ENVI 201 Final Review

Identify one advantage and one disadvantage of urban sprawl:

Advantages: walkability, access to services/education, etc. Disadvantages: pollution, poor air quality, biodiversity loss, etc.

Name one benefit and associated environmental cost of urbanization.

Benefits: economic development, innovation, technological advancement, education, cultural diversity, jobs Costs: greater consumption of resources, increased disease rates and health risks from poor air and water quality, loss of biodiversity, high levels of pollution, etc.

List two examples of sustainable practices at Binghamton University and their impact:

Bike shares, composting, shuttles/buses, biofuels for heating, etc.

What is encompassed by the Mixed-use and diversity goal within new urbanism?

Blending of pedestrian-friendly shops, offices, apartments, and homes to attract people of any age, class, culture, or race

What are five ways that we can shrink our ecological footprint?

Buy locally grown food, Recycle and compost, Reduce car use, insulate your house, eat less meat, etc.

What undeveloped country is being deforested at a rate of 15% due to economic growth?

Cambodia

Name a Federal law or act designed to protect the environment and explain its impact.

Endangered Species Act, Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, NEPA

Describe two negative aspects/environmental concerns associated with the construction and operation of the Dakota Access Pipeline.

Non-renewable energy, Native American/sacred lands and racism, possible oil leaks, possible contamination of drinking water/the environment, rushed environmental impact statement

Subsidies that lead to environmental damage are called?

Perverse subsidies

What factors contribute to the expansion of dispersed cities?

Plentiful land, cheap gasoline, and networks of highways

Rank the following in order of LEAST to MOST sustainable transportation priority: Public transportation, single occupancy vehicles, bicycles, commercial vehicles, pedestrian, multiple occupancy vehicles

Single occupancy, Multiple occupancy, Commercial, Public Transportation, bicycles, pedestrians

What is the NRDC and how do they help protect the environment?

The NRDC (national resources defense council) is a non-profit environmental advocacy group. They go to court to stop environmentally harmful practices and they rally people together to help advocate for and fight for preserving the environment.

What is "urban sprawl"?

The growth of low density development on the edges of cities and towns, which eliminate surrounding agricultural and wild lands.

What are the motives for strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP)?

To intimidate and discourage individuals and activist groups from filing lawsuits

What is a civil suit filed by a group, often a public interest, consumer, or environmental group, on behalf of a larger number of citizens, all of whom claim to have experienced similar damages from a product or an action, but who need not be listed and represented individually? a. massed suit b. joint suit c. public interest suit d. class action suit e. activist suit

class action suit

Which school of economics views human economic systems as subsystems of the biosphere that depend heavily on the earth's irreplaceable natural resources and ecosystem services? a. socialistic b. neoclassical c. capitalistic d. classical e. ecological

ecological

By 2050, what proportion of the world's population is expected to live in urban areas? Selected Answer: a. one-fourth b. one-third c. one-half d. two-thirds e. three-quarters

two-thirds

The growth of low-density development on the edges of cities is called?

urban sprawl

Which of the following statements is true? a. Developing countries are urbanizing more slowly than developed countries. b. The shift in poverty is moving rapidly from the city to the country. c. Urbanization varies throughout the world but is increasing everywhere. d. The shift in poverty is moving rapidly from the city to the country. e. General population growth does not contribute to urban growth.

urbanization varies throughout the world but is increasing everywhere

Which terrestrial ecosystem has the largest estimated monetary value of ecosystem services it provides to the world's public?

wetlands

Which branch of government implements and enforces environmental regulations?

Executive

What are the ways to estimate nonuse values of natural resources and ecosystem services?

Existence value, aesthetic value, and bequest value.

What are the 3 big ideas that can help shift our economies to be more sustainable and environmentally friendly?

Full-cost pricing (including harmful environmental and health costs in the market price of the things we buy), smart subsidies (implementing environmentally beneficial subsidies and tax breaks to companies who are working to reduce their emissions and be more sustainable), and green incentives (taxing pollution and waste instead of wages and profits)

What are the three big ideas for environmental economics?

Full-cost pricing, smart subsidies, and green incentives.

What is the genuine progress indicator?

GDP + Benefits not included in market transactions - harmful environmental and social costs

Name one method to reduce run-off in cities:

Green infrastructure (rain gardens, bioswales, etc) Preserving open space

The deceptive practice that some businesses use to spin environmentally harmful products as clean is known as?

Greenwashing

What are two of the eight core design principles as described by Dr. Wilson?

Group identity and purpose, Fair costs and benefits, Agreed upon behaviors, Tracking and monitoring, Graduated sanctions, inclusive decision-making, etc.

How many Americans die each year in car accidents?

1.2 million

What is the estimated monetary value of ecosystem services provided by coastal waters each year?

12.6 trillion

In 2017, what percentage of its total electricity did Germany generate using wind farms? Answers: a. 5% b. 10% c. 20% d. 30% e. 40%

20%

The United States has about 5% of the world's people. What percentage of the world's motor vehicles does the United States have? a. 5% b. 10% c. 15% d. 25% e. 45%

25%

What is a hypercity?

A city that has a population between 20-40 million people

What is cost-benefit analysis and how is it related to resource use?

A comparison of the estimated costs and benefits of actions used to make economic decisions about how to control pollution and manage resources

What does NEPA stand for? What does it mandate for federal construction projects?

NEPA stands for the National Environmental Policy Act. This act requires that an EIS or Environmental Impact Statement is done for every major federal project. The EIS identifies the possible benefits/ harmful effects that could occur.

29. What are the three types of capital used to produce goods and services in most economic systems? Explain Briefly

Natural Capital, Human Capital/ Resources, Manufactured Capital/Resources Natural capital: resources and services provided by the Earth's natural processes. Human Capital: people's physical or mental talents that provide labor and innovation. Manufactured capital: tools and machinery used in factories made from natural capital using human capital

Development of public policy follows a four-stage policy life cycle. Which of the following is the first of those stages? a. regulation of an industry b. formulation of policy c. implementation of programs d. monitoring and adjustment e. recognition of a problem

Recognition of a problem

If a group of people believe that there should be a new environmental law in effect, what are the steps to ensure this happens?

Recognition of the problem, formulation of a proposed policy, policy implementation, and then policy adjustment.

Discuss one of the three major assumptions that ecological economist models are built on.

Resources are limited and we should not waste them, and there are no substitutes for most types of natural capital. 2) We should encourage environmentally beneficial and sustainable forms of economic development, and discourage environmentally harmful and unsustainable forms of economic growth. 3) The harmful environmental and health effects of producing economic goods and services should be included in their market prices (full-cost pricing), so that consumers will have more accurate information about the harmful environmental and health effects of the goods and services they buy

Which environmental group develops policies to spur development of renewable energy?

The Renewable Energy Policy Network

Applying the Environmental Justice Principle would mean no group of people would bear an unfair share of environmental pollution or degradation. True/False

True

Describe the precautionary principle as related to making environmental policy.

When substantial evidence indicates that an activity threatens human health or the environment, take precautionary measures to prevent or reduce harm, even if some of the cause-and-effect relationships are not well established, scientifically

What is full-cost pricing?

a. Including the harmful external effects into the price of goods

What is the pattern of development in which houses, town houses, condominiums, and two- to six-story apartments are built on parts of the tract and the rest, typically 30-50% of the area, is left as open space for wildlife preserves, parks, and walking and biking paths? a. greenbelting b. traditional development c. urban growth boundaries d. mixed use zoning e. cluster development

cluster development

Which has been a major factor promoting urban sprawl in the United States? a. Poorly planned transportation systems b. Federal and state funding of highways c. The Homestead Act giving land away in many areas of the country d. Forward-looking urban planning e. A recent surplus of decayed inner city space

federal and state funding of highways

History shows that significant changes to environmental policy usually come from ____. a. regulated industries b. environmental scientists c. elected officials d. grassroots levels e. appointed officials

grassroots levels

Which of the following refers to people's physical and mental talents that provide labor, organizational and management skills, and innovation? a. artificial capital b. natural capital c. development capital d. manufactured capital e. human capital

human capital

A concerted effort of contacting legislators to persuade them to vote in your group's favor is an example of _____

lobbying

Which of the following refers to tools and materials such as machinery, materials, and factories? a. manufactured capital b. human capital c. natural capital d. artificial capital e. development capital

manufactured capital

What is the first phase of urbanization, as experienced in the United States? a. migration from North and East to South and West b. migration from drought-prone areas to water-rich areas c. migration from rural areas to large central cities d. migration from large central cities to smaller cities and suburbs e. migration from cities and suburbs to developed areas outside suburbs

migration from rural areas to large central cities

Which of the following includes services and resources produced by the earth's natural processes? a. human capital b. artificial capital c. manufactured capital d. development capital e. natural capital

natural capital

What proportion of the world's population lives in urban areas at the present time? a. one-fifth b. one-fourth c. one-third d. one-half e. two-thirds

one-half

In order have legal standing, ____. a. plaintiffs must demonstrate that they have tried conflict resolution or nonjudicial methods of remedy b. lawyers must file exemption papers with the court, agreeing not to pursue other, concurrent actions c. plaintiffs must demonstrate that they have no reason to be biased against the entity they are suing d. lawyers must prove they have not received any form of compensation from the companies being sued e. plaintiffs must show that they have suffered health or financial losses

plaintiffs must show that they have suffered health or financial issues

In the United States, local and national elections are held as often as every two years. An important implication of this is that ____. a. resolution of difficult, high impact problems are the typical focus during and after election b. politicians spend much of their time on re-election and deal only with simple, isolated problems c. solutions to complex problems are often rapidly implemented after election d. program administrators often must operate without direction or oversight during and after election e. development of policies are left in the hands of experts

politicians spend much of their time on re-election and deal only with simple, isolated problems

Name the principle created to ensure that the party responsible for polluting pays for the damage they may cause the environment by their polluting.

polluter pays principle

Motor vehicle drivers paying for the full cost of the harmful effects of fossil fuel use is the application of the ____. a. precautionary principle b. environmental justice principle c. polluter-pays principle d. public access principle e. human rights principle

polluter-pays principle

Markets do well in the production and distribution of private goods, but are not so good at ____. a. developing strategies b. distribution of resources c. protecting sources of information d. accumulating resources e. public services

public services

What is an indirect cost of car ownership? a. maintenance and repair b. dealer mark-up c. pollution from production and use d. gasoline e. raw materials and labor

raw materials and labor

The primary aim of the National Environmental Policy Act is to ____. a. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency b. require screening of new products for safety and setting standards c. set standards for pollution levels d. encourage resource conservation e. set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems

require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency

Which of the following is an important principle of inquiry and debate in science? a. Scientists base their arguments on facts as well as intuition and preference. b. Scientists carefully choose the facts that support their research. c. Scientists can never establish absolute proof about anything, but rather, a high degree of certainty. d. Scientists use their expertise and prestige to exert influence. e. Scientists challenge rival theories by planting disinformation as a strategic approach.

scientists can never establish absolute proof about anything, but rather, a high degree of certainty

The primary aim of the Endangered Species Act is to ____. Selected Answer: a. set standards for pollution levels b. encourage resource conservation c. set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems d. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency e. require screening of new products for safety and setting standards

set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems

What is one way we can help eliminate the amount of solid waste we produce?

small deposit fee on all recyclable items, use fee-per-bags when collecting garbage, pass laws that require large companies to recycle/reuse packaging, only buy products that have been recycled

The U.S. population is shifting to the ____. a. south and west b. south and east c. north and south d. north and west e. north and east

south and west

What is a trend in urban population dynamics? a. Poverty is becoming decreasingly urbanized, especially in developing countries. b. Infrastructure is beginning to catch up with the need in developing countries. c. Urban growth is much faster in developed countries than developing countries. d. Overall population numbers are decreasing but sizes of urban areas are mushrooming. e. The proportion of the global population in urban areas is increasing.

the proportion of the global population in urban areas is increasing

What is true of many industry estimates of the costs associated with pollution control regulations? a. They are almost always higher than the actual costs of complying. b. They are usually reasonably accurate. c. They are typically quite similar to the governmental estimates. d. They typically underestimate the costs, resulting in the need for government assistance. e. They are usually quite similar to the estimates provided by environmental groups

they typically underestimate the costs, resulting in the need for government assistance

What percentage of the world's population live in urban areas?

52%

In 2012, _____ % of Americans lived in urban areas.

71%

The city of Seaside, FL underwent changes to its infrastructure, economy, and its residents' lifestyles. Discuss one change and its sustainable effects.

Mixed use buildings. Good street geometry. Preserving traditional buildings. Incubator and progressive retail. Live/work units.

Name one advantage and one disadvantage of environmental taxes and fees:

Advantage: helps bring about full-cost pricing. Disadvantage: if set too low, wealthy polluters can absorb taxes as costs

What is an eco-city and what are its benefits?

An eco-city is a city that is built for humans based on the self sufficient and sustainable model of natural ecosystems. Eco-cities are beneficial to the environment because they promote walking or biking as opposed to using cars, they encourage people to recycle and grow their own food, and they promote biodiversity by preserving the surrounding land and green corridors.

Which demographic is important to monitor and regulate in terms of sustainability, relative to other demographics?

Corporations, industries, large scale organizations.

What is one method in which the government used to reduce the amount of air pollution, such as carbon emissions, within industries?

Creating pollution permits which can be traded among industries

What is the name of the "ecological capital" of Brazil, and what about their planning strategy is so unique?

Curitiba. Planners in the city decided to focus on an inexpensive and efficient mass-transit system rather than on the car.

What is one way in which an urban heat island is created?

Heat absorbed by pavement, rooftops and buildings Heat generated by cars, factories, furnaces, lights, air conditioners, etc

What is one disadvantage of urbanization?

High concentration of pollution and health problems.

What is The Humility Principle in government?

How our actions affect nature and that we do not have the full knowledge or ability to address our impacts

List three disadvantages of urbanization:

Huge ecological footprints that extend far beyond their boundaries, noise/light pollution, and lack of vegetation and the services that vegetation provide

What is a "high throughput economy"?

It is an economy in which we increase the flow of matter and energy into the system in order to produce more goods and services.

In the United States, the three branches of government have different roles, but collectively provide checks and balances. What are they? a. Republican, Democratic, and Independent b. Lobbyists, Industry and Special Interests c. Regulatory, Administrative, and Legal d. Legislative, Executive and Judicial e. House of Representatives, Senate, and President

Legislative, executive, and judicial

What are the effects of urban sprawl on land and biodiversity?

Loss of cropland, and loss of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat

Name one of the harmful effects of urban sprawl.

Loss of cropland. Loss and fragmentation of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and wildlife habitat. Increased use and pollution of surface water and groundwater. Increased runoff and flooding. Increased energy use and waste.Increased emissions of carbon dioxide and other air pollutants. Decline of downtown business districts.More unemployment in central cities.

What is the name of the economic system based on energy flow and matter recycling that works with nature to reduce excessive throughput and the unnecessary waste of matter and energy.

Low- throughput (low waste) economy.

Name and explain a component of Smart Growth:

Mixed land use, compact building design, diverse housing options, walkable neighborhoods, preserve open space, provide multiple transportation choices, etc.

What is the phases of the policy life cycle?

Problem recognition, Policy formulation, Policy implementation, and Policy adjustment.

A drawback to implementing environmental taxes and fees is that it ____. a. encourages businesses to develop environmentally beneficial goods b. helps bring about full-cost pricing c. is easily administered by existing tax agencies d. introduces environmentally beneficial technologies e. penalizes low-income groups unless safety nets are provided

Penalizes low-income groups unless safety nets are provided

Which environmental worldview does our current administration best fall under?

Planetary management

Identify one of the three environmental worldviews and which world leader most closely fits the same

Planetary management, stewardship, environmental wisdom Donald Trump, Barack Obama or Pope John Paul, Pope Francis

Which city is one of the most sustainable in the US?

Portland, Oregon

The primary aim of the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts is to ____. a. set standards for pollution levels b. set aside or protect certain species, resources, and ecosystems c. require evaluation of the environmental impact of an activity proposed by a federal agency d. encourage resource conservation e. require screening of new products for safety and setting standards

Set standards for pollution levels

What is Smart Growth?

Smart Growth encourages a mix of building types and uses, diverse housing and transportation options, development within existing neighborhoods and community engagement. This technique is used to control sprawl.

What is a resource discount rate?

The estimated future economic value of a resource compared to the present.

Name one reason it is difficult to bring polluters to court?

The plaintiff must have legal standing, i.e. demonstrate harm to health or financial loss

What is the market price equilibrium point?

The point at which the supply and demand curves intersect.

What is bioremediation?

The use of natural processes, such as microorganisms, to consume and break down environmental pollutants.

In Germany, car-sharing networks cut car ownership by 75%. What is an example of a car-sharing network in the US (and on campus)?

Zipcar

What is environmental law?

a body of laws and treaties that broadly define what is acceptable environmental behavior for individuals, groups, businesses, and nations

What is the tragedy of the commons?

a situation in a shared-resource system where individual users acting independently according to their own self-interest behave contrary to the common good of all users by depleting or spoiling that resource through their collective action