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Long Term Thinking

Long Term Thinking.png

Efficiency, speed, and habits prompt us to make decisions based on the short- or medium-term horizon. Every action has consequences that are not immediately visible. Considering the long term when analyzing situations and making decisions has a positive impact on global sustainability. We develop long-term thinking by relating to the outside and inside worlds. The key components include increasing awareness of one's own habits (related to time perspective), exploring implications of a short-term perspective, unleashing imagination to think about the possible long-term implications, heightening awareness, and connecting to others.  

 

Teaching Goal: Students consider the long term consequences and implications when analyzing situations and making decisions

 

Meta Goal: To develop the habit of considering long term impacts

Source: Rimanoczy, I. (2020) The Sustainability Mindset Principles: A guide to developing a mindset for a better world. Routledge 

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Click on a button below to access an assortment of different artifacts on the topic of Ecoliteracy.

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Articles

Palm Oil- Deforestation for Everyday Products

This website gives a 5-minute summary of the dangers behind palm oil. It is divided into three sections: The issue, the impact, and the solutions.

Shepheard wrote this article in response to Indianapolis Motor Speedway’s tradition of releasing 500 balloons at the start of the event. He explains why releasing balloons are bad for the environment and suggests ways to find alternatives to balloon releases.

Helium Balloons

Long Term effects on the Great Barrier Reef

David Shearman writes this article to dissect the Great Barrier reef’s exploitation for short-term profit instead of preserving the reef for its beauty, fishing, and tourism benefits.

Tradeoffs in Sustainability- Oriented Innovations

In this article, the authors explain how viewing profit and planet as tradeoffs in economic terms can constrain innovation and impede the conservation of natural resources.

edu videos
Educational Videos

Fast Fashion: TED Talk

In Maxine Bédat’s 18-minute TED Talk, she gives an overview of the Fast Fashion industry and the negative impacts on the planet and humans.

Dr. Sanjayan explains the environmental cost behind “rushed” or two-day shipping. This results in significantly more environmental pollution because fast shipping often requires more boxes. By choosing the more distant and slower delivery options, consumers allow the company to find the most efficient way to get the product(s).

The Environmental Cost of Two-day Shipping

Sanjayan goes more in-depth into the practice of waste-free consumption by interviewing Laura Singer, the founder of Trash for Tossers, a website that gives tips about living a zero-waste life. Singer is the CEO of The Simply Co. Singer challenged the consumeristic norm and revealed some of her tips for reducing her waste.

Waste Adds Up

Dr. M. Sanjayan, highlights why humans are so unresponsive when it comes to thinking about climate change as we view it in the future. Dr. Sanjayan talks with Per Espenn Stoknes and looks at the Engage experiment. 

How Humans Think about Climate Change

Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things

The documentary talks about the current advertising world and how it has created a society where there are 52 seasons of consumption and it creates a culture of endless buying. The Minimalists focus on getting rid of the excess stuff in an individual’s life that they do not use, a way to declutter. Can also be found on YouTube Movies, Amazon Prime, Google Play, iTunes, and Netflix (a small fee or subscription may be required). Select "View Here" for a free option. 

Sustainability Mindset Toolkit

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