Introduction to Sustainability
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Provided by: Khan Academy|Published on: April 27, 2021
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Synopsis
- This video defines sustainability and discusses various environmental indicators that can be used to assess the health of ecosystems.
- The examples of sustainability in agriculture and fishing are specifically highlighted, and there is an interactive quiz included on the topic.

Subjects: Biology
Authors: Khan Academy
Region: Global
Languages: English
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This video introduces sustainability clearly and concisely by defining the concept and providing multiple examples.
- This is a great video that connects certain activities to many environmental side effects.
- This is a great introduction to the concept of sustainability and environmental science.
Prerequisites
- Students should be familiar with ecosystems and the basics of ecology.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After watching this video, students can research environmental indicators that are used in their area to monitor the health of ecosystems and determine if current practices are sustainable.
- Teachers can use this video as an introduction to the problems threatening sustainability in agriculture and fishing and task students with proposing potential solutions to alleviate the stress on affected ecosystems.
- Cross-curricular connections can be made with economics by discussing the costs and trade-offs of using sustainable practices in sectors like agriculture and fishing.
- This video may pair well with the game Lakeland, which allows students to explore the effects of agriculture on lake ecosystems.
- Teachers can expand on the topic of sustainability with the video The Sustainability Compass.
This resource is a primer on the principle of sustainability, how to identify it, and how to apply it to our practices. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →

