Active learning ideas
Economic sustainability shifts the focus from short-term gains to long-term viability. In the NCCA framework, this involves evaluating how our current economic decisions impact future generations, particularly regarding environmental health and social equity. Students examine the tension between traditional measures of growth and the need for sustainable practices. This is a critical area for 5th Years as they develop their roles as global citizens and future policy influencers.
Activity 01
Students take on roles as local farmers, environmentalists, energy company CEOs, and government officials. They must negotiate the placement of a new wind farm, balancing economic growth with local and environmental concerns.
What does economic sustainability mean?
Activity 02
Groups create posters of Irish companies with sustainable practices (e.g., circular economy startups). Students move around the room, using sticky notes to identify the economic trade-offs each business makes to stay sustainable.
How do economic activities impact the environment?
Activity 03
Pairs research the resource extraction, production, and disposal of a common consumer good. They map out the environmental and social costs at each stage, presenting a 'sustainability score' to the class.
How can we balance growth with sustainable practices?
A few notes on teaching this unit
Watch Out for These Misconceptions
Sustainability is only about the environment.
Sustainability also includes economic viability and social equity. Peer teaching sessions can help students explore how a business that is 'green' but goes bankrupt is not economically sustainable.
Economic growth and sustainability are always in conflict.
Green technology and efficient resource use can actually drive growth. Case study analysis in small groups allows students to discover 'win-win' scenarios where sustainability improves profitability.
Methods used in this brief
Scarcity and Choice
Students explore the fundamental economic problem of scarcity and how it forces individuals, firms, and governments to make choices. Opportunity cost is introduced as a key concept.
8 methodologies
The Role of the Economist
Students investigate how economists gather data, build models, and differentiate between positive and normative economic statements.
8 methodologies