APES Important Terms

Two major challenges of our time are reducing poverty and protecting the environment. Can they both be accomplished? Or must progress towards one always go along with setbacks in the other?

They can both be accomplished through leapfrogging. When leapfrogging, a country is able to sustainably develop by jumping straight to a more efficient system.

What can a country's government do to protect natural capital and reduce environmental harm?

They can enforce policies and regulations on the amount of pollution a company can produce, and well as its consumption of natural resources

natural law

a body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct

species

a group or organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology

control group

a group with the same conditions as the experimental group except for the study variable

What is a hectare, and what is its abbreviation?

a hectare is 100meters x 100meters. Its abbreviation is "ha"

theory

a hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested by many researchers and has reached wide acceptance

ecosystem

a location on Earth with interacting biotic and abiotic components

ecological footprint

a measure of how much a person consumes, expressed in area of land

genetic diversity

a measure of the genetic variation of individuals in a population

natural experiment

a natural event that acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem (however, results are difficult to interpret)

What is a natural experiment?

a natural experiment occurs when a natural even acts as an experimental treatment in an ecosystem. Ex: a volcano destroys thousands of hectares of forest, providing a natural experiment for understanding large-scale forest regrowth

What is a null hypothesis, and why is it a big deal?

a null hypothesis is prediction that there is no difference between groups and conditions, or a statement that can be falsified. A null hypothesis is important because without it, scientists would be swamped with possibilities, making it nearly impossible to test.

What is a peer reviewed journal, and what makes it so reliable?

a peer reviewed journal is a study that is subjected to the scrutiny of other experts in the field. It is reliable because it allows for the other experts to either concur or disagree, making sure the journal is accurate. Peer reviewing: builds a collective knowledge base, communicates research, validating the quality of research, and builds scientific communities.

system

a set of connected things forming a complex whole

What is a species, and how many are there on Earth?

a species is a group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology. There are approximately 8.7 million different species on Earth

What characteristics must a sustainable economic system have? How does our current system compare?

a sustainable economic system must have a greater reliance on ecosystem services and less on resource extraction, using more renewable energy, lessening negative externalities, and reusing more of the products. Our current system is one based on maximizing the utilization of resources, energy, and human labor, which encourages the extraction of natural resources and is therefore unsustainable

hypothesis

a testable conjecture about how something works

How many hectares of land is a 500 acre park? a. 200 ha b. 250 ha c. 500 ha d. 750 ha e. 1250 ha

a. 200 ha

Challenges in the study of environmental science include all of the following except a. dangers of studying natural systems b. lack of baseline data c. subjectivity of environmental impacts d. complexity of natural systems e. complex interaction between humans and the environment

a. dangers of studying natural systems

The triple bottom line a. is an approach to sustainability that considers economic, environmental, and social factors b. is a method for encouraging sustainability that includes incentives, regulations, and penalties c. consists of three measures of human status used in the HDI d. is used by UNDP to determine if a program is successful e. is an application of the precautionary principle to identify an chemical for further study

a. is an approach to sustainability that considers economic, environmental, and social factors

How might the inclusion of an externality affect the supply and demand of a product? a. it will increase price and decrease quantity demanded b. it will increase price and increase quantity demanded c. it will decrease price and increase quantity demanded d. it will decrease price and decrease quantity demanded e. price will remain the same and quantity demanded will decrease

a. it will increase price and decrease quantity demanded

What are accuracy and precision?

accuracy and precision help determine the possible relationship between our measurements and the true value

how do we measure GDP?

add up value of what is produced, net inputs (across a variety of business lines), and weighing each according to its importance in economy

DOE (Department of Energy)

advances energy and economic security of United States

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)

advances energy and economic security of United States

environment

all conditions surrounding us that influence life

What is an NGO, and what does it do?

an NGO is a non-governmental organization, a nonprofit, voluntary citizens' group. An example is Red Cross

How do hectares and acres compare to football fields?

an acre is 43,560 square feet, a hectare is 107,639 square feet, and a football field is 48,000 square feet

uncertainty

an estimate of how much a measured or calculated value differs from a true calue

How would an increase in demand change a supply and demand graph?

an increase in demand increases the equilibrium point of the graph, where supply and demand intersect

the scientific method

an objective way to explore the natural world, draw inferences form it, and predict the outcome of certain events, processes, or changes

deductive reasoning

applying a general statement to specific facts/examples

triple bottom line

approach to sustainability with three factors: economic, environmental, and social

Explain the relationship between development and resource use

as economies develop, resources consumption increases. 20% of the global population (rich) consumes 58% of all energy, 84% of all paper, and 45% of all fish and meat, while the poorest 20% consumes only 5% or less.

valuation

attempt to assign monetary value to intangible benefits and natural capital

Which U.S. law contributes to sustainability by governing the tracking and disposal of solid and hazardous waste? a. NEPA b. RCRA c. CWA d. CERCLA e. OCHA

b. RCRA

Which statement regarding a global environmental indicator is NOT correct? a. concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide have been rising quite steadily since the Industrial Revolution b. World grain production has increased fairly steadily since 1950, but worldwide production of grain per capita has decreased dramatically over the same period c. for the past 130 years, avg. global surface temp. have shown an overall increase that seems likely to continue d. world population is expected to be between 8.1 billion and 9.6 billion by 2050

b. World grain production has increased fairly steadily since 1950, but worldwide production of grain per capita has decreased dramatically over the same period

Which of the following is an abiotic component? a. an eagle b. a rock c. a tree d. a human e. a virus

b. a rock

In what way does the OSHA contribute to environmental protection? a. it develops regulations to limit emissions b. it limits human exposure to chemicals and pollutants c. it improves the quality of water d. it provides funds to clean contaminated sites e. it protects rare habitats from industrial development

b. it limits human exposure to chemicals and pollutants

Which is NOT a goal of a sustainable economic system a. give priority to ecosystem health b. use nonrenewable resources c. place value on ecosystems d. rely on ecosystem services rather than resource extraction e. make manufacturers responsible for the disposal of products

b. use nonrenewable resources

environmental indicators (examples)

biodiversity, food production, average global surface temperature and carbon dioxide concentrations, human population, and resource depletion

The first step in the scientific process is a. collecting data b. observations and questions c. forming a hypothesis d. disseminating findings e. forming a theory

c. forming a hypothesis

Human capital includes a. the goods that humans produce b. services that humans provide c. human knowledge and skills d. assets directly related to human survival e. services and processes that use manual labor

c. human knowledge and skills

Enacting legislation that restricts a chemical suspected of being harmful while there is still scientific uncertainty about that chemical is an example of a. an anthropocentric worldview b. a biocentric worldview c. the precautionary principle d. technology leapfrogging e. an incentive-based approach

c. the precautionary principle

Each of the following is an example of how humans have negatively affected the environment except a. hunting large animals b. conversion of arid land to agricultural use c. the use of fire to create the Great Plains d. slash-and-burn forest clearing e. fertilizer additions to lakes and rivers

c. the use of fire to create the Great Plains

Which of the following is NOT true about ecosystems? a. they include biotic components b. they can be a wide range of sizes c. they include no human components d. many interactions among species occur in them e. they include abiotic components

c. they include no human components

List some of the greenhouse gases

carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, nitrous oxide, etc.

stewardship

careful and responsible management and care for Earth and its resources (anthropogenic worldview)

incentive-based approach

constructs financial and other incentives for lowering emissions

what factors does GDP include?

consumer spending, investments, government spending, and exports minus imports

How do humans affect environmental systems?

convert land, and change the chemistry of air, soil, and water

externalities

costs of production that are not usually taken into account (damage to the environment)

Which is a UN organization concerned with the environment? a. WRI b. OSHA c. DOE d. WHO e. EPA

d. WHO

A control group is a. a group with the same conditions as the experimental group b. a group with conditions found in nature c. a group with a randomly assigned population d. a group with the same conditions as the experimental group except for the study variable e. a group that is kept at the same conditions throughout the experiment

d. a group with the same conditions as the experimental group except for the study variable

The use of cell phones in the developing world is an example of a. the Kuznets curve b. a positive externality c. natural capital d. leapfrogging e. a negative externality

d. leapfrogging

Which is an example of the command-and-control approach to encourage sustainability? a. a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions b. a rebate for energy-efficient products c. funding for solar energy projects d. regulations that limit sulfur emissions and include a provision for fines e. voluntary standards such as fair trade

d. regulations that limit sulfur emissions and include a provision for fines

A person's ecological footprint is a. the land that a person lives on b. the amount of carbon dioxide a person contributes to climate change c. the land required to produce a person's food d. the land needed to support all of a person's activities e. the amount of fossil fuel a person uses

d. the land needed to support all of a person's activities

WHO (World Health Organization)

dedicated to the improvement of human health by monitoring and assessing health tends and providing medical advice

anthropogenic

derived from human activities

environmental indicators

describe the current state of an environmental system

sustainable development

development that balances current human well-being and economic advancement with resource management for the benefit of future generations

examples of ecosystem services

drinking water, timber, fisheries, crops, pollination, decomposition, erosion, flood control, carbon storage, climate regulation, etc.

Strategies to implement environmental laws and regulations include all of the following except a. standards for emission levels with fines when these levels are exceeded b. green taxes on environmentally harmful activities or emissions c. buying and selling of pollution permits d. an incentive-based approach based on profits e. banning the cap-and-trade practice

e. banning the cap-and-trade practice

Common global-scale environmental indicators include all of the following except a. atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations b. human population c. natural resource depletion d. ocean fish harvest e. pollution in a local stream

e. pollution in a local stream

The populations of some endangered animal species have stabilized or increased in numbers after human intervention. An example of a species that is still endangered and needs further assistance to recover is the a. American bison b. peregrine falcon c. bald eagle d. American alligator e. snow leopard

e. snow leopard

What is NOT included in the calculation of gross domestic product? a. costs of health care b. government spending c. spending on durable goods d. earnings from investments e. the costs of externalities

e. the costs of externalities

market failure

economic system does not account for all costs

William Nordhaus

economist at Yale that looked at the two ways of measuring the price of light, and illustrated the flawed attempt to measure changes in living standards

environmental worldview

encompasses how one thinks the world works; how one thinks the world works; what one believes to be proper environmental behabior

How do the environmental indicators used by a city differ from global indicators?

environmental indicators may be useful for that city only, such as a native animal species. Global indicators must be present worldwide

Why is it more difficult to study environmental science than other science disciplines such as biology and chemistry?

environmental science is more difficult to study because it takes into account many challenges and limitations, including: a lack of baseline data, subjectivity, interactions, and human well-being

environmental science vs environmentalism

environmental science is the field of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those in nature, while environmentalism is the ideal of preserving the environment through legislation and activism

ecocentric worldview

equal value on all organisms and their ecosystems

What are the UN Millennium Development Goals?

eradicate poverty and hunger achieve universal primary education promote gender equality and empower women reduce child mortality improve maternal health combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases ensure environmental sustainability develop a global partnership for development

environmental economics

examines costs and benefits of various policies and regulations that seek to regulate or limit air and water pollution and other causes of environmental degredation

What are externalities, and why are they typically not reflected in the price of a good or service?

externalities are costs of production that markets to not usually take into account, such as environmental degradation. Because they are not taken into account, these costs of production are not reflected in the price of a good or service

What does finding solutions that meet the "triple bottom line" mean?

finding solutions that take social, environmental, and economic factors into account

anthropocentric worldview

focuses on human welfare and well-being

What is free trade?

free trade is international trade that is left to its natural course without tariffs, quotas, or other restrictions.

greenhouse gases

gases that contribute to the greenhouse affect by absorbing infrared radiation (carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons)

What has happened to global food production since the 1950's, and why?

global grain production has increased steadily since 1950 because of new innovations, such as: expanded irrigation, fertilization, new crop varieties, etc.

UN (United Nations)

global institution dedicated to promoting dialogue among countries (world peace)

manufactured capital

goods and services that humans produce

ecological footprint (unit of measure)

hectares

total food production (unit of measure)

hectares

accurate

how close the measure value is to the real/true value

accuracy

how close the measured value is to the real/true value

precision

how close to the others the measurements are

supply

how many units a supplier of a product is willing to provide at a given price

demand

how much of a good consumers want to buy

human capital

human knowledge and abilities

biocentric worldview

humans are only one of many species on Earth, all of which have equal intrinsic value

the events of 2008 may provide a glimpse of our future. Explain, making sure to give some of the factors involved.

in 2008, food shortages around the world led to high food prices. The grain produced worldwide was influence by many factors, including: climatic conditions, the amount and quality of land under cultivation, irrigation, and the human labor and energy required. Because the human population has been steadily increasing, grain production is not keeping up (demand outpacing supply). Since the population keeps growing, and demand is quickly increasing, we will eventually overexploit the land, resulting in the dramatic decline of its ability to sustain food production.

GPI (genuine progress indicator)

includes personal consumption, income distribution, levels of higher education, resource depletion, pollution, and health of population

what factors influence demand?

income, prices of related goods, tastes, expectations, and number of people who want the good

what factors influence supply?

input prices, technology, expectations about future prices, and number of people selling

Explain "interactions" and give 3 examples where it's a challenge

interactions are where different factors in an ecosystem all affect each other.

Nauru

island with huge phosphate supply

Explain "lack of baseline data" and give 3 examples where it's a challenge

lack of baseline data means that there is no "control planet" to compare the Earth to. That is, there is no undisturbed, unaltered part of the Earth. Consequently, we can only speculate about how the current conditions deviate form those of prehuman activity. It's a challenge if we want to see what contaminants existed before humans, how many species existed before humans, etc.

Negatives of fracking

large amounts of water are used in the process, and only a portion of this water is later extracted and treated. In addition, chemicals are added to the water--water contamination

technology transfer

less developed countries adopt technological innovations that were developed in wealthy countries

leapfrogging

less developed countries use new technology without first using the precursor technology

Benefits of fracking

lessens the emission of greenhouse gases through the reduced usage of coal

life expectancy (unit of measure)

life expectancy at birth

biotic

living

sustainability

living on Earth in a way that allows humans to use its resources without depriving future generations of those resources

biophilia

love of life

inductive reasoning

making general statements from specific facts/examples

Summarize the issue of human population

many feel that as the population continues to grow, there will be wars fought in the future over resources

Positives and negatives of maquiladoras?

maquiladoras provide jobs, but create industrial pollution

How do market failures occur, and what can be done to prevent them?

market failures occur when an economic system fails to account for all costs of production. To prevent this, policies can be made in order to regulate pollution and environmental degradation

ecosystem diversity

measure of the diversity of ecosystems or habitats in a giver region

HPI (Human Poverty Index)

measurement index developed by United Nations to investigate the proportion of a population suffering from deprivation in a country with high HDI. Combines longevity, knowledge and standard of living

HDI (Human Development Index)

measurement index that combines three basic measures of human status: life expectancy, knowledge and education, and standard of living

extinction rate (unit of measure)

million species years (MSY)

deep time

modern day cultures need to pay attention to the slow changes that accompany the deterioration of climatic conditions and resources, for the benefit of future generations

Is valuation an accurate way of representing the cost of natural capital?

no, it is not an accurate way of representing natural capital, because these resources cannot be given a specific value.

abiotic

non-living

scientific method

observing and questioning, forming hypothesis, collecting data, interpreting results, and disseminating findings

Why do we study environmental science?

offers important insights into our world and how we influence it

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

oversees governmental efforts related to environment (science, research, assessment, and education)

What are the steps of the "policy cycle" in the U.S.?

policy formulation/amendment, policy adoption, policy implementation, policy evaluation, and problem identification

CO2 - carbon dioxide (unit of measure)

ppm (parts per million)

water quality (unit of measure)

ppm (parts per million) or ppb (parts per billion)

null hypothesis

prediction that there is no difference between groups and conditions, or a statement that can be falsified

ecosystem services

processes by which life-supporting resources are produced

World Bank

provides technical and financial assistance to developing countries with objectives of reducing poverty and promoting growth

MEP (Market Equilibrium Price)

quantity demanded and quantity supplied are equal

natural capital

resources of the planet

UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme)

responsible for gathering environmental info, conducting research, and assessing environmental problems

command-and-control approach

strategy for pollution control that involves regulations and enforcement mechanisms

ecological economics

study of economics as a component of ecological systems rather than as a distinctly separate field of study

Explain "subjectivity" and give 3 examples where it's a challenge

subjectivity means that there is no single measure of environmental quality. It is difficult to decide what is better or worse for the environment overall. It's a challenge if we want to decide between plastic bags or paper bags,

green tax

tax placed on environmentally harmful activities/emmisions

What does the DOE do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

the DOE advances the energy and economic security of the U.S.

What does the EPA do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

the EPA oversees governmental efforts related to environment (science, research, assessment, and education)

What does the OSHA do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

the OSHA enforces health and safety regulations, preventing injuries, deaths, and illnesses in the workplace. The OSHA limits human exposure to chemicals and pollutants

background extinction rate

the average rate at which species go extinct over long term

Summarize the findings of the cholrpyrifos study

the chlorpyrifos study found that there was a relationship between ingesting chlorpyrifos and a single change in brain chemistry. This study, combined with numerous other experiments, demonstrated that chlorpyrifos was capable of damaging developing rat brains at fairly low doses.

replication

the data collection procedure of taking repeated measurements

biodiversity

the diversity of life forms in an environment

speciation

the evolution of a new species

environmental justice

the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of ALL people with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies

development

the improvement in human well-being through economic advancement

Easter Island

the inhabitants of the island (Polynesians) cut down forests and burned down trees, eventually completely demolishing the nature on the island.

micro lending

the lending of money in small amounts to impoverished individuals and groups who are unable to obtain loans from mainstream banks

species diversity

the number of species in a region/habitat

sample size

the number of times a procedure is replicated

How might economics play a role in the inequitable distribution of resources and pollution?

the people in lower income brackets are subjected to more exposure to environmental hazards

Give an example where the policy cycle appears to work, and an example where it appears not to. Where it appears to not work, where does it appear to be broken?

the policy cycle appears to work for the Clean Air Act

In a market economy, haw are scarce resources distributed to satisfy unlimited wants?

the rich purchase what they desire with the money they have, while the poor are unable to get these resources

well-being

the status of being healthy, happy, and prosperous

economics

the study of how humans allocate scarce resources in the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services

environmental science

the theory of study that looks at interactions among human systems and those in nature

What are the 3 major environmental world-views, and what does each one prioritize?

the three environmental world-views are: anthropogenic world-view, prioritizing human welfare and well-being; biocentric world-view, prioritizing the equal intrinsic value of all species; and ecocentric world-view, putting an equal value on all organisms and their ecosystems

How many acres is a 10,000 acre forest? (there are 2.47 acres in 1 ha)

there are 4048.58 hectares in 10,000 acres

why do we measure wealth and productivity?

this measurement can be a useful way of examining the health of an economy

GDP (Gross Domestic Product)

value of all goods and services produced in a year in a given country. Includes: consumer spending, investments, government spending, and exports minus imports

Precautionary principle

when the results of an action are uncertain, it's better to choose an alternative known to be harmless

UNDP (United Nations Development Programme)

works in 166 countries to advocate change through development

What is the "classic environmental dichotomy," and what are the two focuses of concern?

"jobs vs environment"; the two focuses of concern are: human well-being and environment

Why do civilizations fall?

(theory) civilizations fall because those in power act in the best interest of a few, in addition to poor environmental conditions.

what is GDP?

.(gross domestic product) value of all goods and services produced in a year in a given country

Impacts of fracking include: 1 contamination of ground water 2 increased use of coal 3 lower natural gas prices

1 and 3 only

Based on the supply and demand curve, which of the following can be reasonable inferred? 1. lower price = greater demand 2. higher price = greater supply 3. price changes as supply and demand fluctuate

1, 2, and 3

Jared Diamond's "Five Point Checklist"

1. look for human impacts on the environment 2. climate change? 3. relations with neighboring societies 4. relations with hostile societies 5. political, economic, social, and cultural factors of society

Which worldview considers ecosystems to have equal intrinsic value? 1. Anthropocentric 2. Biocentric 3. Ecocentric

2 and 3 only

What are some reasons for why societies make bad decisions, fail to solve their problems, and collapse?

A conflict of interest between short-term actions of decision-making elites, and the long-term interests of society. If is difficult for societies to make good decisions when there is a conflict of in strongly held values that are good in some circumstances and bad in others.

How can a country leapfrog, and why would it want to?

A country is able to leapfrog when it takes new technology without first using the precursor technology. This allows the country to avoid more costly, less efficient technology, and utilize the more advanced ones. For example, some countries may begin to use cell phones before ever having a fixed land line

What is a cradle-to-cradle system? Give an example of one that you are a part of.

A cradle-to-cradle system is where all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients can be recycled or reused with no loss of quality and biological nutrients composted or consumed. By contrast cradle to grave refers to a company taking responsibility for the disposal of goods it has produced, but not necessarily putting products' constituent components back into service. An example of a cradle-to-cradle system is Aveda

What is the difference between accuracy and precision?

Accuracy is how close to the true value the data is, while precision is how little variation there is in the values

What is background extinction rate, and what is the current extinction rate?

Background extinction rate is the average rate at which species go extinct over long term. The current extinction rate is approximately one thousand species per year, due to habitat destruction and degradation, as well as pressure from newly introduced species

Why is sustainability such a prominent goal for environmentalists?

Because environmentalists advocate controlling pollution and protecting biodiversity through environmental conservation and protection, sustainability, which focuses on protecting the environment, is a prominent goal for environmentalists.

Distinguish between "command and control" and "incentives" as means to an end

Command and control makes people unhappy, while incentives make people want to obey for benefits

Who benefits from the maquiladora industry?

Countries with maquiladoras benefit because of cheap labor. These countries include: the US, Japan, and European countries

What did Wangari Maathai accomplish?

Dr. Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize. He was a founder of the Green Belt Movement, an international environmental organization that empowers women by paying them to plant trees. The movement is considered a global sustainability success story, promoting both individual human and environmental well-being

what are some drawbacks of using GDP?

GDP misses improvements delivered by innovations (Uber, Youtube, Airbnb) , only measures output that is bought and sold, and home production is excluded

What is genetic diversity, and why is it important?

Genetic diversity is the genetic variation of individuals in a population. Greater genetic diversity allows for a species to better respond to environmental changes

What components are taken into account when calculating HDI?

HDI takes life expectancy, knowledge and education, and standard of living into account

What components are taken into account when calculating HPI?

HPI takes longevity, knowledge, and standard of living into account

How has Van Jones taken action?

He has founded an organization called Green for All, and published a book titled "The Green Collar Economy: How One Solution Can Fix Our Two Biggest Problems

How do humans affect natural systems?

Humans, through the development of technology and dramatic population growth, have increased both the rate and scale of environmental impact. Cities cover land, which was once natural habitat, and changes in climate are affecting the health of natural systems. The changes are rapidly outpacing the rate at which natural systems can evolve.

What might you recommend to make San Mateo more sustainable?

I would recommend making mass transit more appealing than driving, boost clean energy usage, and make the existing buildings more efficient.

infant mortality rate (unit of measure)

IMR (number of infant mortalities per 1000 live births)

How did Nauru fall?

In the beginning, Nauru was extremely prosperous, and flourished by selling their huge supply of phosphate. However, once their phosphate supply was depleted, Nauru was left with no source of income.

Goldilocks civilization example

Indus civilization - relied on a cycle of monsoons after 2,000 years, monsoons weakened, crops died, and the civilization fell

How has Majora Carter taken action?

Majora Carter has founded a non-profit environmental justice organization, advocating improving health and quality of life in communities. in order to do this, she promotes economic development in a sustainable and environmentally sound way. In addition, she creates green jobs.

Give some examples of environmental inequity

Minorities are more likely than Caucasians to live in an area with environmentally hazardous industries;

Reuse-A-Sneaker Program: summarize it, and decide whether it's real or greenwashing. Explain.

Nike developed a cradle-to-grave program to improve the sustainability of its industry. The company encourages the public to recycle used athletic shoes, using the material to build sports surfaces, new Nike products, tracks, synthetic turf, playgrounds, etc. I think this does recycle the materials, allowing for decreased amounts of waste.

Give three specific examples of environmental justice

North River Sewage Treatment Plant: New York, NY; DDT Contamination: Triana, Alabama; The Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal Project (DIFT)

Explain how the greenhouse effect works

Solar energy that is absorbed by the Earth is radiated back into the atmosphere, where it is absorbed by greenhouse gases and reradiated back into the Earth.

What is speciation, and how does it happen?

Speciation is the evolution of a new species. It occurs when organisms diverge after experiencing a set of different environmental pressures

What is species diversity, and why is it important?

Species diversity is the number of species in a given region/habitat. It is important because the higher the species diversity, the more productive and resilient the ecosystem is.

What does UNDP do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

The UNDP strives for democratic governance, poverty reduction, crisis prevention and recovery, environment and energy issues, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS. In order to do this, it improves environmental conditions

What does UNEP do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

The UNEP is responsible for gathering environmental information, conducting research, and assessing environmental problems. It is the leading global environmental authority, promoting the implementation of sustainable development

What does WHO do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

The WHO strives to promote development, foster health security, strengthen healthcare systems, coordinate and synthesize research, and enhance partnerships. In order to do this, it improves the environment of the people, reducing disease.

What does the World Bank do, and how does it affect environmental quality?

The World Bank provides technical and financial assistance to developing countries with objectives of reducing poverty and promoting growth. It strives to: educate government officials, create infrastructure, develop financial systems, and combat corruption. It helps lead to sustainable growth in developing countries

Summarize the concept of the ecological footprint

The ecological footprint, developed by William E. Reyes in 1995, is a measure of how much a person consumes, expressed in area of land

What is fracking?

The extraction of fossil fuels using hydraulic force (high pressure fluids) to force open existing cracks in the earth's crust

What other factors must be considered when evaluating the well-being of a nation's people?

The fact that more illness causes an increase in income for healthcare, an in turn raises the GDP of a country is not a reflection of well-being. In addition, the depreciation of assets, pollution of environment, and inflation are all factors that must be considered

What happened on Easter Island and what should we learn from their mistakes?

The people of Easter Island overused the land's soil and water resources, causing the fall of their civilization. We must learn to act in a way such that activities that are crucial to human society can continue.

What is the Precautionary Principle? Give an example of where it has been followed, and where it hasn't

The precautionary principle states that when the results of an action are uncertain, it's better to choose an alternative known to be harmless. It was followed in the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act, while it was not followed for GMOs

How are the wealth and productivity of a nation usually measured? How are these usual measures flawed?

The wealth and productivity of a nation is usually measured using GDP or GPI, but they're flawed due to the lack of taking into account healthcare and externalities.