University of Victoria
AC-6: Sustainability Literacy Assessment

A sample of the questions included in the attached survey:

What is sustainability reporting?
a. Reporting on environmental, societal, and governance matters in an organization.
b. A report done sustainably (i.e. on recycled paper).
c. Reporting on companies that are not sustainable so that they can be reprimanded.
d. An annual report that is required by all Canadian corporations which reports on green practices.

What is the purpose of sustainability reporting? Select all that apply.
a. Increased trust and transparency between the organization and stakeholders.
b. To track corporate efforts on sustainable economic, social, and environmental practices.
c. To satisfy a requirement of IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards).
d. To increase an organization’s bargaining zone and arbitration with suppliers.

Why should businesses opt for investing in clean energy and renewable energy sources? Select all that apply
a. Energy is one of the main causes of climate change; energy produces 60% of greenhouse gases. Investing in clean energy is a vital step to reduce climate change.
b. More efficient energy sources can reduce electricity consumption considerably, therefore reducing the cost of operations.
c. It has a low up-front investment cost.
d. It is a reliable and consistent supply of energy.

What does “Social Sustainability” refer to?
a. The concept of the enterprise supporting jobs and delivering income to communities in the long term.
b. The concept of the enterprise supporting jobs and delivering income to communities in the short term.
c. Sharing benefits fairly and equitably and respecting the quality of life of communities and human rights.
d. Stewardship of resources and managing and conserving the environment.

What are the 4 R’s of waste management?
a. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rent
b. Refurbish, Renovate, Rescue, Recycle
c. Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
d. None of the above

Some products are labeled as “fair trade.” What is the significance of this label?
a. The product does not come from a black market.
b. The product is certified organic.
c. The product was produced in an ethical manner.
d. The price of the product is not artificially inflated or deflated and is sold at a fair price.

What does ‘green marketing” refer to?
a. Marketing exclusively using recycled materials and carbon neutral practices.
b. The form of marketing that only utilizes green practices, such as paper-free advertising.
c. The process of selling products and/or services based on their environmental benefits.
d. The deceptive process of marketing products to persuade the public that an organization’s products are “green” and environmentally friendly when they aren’t actually.

Which of the following is an example of greenwashing? Select all that apply.
a. Cleaning products marketed as green and “all natural” despite extremely toxic chemicals such as cyanide being “natural”.
b. Creating a limited edition project that supports rainforest development while also cutting down millions of trees for their product.
c. Ethically produced coffee advertised with a certification identifying them as fair trade.
d. None of the above

How can an individual be a responsible consumer? Select all that apply.
a. Reduce consumption and avoid single-use items.
b. Reuse, repair, and recycle goods before buying new.
c. Boycott brands that don’t align with sustainable consumption.
d. Choose brands that have transparent operations and a commitment to sustainability.

The increased popularity of goods such as fair trade chocolate, ethically sourced coffee, and biodegradable packaging is a response to:
a. Reduced pricing to increase consumer demand.
b. Societal marketing in which businesses respond to consumer demands for sustainable products.
c. Changes in local laws and industry standards.
d. Strategic marketing which convinces consumers that the sustainable goods are just as good as normal goods.

Define sustainability.
a. Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
b. Sacrificing the needs of the present to meet the needs of future generations.
c. Ensuring a business’s operations can be maintained over an extended period of time.
d. Ensuring an individual’s lifestyle can be maintained over an extended period of time.

What is a long-term effect of global climate change? Select all that apply.
a. Stronger and more intense hurricanes.
b. Lower sea levels.
c. Decreased atmospheric CO2.
d. Changing makeup of plant and animal communities.

What does ecological footprint measure?
a. The effect of human demand on natural capital.
b. The effect of natural capital on humans.
c. The effect of investing in natural resources.
d. The effect of organizations on the local ecosystems.

What are the effects on the environment if global warming surpasses the pre-industrial level by 2 degrees Celsius?
a. Loss of coral reefs and widespread coral bleaching; global crop decline; drought and increased extinction in the Amazon.
b. Boreal Forest and Amazon rainforest dieback; yields of all cereal in Africa to decline; hundreds of millions at risk of water stress.
c. 50% risk of collapse of Atlantic ocean circulation; sea level rise by 1 meter; global risk of species extinction (40-70%).
d. Death of approximately 20% of the population due to drought and famine; sea level rise by 2 meters; extinction of 60% of Sub-Saharan African species.

The literacy assessment was created in 2020 for use in the 2021-2022 school year. The assessment was given to bachelor of commerce students at the beginning of year 3 and end of year 4 to assess the growth in understanding of various sustainable concepts over their core years.

The assessment was given to and submitted by each student within the bachelor of commerce degree program.

Results are unavailable. The assessment results did not receive ethics approval from the UVic Privacy Office, as the survey collected information that is protected by FIPPA (FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND PROTECTION OF PRIVACY ACT).