ESL TEFL Conversation Topics and Questions - Sustainable Development

What springs to mind when you hear the term ‘sustainable development’?

What is sustainable development?

In which countries is sustainable development most important?

How is sustainable development linked to standard of living?

What is your country’s policy on sustainable development?

What organizations think that sustainable development is important?

How often do you hear or read about sustainable development in the news?

What happens if countries ignore issues related to sustainable development?

Do you know of any sustainable development projects that have worked?

Is sustainable development more important for the developed or developing world?

Is sustainable development possible in today’s world in which people are becoming richer and consuming more of the Earth’s natural resources?

Is sustainable development real or is it just theory and a topic for inter-governmental meetings?
Would you be able to sustain yourself?

How important is sustainable development in relation to issues like climate change, poverty, terrorism, etc?

What problems does a lack of sustainable development lead to?

What roles do countries like the USA, China, Russia and India have in sustainable development?

How can there be sustainable development when the world’s population is moving from the countryside into cities?

What questions about sustainable development would you like answered?

Do you think sustainable development is an interesting an important topic?

Do you think people will be talking about sustainable development 50 years from now?




ESL questions and discussion topics on sustainable development for use when teaching English as a foreign or second language. Discussion topics questions and ideas for teaching Adult ESL English as a foreign language / teaching abroad.