DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
DISCLAIMER
THE DOCUMENT PRESENTED IS A DEMOSTRATION ON HOW STUDENTS CAN APPROACH THE
ASSIGNMENT FOR DVA4804. IT IS BASED ON PRESCRIBED MATERIAL AND EXTERNAL RESEARCH. THE
DOCUMENT CONTAINS BOTH SHORT NOTES AND A RESPONSE EXAMPLE FOR EACH QUESTION.
STUDENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED NOT TO COPY AND PASTE BUT USE THE DOCUMENT AS A
RESEARCH GUIDE THAT WOULD HELP THEM DRAFT THEIR OWN FINAL COPIES.
,DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
Table of Contents
QUESTION 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 7
Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security in Africa........................................................... 7
Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) ............................................................ 8
Potential Benefits of GMOs for Food Security ............................................................................... 8
Risks and Controversies Surrounding GMOs ................................................................................ 9
Who Benefits from GMOs? ............................................................................................................. 10
Who Does Not Benefit from GMOs? ............................................................................................. 11
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Biodiversity....................................................................... 11
Alternative Approaches to Food Security ..................................................................................... 11
Critical Reflection on GMOs and Food Security .......................................................................... 12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 12
References ............................................................................................................................................ 13
QUESTION 2. ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 14
The Origins and Evolution of Sustainable Development ............................................................ 14
Weak vs. Strong Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 15
Three-Pillar Model of SD ................................................................................................................. 15
Ecological Modernisation ................................................................................................................ 15
Radical and Transformative Approaches ..................................................................................... 16
Energy and Material Use as Drivers of Environmental Degradation ........................................ 16
Implications for Policy ...................................................................................................................... 16
Integrating Sustainability into Development Policy ..................................................................... 16
Market-Based vs. Regulatory Approaches ................................................................................... 17
Energy Transitions and Renewable Policies ................................................................................ 17
Material Circularity and Waste Reduction .................................................................................... 17
Implications for Practice .................................................................................................................. 17
Corporate Sustainability Practices................................................................................................. 17
Community-Based and Local Practices ........................................................................................ 18
Research and Knowledge Integration ........................................................................................... 18
Challenges and Critiques ................................................................................................................ 18
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 18
,DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
References ............................................................................................................................................ 20
QUESTION 3. ........................................................................................................................................... 21
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 21
Conceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systems ...................................................................... 21
IKS and Environmental Stewardship ............................................................................................. 22
IKS and Social Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 22
IKS in a Globalising World .............................................................................................................. 23
Integrating IKS and Scientific Knowledge .................................................................................... 23
IKS and Policy Frameworks............................................................................................................ 24
Critics and Limitations of IKS.......................................................................................................... 25
IKS, Globalisation, and the Future of Sustainable Development .............................................. 25
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 25
References ............................................................................................................................................ 27
QUESTION 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 28
China’s Economic Growth, Sustainable Development Policies, and Ecological Challenges
.................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 28
China’s Economic Growth Trajectory ............................................................................................ 28
Environmental Impacts of Growth.................................................................................................. 29
i. Air Pollution .............................................................................................................................. 29
ii. Water Scarcity and Pollution ................................................................................................. 29
iii. Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss............................................................................. 29
iv. Climate Change Contribution ................................................................................................ 30
China’s Sustainable Development Policy Evolution ................................................................... 30
i. Early Environmental Governance......................................................................................... 30
ii. Agenda 21 and Five-Year Plans........................................................................................... 30
iii. The Concept of “Ecological Civilisation” .............................................................................. 30
iv. Renewable Energy and Green Technology ........................................................................ 30
v. Global Climate Commitments ............................................................................................... 31
Policy Implementation Challenges ................................................................................................ 31
Areas for Improvement .................................................................................................................... 31
i. Energy Transition .................................................................................................................... 31
ii. Strengthening Environmental Governance ......................................................................... 32
, DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
iii. Water and Land Management .............................................................................................. 32
iv. Urban Sustainability................................................................................................................ 32
v. Circular Economy Development ........................................................................................... 32
vi. Transboundary Cooperation ............................................................................................. 32
Critical Reflection ............................................................................................................................. 32
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 33
References ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Question 5 ................................................................................................................................................. 35
As globalization continues to accelerate, a key question in the discussion on Indigenous
Knowledge Systems (IKS) is their relevance in achieving sustainable development. .................. 35
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 35
Conceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) ............................................................ 36
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production .................................................................. 36
IKS aligns strongly with SDG 12 in several ways:....................................................................... 36
IKS and Sustainable Production .................................................................................................... 37
Agricultural Practices ....................................................................................................................... 37
Seed Preservation and Biodiversity .............................................................................................. 37
Pastoralist and Fisheries Management ........................................................................................ 37
IKS and Sustainable Consumption ................................................................................................ 37
i. Food Systems and Dietary Practices................................................................................... 37
ii. Waste Minimisation ................................................................................................................ 38
Cultural Norms Against Excess...................................................................................................... 38
Case Studies Illustrating IKS Contributions to SDG 12 .............................................................. 38
i. Sacred Forests in West Africa .............................................................................................. 38
ii. Andean Terracing Systems ................................................................................................... 38
iii. Pacific Island Fisheries .......................................................................................................... 38
Challenges and Limitations of IKS in Achieving SDG 12 ........................................................... 39
i. Globalisation and Market Pressures .................................................................................... 39
i. Marginalisation and Loss of Knowledge .............................................................................. 39
ii. Scalability and Integration with Modern Systems .............................................................. 39
iii. Intellectual Property and Biopiracy....................................................................................... 39
Opportunities for Integration of IKS and SDG 12 ........................................................................ 39
i. Hybrid Knowledge Systems .................................................................................................. 39
DISCLAIMER
THE DOCUMENT PRESENTED IS A DEMOSTRATION ON HOW STUDENTS CAN APPROACH THE
ASSIGNMENT FOR DVA4804. IT IS BASED ON PRESCRIBED MATERIAL AND EXTERNAL RESEARCH. THE
DOCUMENT CONTAINS BOTH SHORT NOTES AND A RESPONSE EXAMPLE FOR EACH QUESTION.
STUDENTS ARE THEREFORE ADVISED NOT TO COPY AND PASTE BUT USE THE DOCUMENT AS A
RESEARCH GUIDE THAT WOULD HELP THEM DRAFT THEIR OWN FINAL COPIES.
,DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
Table of Contents
QUESTION 1 .............................................................................................................................................. 7
Introduction.............................................................................................................................................. 7
Climate Change, Agriculture, and Food Security in Africa........................................................... 7
Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) ............................................................ 8
Potential Benefits of GMOs for Food Security ............................................................................... 8
Risks and Controversies Surrounding GMOs ................................................................................ 9
Who Benefits from GMOs? ............................................................................................................. 10
Who Does Not Benefit from GMOs? ............................................................................................. 11
Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Biodiversity....................................................................... 11
Alternative Approaches to Food Security ..................................................................................... 11
Critical Reflection on GMOs and Food Security .......................................................................... 12
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 12
References ............................................................................................................................................ 13
QUESTION 2. ........................................................................................................................................... 14
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 14
The Origins and Evolution of Sustainable Development ............................................................ 14
Weak vs. Strong Sustainability ....................................................................................................... 15
Three-Pillar Model of SD ................................................................................................................. 15
Ecological Modernisation ................................................................................................................ 15
Radical and Transformative Approaches ..................................................................................... 16
Energy and Material Use as Drivers of Environmental Degradation ........................................ 16
Implications for Policy ...................................................................................................................... 16
Integrating Sustainability into Development Policy ..................................................................... 16
Market-Based vs. Regulatory Approaches ................................................................................... 17
Energy Transitions and Renewable Policies ................................................................................ 17
Material Circularity and Waste Reduction .................................................................................... 17
Implications for Practice .................................................................................................................. 17
Corporate Sustainability Practices................................................................................................. 17
Community-Based and Local Practices ........................................................................................ 18
Research and Knowledge Integration ........................................................................................... 18
Challenges and Critiques ................................................................................................................ 18
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 18
,DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
References ............................................................................................................................................ 20
QUESTION 3. ........................................................................................................................................... 21
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 21
Conceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systems ...................................................................... 21
IKS and Environmental Stewardship ............................................................................................. 22
IKS and Social Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 22
IKS in a Globalising World .............................................................................................................. 23
Integrating IKS and Scientific Knowledge .................................................................................... 23
IKS and Policy Frameworks............................................................................................................ 24
Critics and Limitations of IKS.......................................................................................................... 25
IKS, Globalisation, and the Future of Sustainable Development .............................................. 25
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 25
References ............................................................................................................................................ 27
QUESTION 4 ............................................................................................................................................ 28
China’s Economic Growth, Sustainable Development Policies, and Ecological Challenges
.................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 28
China’s Economic Growth Trajectory ............................................................................................ 28
Environmental Impacts of Growth.................................................................................................. 29
i. Air Pollution .............................................................................................................................. 29
ii. Water Scarcity and Pollution ................................................................................................. 29
iii. Land Degradation and Biodiversity Loss............................................................................. 29
iv. Climate Change Contribution ................................................................................................ 30
China’s Sustainable Development Policy Evolution ................................................................... 30
i. Early Environmental Governance......................................................................................... 30
ii. Agenda 21 and Five-Year Plans........................................................................................... 30
iii. The Concept of “Ecological Civilisation” .............................................................................. 30
iv. Renewable Energy and Green Technology ........................................................................ 30
v. Global Climate Commitments ............................................................................................... 31
Policy Implementation Challenges ................................................................................................ 31
Areas for Improvement .................................................................................................................... 31
i. Energy Transition .................................................................................................................... 31
ii. Strengthening Environmental Governance ......................................................................... 32
, DVA4804 2025 EXAMINATION 2025 DVA4804 2025
iii. Water and Land Management .............................................................................................. 32
iv. Urban Sustainability................................................................................................................ 32
v. Circular Economy Development ........................................................................................... 32
vi. Transboundary Cooperation ............................................................................................. 32
Critical Reflection ............................................................................................................................. 32
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................. 33
References ............................................................................................................................................ 34
Question 5 ................................................................................................................................................. 35
As globalization continues to accelerate, a key question in the discussion on Indigenous
Knowledge Systems (IKS) is their relevance in achieving sustainable development. .................. 35
Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 35
Conceptualising Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) ............................................................ 36
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production .................................................................. 36
IKS aligns strongly with SDG 12 in several ways:....................................................................... 36
IKS and Sustainable Production .................................................................................................... 37
Agricultural Practices ....................................................................................................................... 37
Seed Preservation and Biodiversity .............................................................................................. 37
Pastoralist and Fisheries Management ........................................................................................ 37
IKS and Sustainable Consumption ................................................................................................ 37
i. Food Systems and Dietary Practices................................................................................... 37
ii. Waste Minimisation ................................................................................................................ 38
Cultural Norms Against Excess...................................................................................................... 38
Case Studies Illustrating IKS Contributions to SDG 12 .............................................................. 38
i. Sacred Forests in West Africa .............................................................................................. 38
ii. Andean Terracing Systems ................................................................................................... 38
iii. Pacific Island Fisheries .......................................................................................................... 38
Challenges and Limitations of IKS in Achieving SDG 12 ........................................................... 39
i. Globalisation and Market Pressures .................................................................................... 39
i. Marginalisation and Loss of Knowledge .............................................................................. 39
ii. Scalability and Integration with Modern Systems .............................................................. 39
iii. Intellectual Property and Biopiracy....................................................................................... 39
Opportunities for Integration of IKS and SDG 12 ........................................................................ 39
i. Hybrid Knowledge Systems .................................................................................................. 39
