This theme provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of the environment in which we live and the citizenship actions taken and which can be taken in an attempt to improve both the economy and the environment. Economic development is vital for meeting the basic needs of the growing populations of developing countries. Industrialisation, transportation, global trade and the increased advancements in technologies continue to enable countries to grow and develop socially, economically and environmentally, with some growth (proportionally) continuing to be distributed unequally.
What students will learn
What students will learn
- 1 Key citizenship ideas and concepts in response to growing economies and the impacts on the environment/shared planet.
- 2 The relationship between economic growth and its effect on populations, communities and individual citizens.
- 3 The positives and negatives of economic growth and development and sustainability of positive growth.
A: The process of economic development
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You will need to be able to demonstrate:
a.) Understanding of 3 Human Development Index countries (One High, One Medium and One Low scoring), giving an overview of global wealth disparaties in each nation; emerging economies. b.) Understanding of the roles of free trade in economic development. c.) The development challenges and opportunities associated with international migration, including remittances and other impacts for the host and migrant communities. |
In his bestselling book Factfulness, Hans Rosling complained that most people have an incorrect view of the state of human development, regardless of where they live or what education level they have. To see how well you know the state of human development, take the 13-question Gapminder Test and compare your results. How accurate is your knowledge?
Rosling identifies a number of reasons why people have an overly negative view of human development in the video below.
Rosling identifies a number of reasons why people have an overly negative view of human development in the video below.
A very important reason why we hold on to our negative views about human development is that we are not exposed to data that shows us change over time. To see the impact of this, let’s look at data from two countries on infant mortality, the number of deaths before age 1 out of every 1 000 births.
Watch these videos from Marginal Revolution University for more ideas on economic growth and development - take notes as you watch:
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Human Development Index (HDI)
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary of three key dimensions of human development: having a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living.
The health dimension is measured by the life expectancy at birth indicator. The education component is measured by two indicators: the mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and expected years of schooling for children at school-entering age.
The values of the three HDI dimension indicators are then aggregated into a composite index with values from 0 to 1. Further, countries are divided into four categories: very high human development, high human development, medium human development and low human development.
Find HDI data for 3 countries that could be described as High human development, medium human development and low human development.
The Human Development Index (HDI) is a summary of three key dimensions of human development: having a long and healthy life, being educated and having a decent standard of living.
The health dimension is measured by the life expectancy at birth indicator. The education component is measured by two indicators: the mean years of schooling for adults aged 25 years and expected years of schooling for children at school-entering age.
The values of the three HDI dimension indicators are then aggregated into a composite index with values from 0 to 1. Further, countries are divided into four categories: very high human development, high human development, medium human development and low human development.
Find HDI data for 3 countries that could be described as High human development, medium human development and low human development.
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Costa Rica is located in Central America and is known for its stunning landscapes, biodiversity, stable democracy and educated population. Approximately 8% of GDP is spent on education; the world average is just 4.8%. Costa Rica’s high life expectancy and happiness is helped by a culture of social networks of family, friends and neighbourhoods.
Costa Rica gets more than 99% of its electricity from renewable resources, mainly hydroelectricity, though other non-renewable sources are used for other energy needs.
Forests are important for Costa Rica. Much of it was lost a few decades ago, but forest coverage is back over 50% of land area. This is important for protecting biodiversity. Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s species on just 0.03% of the Earth’s land. Efforts to preserve nature have also spawned a robust tourism industry.
Costa Rica gets more than 99% of its electricity from renewable resources, mainly hydroelectricity, though other non-renewable sources are used for other energy needs.
Forests are important for Costa Rica. Much of it was lost a few decades ago, but forest coverage is back over 50% of land area. This is important for protecting biodiversity. Costa Rica hosts more than 5% of the world’s species on just 0.03% of the Earth’s land. Efforts to preserve nature have also spawned a robust tourism industry.
- What does the GNI per capita rank – HDI rank tell you about Costa Rica?
- What does Costa Rica’s lower relative ranking on the IHDI tell you about the country?
- In groups of 3 create an HDI table like the one below for one high, medium and low development country.
B: The role of international organisations
C: protecting the environment
| climate_chat.pptx |
The causes of climate change
What: Climate change, its causes, consequences and the response of the global community and individual citizens (including adaptation to a changing natural environment).
Why: To recognise the causes of climate change.
To understand the need for and progress towards global action.
Why: To recognise the causes of climate change.
To understand the need for and progress towards global action.
| the_causes_of_climate_change.pptx |
The consequences of climate change
What: The impact of global economic development on the Global Commons, including rainforest removal, biodiversity loss and ocean pollution.
Why: To investigate the concept of the Global Commons.
To recognise the main areas of concern.
Why: To investigate the concept of the Global Commons.
To recognise the main areas of concern.
| the_consquensces_of_climate_change.pptx |
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Managing global climate change
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| climate_change_kids.docx |
| climate_kids.pdf |
Economic development and the environment
What: The impact of global economic development on the Global Commons, including rainforest removal, biodiversity loss and ocean pollution.
Why: To investigate the concept of the Global Commons.
To recognise the main areas of concern.
Why: To investigate the concept of the Global Commons.
To recognise the main areas of concern.
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Managing economic growth and the environment
What: Ways of promoting the protection of the environment while supporting economic growth.
Why: To investigate possible actions to protect the environment.
To evaluate the viability of sustainable development.
Why: To investigate possible actions to protect the environment.
To evaluate the viability of sustainable development.
Ecotourism
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Circular economy
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D: The UN sustainable development goals
From MDG to SDG- what progress has been made?
LO: Progress made towards meeting SDG targets in two contrasting world regions.
Key questions:
1. There are 17 goals: if you could only pick three as most important which would they be?
2. How and why do your choices differ from other people in the class?
3. Do you agree that all of the SDG goals are needed and desirable
4. Which region is achieving the SDG targets most effectively?
5. Which SDG targets re on their way to being acheived in each region?
6. What SDG targets seem to be the hardest to acheive?
7. How could countries be helped to acheive the hardest goals?
Research:
Choose 2 countries from contrasting regions and create a comparative report (could be a presentation, infographic, video etc) showing how they are progressing towards the SDG targets
Success criteria:
-Include examples of case studies and projects that are in place.
-Include data and specific examples of how these countries are meeting certain SDGs
- Include challenges they have faced in meeting the SDGs
'The SDGs focus too much on UN goals rather than the countries own individual goals' How far do you agree with this view?
LO: Progress made towards meeting SDG targets in two contrasting world regions.
Key questions:
1. There are 17 goals: if you could only pick three as most important which would they be?
2. How and why do your choices differ from other people in the class?
3. Do you agree that all of the SDG goals are needed and desirable
4. Which region is achieving the SDG targets most effectively?
5. Which SDG targets re on their way to being acheived in each region?
6. What SDG targets seem to be the hardest to acheive?
7. How could countries be helped to acheive the hardest goals?
Research:
Choose 2 countries from contrasting regions and create a comparative report (could be a presentation, infographic, video etc) showing how they are progressing towards the SDG targets
Success criteria:
-Include examples of case studies and projects that are in place.
-Include data and specific examples of how these countries are meeting certain SDGs
- Include challenges they have faced in meeting the SDGs
'The SDGs focus too much on UN goals rather than the countries own individual goals' How far do you agree with this view?
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| 60secondguidesustainabledevelopmentgoalsall.pdf |
E: The growth of regionalisation