Title: 3. Carbon neutrality and a circular economy
Course: Promotion of Sustainable development

​ ​(Picture: Carbon neutrality and circular economy 2, cc Elina Pirkkalainen 2024, AI generated, Copilot designer)

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Goals:  

- You will understand the principles of carbon neutrality and a circular economy. 

- You will be able to identifiy the energy or material efficiency of a product or a service.

Evaluation of part 3

- This part is evaluated in the combination of a task and a test.

- Lifestyle and carbon footprint task, total 7 points

- Final test, total 21 points

3.1 Energy and material efficiency

​(Picture: Energy and material efficiency superheroes, cc Elina Pirkkalainen 2024, AI generated, Copilot designer)

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Let’s imagine that energy and material efficiency are like two superheroes fighting together to save the world!

Energy Eric is a hero who ensures we use energy wisely. He turns off lights when they are not needed and uses solar panels to harness the power of the sun. Energy Eric also loves cycling because it saves fuel and keeps him fit!

Material Mary, on the other hand, is a master of recycling and reusing. She makes new things out of old items and comes up with creative ways to reduce waste. Material Mary can turn an old t-shirt into a handy shopping bag or use glass jars as storage containers.

When these two heroes join forces, they can reduce environmental impact and save natural resources. Their adventures teach us that small actions can have a big impact. So, the next time you turn off the lights or recycle a plastic bottle, remember that you are part of Energy Eric and Material Mary’s team!

3.1.1 Natural resources and energy efficiency

​(Picture: Natural resources and energy efficiency a house with solar panels, cc Elina Pirkkalainen 2024, AI generated, Copilot designer)

Practise natural resources and energy efficiency by Kahoot and do task 3.1.1 (right-click to open in a new tab)

3.1.2 Material efficiency

​(Picture: Material efficiency / evening gown rental boutique, cc Elina Pirkkalainen 2024, AI generated, Copilot designer)

Material efficiency saves the climate, natural resources, and costs. The items in the following task are related to improving material efficiency. In this task, match the item with the category of material efficiency. 

Do task 3.1.2 (right-click to open in a new tab)

3.2 Waste Sorting

Proper waste sorting is an essential environmental action.

(Picture: A man sorting waste, AI generated)

By avoiding unnessessary consumption, recycling and reusing materials, we can ensure that resuorces are utilized efficiently. This practise helps conserve natural resources, protect the environment, and save energy. Remember to sort your waste into the appropriate bins to contribute to a more sustainable future! 

Read material 3.20. and do tasks 3.2.1 and 3.2.2. (right-click to open in a new tab)

3.3 Carbon cycle and carbon neutrality

​(Picture: carbon cycle, cc AI-generated) 

Understanding the carbon cycle and carbon footprint is essential in addressing climate change. The carbon cycle is the natural process through which carbon is exchanged between the atmosphere, oceans, soil, and living organisms, involving processes like photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, and combustion. 

On the other hand, a carbon footprint measures the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions for which an individual or organization is responsible, including activities such as driving, electricity use, and food consumption. These two concepts are interconnected because our carbon footprint impacts the carbon cycle. By reducing our carbon footprint, we help maintain the balance within the carbon cycle and mitigate climate change. 

Do task 3.3.1. (right-click to open in a new tab)

3.4 Lifestyle and carbon footprint

​(Picture: Carbon footprint, cc Elina Pirkkalainen 2024, AI generated, Copilot designer)

Our daily choices have a significant impact on the environment and climate change. While individual actions might seem small, their collective effect is substantial. For instance, conserving energy, recycling, and choosing a more sustainable diet can greatly reduce our carbon footprint. As more people make environmentally friendly choices, the effects multiply, and together we can slow down climate change.  

Do task 3.4.1. (right-click to open in a new tab)

NOTE: Evaluation of task 3.4.1.

 This task is important, because part 3 is evaluated as a combination of this task and the final test.

- Lifestyle and carbon footprint task, total 5 points

- Final test, total 21 points

3.5 Life cycle of a product

The life cycle of a product can be surprisingly long. Here you have a video, a picture and an exercise  you can practice the phases related to the life cycle of product or device with . Challenge yourself to think about environmental, economic, and social impacts of these phases. Let’s study!  

Watch the video called The life cycle of a T-shirt – Angel Chang TED ed   

(6 min) 

 

 

Study the picture below

 ​(Picture: the life cycle of metal, cc Natalia Michailichenko)

Do task 3.5.1. (right click to open in a new tab)

3.6 What is the difference between linear and circular economy?

As an introduction to linear and circular economy, watch this video:

In a circular economy, the goal is for all materials to circulate. To promote circular economy, we can develop new ways to utilize products and their parts or raw materials. The design phase is one of the most important aspects of the circular economy: products must be designed to last longer, be repairable, and their materials need to be reusable. Not all products need to be owned; instead, their use can be shared, borrowed, and recycled among multiple owners and for different purposes. Legislation in the EU is trying to promote a circular economy and all of us can have an impact to reduce waste and enable materials to circulate.  

(Picture: linear economy, cc Vierko Tiina Tuovinen 2024)

The current linear economic model is unsustainable and based on the overconsumption of natural resources. Problems with the linear economy are, for example: Many landfill sites are needed, litter in the seas and in nature are increasing and natural resources are running out globally. 

(Picture: circular economy, cc Vierko Tiina Tuovinen 2024)

Do task 3.6.1. (right click to open in a new tab)

PART 3 Principles of Sustainable development/Final test

(Picture, people doing a test, cc Elina Pirkkalainen, AI Generated, Copilot)

Do Final test part 3 (right-click to open in a new tab)

You can only do this test once and there is a time limit (90 minutes).