Sustainability MB

[RWSmith]

Info about Sustainablilty Merit Badge from my council newsletter

"The Sustainability merit badge, in essence, takes conservation and environmental science to another
level. The protection, preservation, and management of wildlife and natural resources involved in
conservation provide a foundation for what we call environmental science. The latter integrates
physical and biological sciences such as ecology, biology, soil science, atmospheric science, and others
in order to generate solutions to environmental issues. Sustainability takes off from there by taking
responsibility for balancing long-term environmental, social, health, and economic needs with progress
and development. It further suggests that development, while meeting the needs of the present,
cannot compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
In summary the Environmental Science merit badge studies the following:
• Ecology
• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution
• Endangered species
• Pollution prevention, resource recovery, and conservation
• Ecosystem—living and nonliving
• Environmental impact
The requirements for Sustainability have not yet been finalized, but initial discussions include the
following topics:
What is sustainability?
Examining our current needs and our choices in meeting them, with attention to extraction,
production, distribution, consumption, and disposal
Impact on our natural resources
Problems we must address, including plastic, electronic, and medical waste; species extinction,
and climate change
New habits to adopt, including green chemistry, recycling, zero waste, and sustainabilityconscious
citizens
Careers related to sustainability"

"New Sustainability Merit Badge a Required-for-Eagle
Option
Upon its release set for summer 2013, the Sustainability
merit badge becomes an Eagle-required merit badge
as an option to Environmental Science. This means
once the Sustainability merit badge and pamphlet become
available in 2013, Scouts may choose to earn the
Sustainability merit badge in place of the currently required
Environmental Science merit badge. Here are
some additional facts.


If A SCOUT EARNS BOTH THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MERIT BADGES, DO BOTH COUNT TOWARD
EAGLE?
Scouts who have already earned Environmental Science
may also earn Sustainability, but only one of the
two merit badges would count as “Eagle-required.”
The second badge may be counted among his electives
to reach the total of 21 required merit badges."

[SoCal76]

The requirements are posted at Scouting.org

http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/conten ... -SUST.aspx

[PaulSWolf]

If A SCOUT EARNS BOTH THE SUSTAINABILITY
AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
MERIT BADGES, DO BOTH COUNT TOWARD
EAGLE?
Scouts who have already earned Environmental Science
may also earn Sustainability, but only one of the
two merit badges would count as “Eagle-required.”
The second badge may be counted among his electives
to reach the total of 21 required merit badges."

Note that for Star and/or Life, a different rule applies,

Scouts MAY use both for the required number of badges needed from the Eagle Required list.

[smtroop168]

Same rule applies to Lifesaving and E prep or Swimming, Hiking or Cycling

Sustainability can be used as one of the required MBs for Star and Life now unlike Cooking which cannot be used until after 1 Jan 2014.

[SoCal76]

Is there someone who can update http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Sustainability

[BartHumphries]

The requirements have been updated there.