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Subjects · Leaving Cert Economics

Leaving Cert Economics: Sustainable development

How often Sustainable development comes up on the Economics papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 3 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

OL Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Sustainable development, Higher Level(7 marks)

Quick ones on Sustainable development.

(a)Sustainable development is best described as…
  1. Maximising GDP growth in every year, whatever the cost
  2. Meeting present needs without harming future generations
  3. Stopping all use of natural resources straight away
(b)How many UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed in 2015 for 2030?
  1. 25
  2. 8
  3. 17
(c)Which policy best supports sustainable development in Ireland?
  1. A carbon tax with revenue funding home retrofits
  2. Subsidising peat-fired electricity to protect jobs
  3. Removing all taxes on fossil fuels to cut bills
Show the answers

(a) Meeting present needs without harming future generations

(b) 17

(c) A carbon tax with revenue funding home retrofits

Your turn: Higher Level questions on Sustainable development.

Higher Level

Asked on 3 of the last 5 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2025. most years

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q8
2024Not asked
2023Q16
2022Q12, Q16
2021Not asked

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 5 of the last 5 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2025. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2025Q16
2024Q1, Q6, Q11
2023Q12, Q16
2022Q12
2021Q9

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More Sustainable development questions

Sustainable development, 2 marks

Sustainable development meets the needs of today without?

  1. Using up any of the country's natural resources
  2. Allowing any economic growth to happen at all
  3. Harming future generations' ability to meet theirs
Show the answer

Harming future generations' ability to meet theirs

This idea comes from the UN Brundtland report. Growth is allowed, but it must not use up the resources or damage the environment that future generations will need.

Sustainable development, 2 marks

Which is a renewable energy resource?

  1. Natural gas
  2. Wind
  3. Peat
Show the answer

Wind

Renewable resources are replaced naturally, like wind, solar and wave energy. Peat, oil and gas are finite fossil fuels: once burned they are gone and they release carbon.

Sustainable development, 3 marks

A carbon tax aims to?

  1. Make polluting fuels dearer so people use less
  2. Raise the price of renewable energy such as wind
  3. Lower the price of petrol and diesel for drivers
Show the answer

Make polluting fuels dearer so people use less

A carbon tax puts a price on emissions. Fossil fuels become dearer, so households and firms have an incentive to switch to cleaner options. The money raised can fund green measures.

Other Economics topics

All of Leaving Cert Economics