/A level Geography Sustainability checklist (useful

Fifteen sustainable principles


The fifteen statements below were devised by Greenpeace, who helped to design Sydney’s
2000 Olympics – they called them the world’s first ‘Green Olympics’.
You can use these to judge whether any development is sustainable – just tick each of the
boxes and see how well it matches up.
It does this
Well Slightly
+2
+1
Positive criteria
1. It reduces energy
consumption
2. It develops public
(not private)
transport
3. It uses chemical-free
refrigeration & air
conditioning
4. It uses low impact
building materials
5. All timber used is
from sustainable
sources
6. It protects / expands
wildlife habitats
7. It reduces air, water
& soil pollution
8. It encourages water
conservation
9. It makes indoor air
quality better (with
natural light &
ventilation)
10.It reduces the use of
natural resources
11.It avoids or
minimises waste
12.It avoids GM
Organisms
13.It increases quality
of life, including for
the poorest
14.It respects local
culture & history
15.All decision-making
is clear
Unclear
0
It does this
Less well
Badly
-1
-2
Negative criteria
1. It increases energy
consumption
2. It develops private
(not public)
transport
3. It uses harmful
refrigeration & air
conditioning
4. It uses damaging
building materials
5. All timber is from
non-sustainable
sources
6. It destroys wildlife
habitats
7. It increases air,
water & soil
pollution
8. It uses scarce
water resources
9. Indoor air quality is
worse (with
artificial light &
ventilation)
10. It increases the use
of natural
resources
11. It increases waste
production
12. It uses GM
Organisms
13. It worsens quality
of life, especially
for the poorest
14. It destroys local
culture & history
15. Decision-making is
in secret
Total Score (between +30 and -30) = _______