Investigating Sustainability Issues and Their Causes and Effects
What this domain tests
You must investigate a sustainability issue by defining it, tracing causes and effects, and judging evidence. The exam rewards structured causal reasoning, not a list of facts.
Core rules
An issue is a contested situation involving people and values; a problem is a specific gap to solve. Separate proximate causes (immediate triggers) from root causes (structures, incentives, beliefs) and drivers (population, consumption, policy). Map stakeholders and their interests, power, and evidence. Evaluate sources for reliability, currency, bias, sample size, and method. Distinguish correlation from causation. Set a scale and boundary: local, national, global; short or long term. Identify intended and unintended effects.
Worked example
Issue: e-scooters left across footpaths. A weak answer lists litter and accidents. A stronger investigation defines the issue as a conflict over public space. Proximate cause: riders park anywhere. Root causes: a rental business model with no designated parking, weak enforcement, and commuter behaviour. Effects: trip hazards for disabled people, visual clutter, but also fewer short car trips. Evidence: parking counts, injury data, user surveys, council reports. Recommendation: geofenced parking zones, evaluated against accessibility and cost.
Traps
Stopping at symptoms; choosing one cause; cherry-picking data; ignoring affected groups; treating a correlation as proof; failing to state the boundary or scale.