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Stuff Every Sustainability Scout Should Know: the Study Guide

Practice facts for the Sustainability merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.

Knowing Sustainability Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.

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Chapter 1: Weather and Water

What does sustainability mean in simple terms?

Short answer: Making things last without using up resources for the future

Sustainability means continuing over a long time while keeping resources available for future people.

Groan of the day: Sustain your brain: it can hold a lot!

Sources: Sustainability

What are planetary boundaries?

Short answer: Limits that should not be crossed to prevent irreversible harm

Planetary boundaries mark thresholds that, if crossed, could cause irreversible harm to Earth.

Groan of the day: Boundaries are like fences for the planet.

Sources: Sustainability

What does the IPAT formula measure?

Short answer: Human environmental impact from population, affluence, and technology

IPAT says environmental impact is proportional to population, affluence, and technology.

Groan of the day: IPAT is a formula, not a pat on the back.

Sources: Sustainability

What is greenwashing?

Short answer: Deceptive marketing about how sustainable a product is

Greenwashing is misleading marketing that makes a product or policy seem more sustainable than it is.

Groan of the day: Greenwashing cleans the image, not the planet.

Sources: Sustainability

What is the circular economy trying to do?

Short answer: Decouple environmental pressure from economic growth

The circular economy aims to separate environmental pressure from economic growth.

Groan of the day: A circular economy keeps going around without wasting.

Sources: Sustainability

What is supply chain sustainability about?

Short answer: Environmental and human impacts of products from raw materials to delivery

It looks at environmental and human impacts from raw material sourcing through delivery.

Groan of the day: Follow the chain to see the whole story.

Sources: Sustainability

What does the Rio Declaration focus on?

Short answer: Ecosystem integrity and sustainability

The Rio Declaration is a foundational instrument for sustainability and includes ecosystem integrity.

Groan of the day: Rio made a declaration, not a reservation.

Sources: Sustainability

What is the Montreal Protocol known for?

Short answer: Banning CFCs that deplete the ozone layer

The Montreal Protocol led to a de facto ban on CFCs that were depleting the ozone layer.

Groan of the day: The ozone layer said thanks by not thinning out.

Sources: Sustainability

What is the Anthropocene?

Short answer: A proposed epoch named for human impact on Earth

Paul Crutzen called the current epoch the Anthropocene because human activities affect geology and ecosystems.

Groan of the day: The Anthropocene is a human-made chapter in Earth's story.

Sources: Sustainability

What is strong sustainability?

Short answer: Nature provides functions technology cannot replace

Strong sustainability says nature provides functions that technology cannot replace, so ecological integrity must be preserved.

Groan of the day: Strong sustainability lifts nature up.

Sources: Sustainability

What is weak sustainability?

Short answer: Human-made capital could replace most natural capital

Weak sustainability says human-made capital could replace most natural capital, but critics say it risks ecological integrity.

Groan of the day: Weak sustainability needs a stronger backup plan.

Sources: Sustainability

What is the value-action gap?

Short answer: People often do not act according to their convictions

The value-action gap describes when people's actions do not match their stated values.

Groan of the day: Mind the gap between what you say and what you do.

Sources: Sustainability

What is a sustainability transition?

Short answer: A deep system-wide change in technology, economy, society, and values

A sustainability transition is a deep, system-wide change affecting technology, economy, society, values, and goals.

Groan of the day: Transition means change gears, not just change socks.

Sources: Sustainability

What is eco-economic decoupling?

Short answer: Using fewer resources per unit of economic output

Decoupling means using less resources per unit of output and reducing environmental impact.

Groan of the day: Decoupling means untying growth from pollution.

Sources: Sustainability

What did Elinor Ostrom study?

Short answer: How local communities manage shared natural resources

Ostrom studied how small communities establish rules to manage shared resources sustainably.

Groan of the day: Ostrom showed communities can share the pie.

Sources: Sustainability

What is the precautionary principle?

Short answer: Acting carefully when there is risk of serious harm

The precautionary principle says to act with caution when there is a risk of serious harm.

Groan of the day: Precaution means look before you leap.

Sources: Sustainability

What does reducing food waste help with?

Short answer: Lowering environmental impact and saving resources

Reducing food waste is a step toward environmental sustainability and resource savings.

Groan of the day: Don't waste food; it's a waste of resources.

Sources: Sustainability

What is an externality in economics?

Short answer: A cost or benefit not reflected in market price

Externalities are costs or benefits, like pollution, that market prices do not reflect.

Groan of the day: Externalities are costs that sneak outside the price tag.

Sources: Sustainability

What is species decline?

Short answer: A decrease in plant or animal populations

Species decline means populations of plants or animals are decreasing, often due to human activities.

Groan of the day: Species decline means fewer animals, not fewer species names.

Sources: Scouting America: Sustainability

What is the trash vortex?

Short answer: A large area of ocean plastic pollution

The trash vortex is a large accumulation of plastic pollution in the ocean, like the Pacific Garbage Patch.

Groan of the day: The trash vortex is a whirlpool of waste, not a fun ride.

Sources: Scouting America: Sustainability

The cheat sheet

The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.

  • Sustainability means continuing over a long time while keeping resources available for future people.
  • Scholars usually describe sustainability through environmental, social, and economic dimensions.
  • Sustainability is the long-term goal, while sustainable development is the pathway to get there.
  • The report defines it as meeting present needs without harming future generations' ability to meet theirs.
  • Many experts say the environmental dimension sets limits on economic and social development.
  • The word comes from Latin sustinere, meaning to maintain, support, uphold, or endure.
  • His forestry work described conserving and replanting timber for continuous, ongoing use.
  • Planetary boundaries mark thresholds that, if crossed, could cause irreversible harm to Earth.
  • IPAT says environmental impact is proportional to population, affluence, and technology.
  • Greenwashing is misleading marketing that makes a product or policy seem more sustainable than it is.
  • The circular economy aims to separate environmental pressure from economic growth.
  • The triple bottom line is an accounting approach using people, planet, and profit.

Pop quiz

Think of your answer first, then peek.

  1. What does sustainability mean in simple terms?
    • Making things last without using up resources for the future
    • Using all resources as fast as possible
    • Only recycling plastic bottles
    Show the answer

    Making things last without using up resources for the future. Sustainability means continuing over a long time while keeping resources available for future people.

  2. What is the circular economy trying to do?
    • Sell more products each year
    • Decouple environmental pressure from economic growth
    • Make everything round
    Show the answer

    Decouple environmental pressure from economic growth. The circular economy aims to separate environmental pressure from economic growth.

  3. What is weak sustainability?
    • Nature is always stronger
    • Weakness is good for the economy
    • Human-made capital could replace most natural capital
    Show the answer

    Human-made capital could replace most natural capital. Weak sustainability says human-made capital could replace most natural capital, but critics say it risks ecological integrity.

  4. What is one way to reduce consumption?
    • Reducing food waste and choosing durable goods
    • Buying more disposable items
    • Throwing away usable things
    Show the answer

    Reducing food waste and choosing durable goods. Reduced consumption includes cutting food waste and shifting toward plant-based diets.

  5. What is a product life cycle?
    • Only the price of a product
    • Design, sourcing, production, use, and disposal or reuse
    • Only the time a product is in a store
    Show the answer

    Design, sourcing, production, use, and disposal or reuse. A product life cycle covers design, sourcing, production, use, and disposal or reuse.

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