SUS1501 Assignment 8 Portfolio – Semester 1, 2025
UNISA – SUS1501: Ethics and Sustainability
Assignment 8 Portfolio (Complete Answers)Semester 1 – 2025
Question 1: Define sustainability and explain why it is an essential concept in the 21st century.
Provide practical examples of sustainability challenges in South Africa.
Answer:
Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic growth,
social development, and environmental protection. In the 21st century, sustainability is
crucial because of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising
inequality. In South Africa, sustainability challenges include energy dependency on coal,
water scarcity, and high unemployment. For example, Eskom’s reliance on coal contributes
to carbon emissions, while Cape Town has faced severe droughts highlighting the
importance of water conservation. Therefore, sustainability is not only a global concern but
also a pressing local issue.
Question 2: Discuss the role of ethics in promoting sustainable development. Why is ethical
decision-making important in addressing sustainability challenges?
Answer:
Ethics provides the moral foundation for decision-making in sustainability. Ethical
principles such as fairness, justice, and responsibility ensure that development does not
exploit vulnerable groups or harm the environment. For instance, companies adopting
ethical sourcing practices ensure that workers are treated fairly and that production
processes do not damage ecosystems. Ethical decision-making also builds trust among
stakeholders, promotes transparency, and ensures long-term sustainability. In South Africa,
addressing corruption, inequality, and environmental degradation requires leaders to act
ethically in both government and business. Thus, ethics and sustainability are inseparable
because achieving sustainable development depends on making morally sound choices.
Question 3: Explain the concept of global citizenship and its relevance to sustainability. How
can students demonstrate global citizenship in their daily lives?
Answer:
Global citizenship refers to recognizing that one is part of a broader global community with
shared responsibilities toward humanity and the planet. It emphasizes respect for diversity,
commitment to human rights, and active participation in solving global challenges. Global
citizenship is relevant to sustainability because issues like climate change, poverty, and
inequality transcend national borders and require collective action. Students can
, SUS1501 Assignment 8 Portfolio – Semester 1, 2025
demonstrate global citizenship by reducing waste, supporting fair trade products,
volunteering in community projects, and using digital platforms to raise awareness about
sustainability issues. By making conscious lifestyle choices, students contribute to a more
sustainable and just world.
Question 4: Critically evaluate South Africa’s progress towards achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Provide examples to support your answer.
Answer:
South Africa has made progress in certain areas of the SDGs but continues to face significant
challenges. On the positive side, the country has implemented policies to expand access to
education (SDG 4) and improve healthcare (SDG 3). However, unemployment remains high
(SDG 8), inequality persists (SDG 10), and environmental sustainability (SDG 13) is
compromised by dependence on fossil fuels. For example, despite commitments to
renewable energy, coal still dominates the energy sector. Water security is another pressing
issue (SDG 6), as seen in drought-prone provinces like the Western Cape. Overall, South
Africa is committed to the SDGs but needs stronger implementation, accountability, and
innovation to achieve them by 2030.
Question 5: Reflect on your personal values and explain how they align with the principles of
ethics and sustainability. Provide practical steps you can take to live more sustainably.
Answer:
My personal values include responsibility, respect for others, and environmental
stewardship. These values align closely with the principles of ethics and sustainability,
which emphasize fairness, justice, and care for the planet. For example, respecting others
means supporting social justice and human rights, while responsibility means being
accountable for my actions’ impact on the environment. Practical steps I can take include
reducing electricity consumption, recycling, using public transport, and supporting local
businesses that practice sustainability. Additionally, I can raise awareness among peers
about ethical and sustainable practices. By aligning personal values with sustainability, I
contribute positively to both my community and the global society.
Question 6: Describe the importance of environmental ethics.
Answer:
Environmental ethics studies the moral relationship between humans and the natural
world. It argues that nature has intrinsic value and must be respected beyond its utility to
humans. This perspective challenges practices like deforestation, overfishing, and pollution.
In South Africa, environmental ethics is important to protect biodiversity in areas like the
Kruger National Park and to manage scarce resources such as water. By adopting
UNISA – SUS1501: Ethics and Sustainability
Assignment 8 Portfolio (Complete Answers)Semester 1 – 2025
Question 1: Define sustainability and explain why it is an essential concept in the 21st century.
Provide practical examples of sustainability challenges in South Africa.
Answer:
Sustainability refers to meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic growth,
social development, and environmental protection. In the 21st century, sustainability is
crucial because of global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and rising
inequality. In South Africa, sustainability challenges include energy dependency on coal,
water scarcity, and high unemployment. For example, Eskom’s reliance on coal contributes
to carbon emissions, while Cape Town has faced severe droughts highlighting the
importance of water conservation. Therefore, sustainability is not only a global concern but
also a pressing local issue.
Question 2: Discuss the role of ethics in promoting sustainable development. Why is ethical
decision-making important in addressing sustainability challenges?
Answer:
Ethics provides the moral foundation for decision-making in sustainability. Ethical
principles such as fairness, justice, and responsibility ensure that development does not
exploit vulnerable groups or harm the environment. For instance, companies adopting
ethical sourcing practices ensure that workers are treated fairly and that production
processes do not damage ecosystems. Ethical decision-making also builds trust among
stakeholders, promotes transparency, and ensures long-term sustainability. In South Africa,
addressing corruption, inequality, and environmental degradation requires leaders to act
ethically in both government and business. Thus, ethics and sustainability are inseparable
because achieving sustainable development depends on making morally sound choices.
Question 3: Explain the concept of global citizenship and its relevance to sustainability. How
can students demonstrate global citizenship in their daily lives?
Answer:
Global citizenship refers to recognizing that one is part of a broader global community with
shared responsibilities toward humanity and the planet. It emphasizes respect for diversity,
commitment to human rights, and active participation in solving global challenges. Global
citizenship is relevant to sustainability because issues like climate change, poverty, and
inequality transcend national borders and require collective action. Students can
, SUS1501 Assignment 8 Portfolio – Semester 1, 2025
demonstrate global citizenship by reducing waste, supporting fair trade products,
volunteering in community projects, and using digital platforms to raise awareness about
sustainability issues. By making conscious lifestyle choices, students contribute to a more
sustainable and just world.
Question 4: Critically evaluate South Africa’s progress towards achieving the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Provide examples to support your answer.
Answer:
South Africa has made progress in certain areas of the SDGs but continues to face significant
challenges. On the positive side, the country has implemented policies to expand access to
education (SDG 4) and improve healthcare (SDG 3). However, unemployment remains high
(SDG 8), inequality persists (SDG 10), and environmental sustainability (SDG 13) is
compromised by dependence on fossil fuels. For example, despite commitments to
renewable energy, coal still dominates the energy sector. Water security is another pressing
issue (SDG 6), as seen in drought-prone provinces like the Western Cape. Overall, South
Africa is committed to the SDGs but needs stronger implementation, accountability, and
innovation to achieve them by 2030.
Question 5: Reflect on your personal values and explain how they align with the principles of
ethics and sustainability. Provide practical steps you can take to live more sustainably.
Answer:
My personal values include responsibility, respect for others, and environmental
stewardship. These values align closely with the principles of ethics and sustainability,
which emphasize fairness, justice, and care for the planet. For example, respecting others
means supporting social justice and human rights, while responsibility means being
accountable for my actions’ impact on the environment. Practical steps I can take include
reducing electricity consumption, recycling, using public transport, and supporting local
businesses that practice sustainability. Additionally, I can raise awareness among peers
about ethical and sustainable practices. By aligning personal values with sustainability, I
contribute positively to both my community and the global society.
Question 6: Describe the importance of environmental ethics.
Answer:
Environmental ethics studies the moral relationship between humans and the natural
world. It argues that nature has intrinsic value and must be respected beyond its utility to
humans. This perspective challenges practices like deforestation, overfishing, and pollution.
In South Africa, environmental ethics is important to protect biodiversity in areas like the
Kruger National Park and to manage scarce resources such as water. By adopting
