Plant Bio Exam 4 Objectives
Carbon sinks via forests, soils, grasslands, and bodies of water and carbon sequestration With additional measures combined with business as usual and carbon sink scenarios US emissions are expected to be reduced by 22% by 2025
1. Describe how plants are being used to offset GHG emissions and the effectiveness of this strategy.
1. Direct Emissions: emissions directly in the company's control (manufacturing creation of waste fueling company vehicles) 2. Indirect emissions from purchases energy: emissions generated from electricity, natural gas, HVAC, refrigeration's 3. Indirect emission from Product lifecycle: all indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company
1. Explain how GHG emissions fall into three categories that corporate systems should consider.
•development opportunities •consumer awareness
2 goals of fair trade
green infrastructure
A network of decentralized storm water management practices like green roofs, trees, rain gardens and permeable pavement that can capture and infiltrate rain where it falls thus reducing storm water runoff and improving the health of surrounding waterways These practices deliver multiple ecological, economic and social benefits or services that can have a positive impact on energy consumption, air quality, carbon reduction and sequestration, & more
The cost of reducing extinction risk of threatened plant and animal species is around $3.41 - $4.76 billion annually. Cost of protecting and effectively managing all terrestrial sites of global avian would cost about $65.1 billion then the cost of protecting global network sites for nature is around $76.1 billion. Compared to the $6.6 trillion we would have to pay without being protected
Compare the costs of biodiversity conservation to the net value of ecosystem services that are lost when they are not protected, according to McCarthy et al. 2012
Clean Air Act of 1970
Comprehensive federal law that regulates air emissions from stationary/mobile sources, authorizes EPA to establish NAAQS to protects public health and public welfare to regulate emissions of hazardous air pollutants Goals: set and achieve NAAQS in every state by 1975 in order to address public health and welfare risks posed by certain widespread air pollutants Failed to meet deadlines
· Formed from plant and other carbon-based organisms (flashcards for this one already) · Buried under ocean/river sediments, high pressure & bacteria combined to compress the organic matter under layers of silt, oil or sulfur (depending on the fossil fuel) formed and the "cooking" process continued until they were formed
Describe how fossil fuels form,
surface currents as well as deep sea currents, and wind patterns
Describe how pollutants in the air and ocean are carried around the globe
More stringent fuel economy standards for medium and heavy duty trucks, could reduce about 0.5% in 2025Policies proposed in 2014 to reduce methane emissions in oil and gas sector and from landfills and coal mines could reduce emissions 2% by 2025Measures to reduce HFCs through EPA's SNAP program and to leverage federal government purchasing power to promote cleaner alternatives, could reduce 1.7% by 2025Enhanced federal programs that lead to greater efficiencies in industry/transportation, including greater biofuel deployment and commercial aviation efficiency Full implementation of Phase II heavy-duty vehicle economy standards
Describe policies and regulations proposed in the climate action plan to further reduce GHG emissions and meet our NDC targets. Name the regulations that could support these
Synthetic carpets are made from petroleum which releases large amounts of air and water pollution along with solid waste 6 tons of carpet trimmings were dumped in landfills each year
Describe the environmental problems associated with synthetic carpets. State how much waste was generated by the company Interface before implementing sustainable practices
Many of the goals and benchmarks don't want to use potable water for irrigating the grounds and want to incorporate trees and plant in the landscape that will also support local wildlife and prevent pollution from runoff. We have green roofs and also recycle our rainwater and our LEED certified so we're doing pretty good.
Describe the goals and benchmarks that Ohio University has set for making our Grounds and Water more sustainable and know how our green infrastructure might help us meet those benchmarks
Energy from the sun heats Earth's surface, warms the atmosphere, provides energy for photosynthesis, causes evaporation, drives the weather and water cycles, and powers the ocean currents
Describe the interactions of solar energy, atmosphere and water on climate and weather.
· Increasing, fluctuations based on season (more plants in summer b/c more photosynthesis than cellular respirations so lower CO2 levels)
Describe the overall trend in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere using the measurement, ppm (parts per million)
Reduce carbon emissions from grounds-related activities
Describe the purpose of the OHIO Sustainability and Climate Action Plan
Economy wide target to reduce net greenhouse gas emission 26-28% below 2005 levels by 2025 by including additional policies, technological advances, and stronger action by cities and companies
Describe the target specified by the United States INDC and explain how this can be accomplished.
Oil, natural gas, coal and nuclear energy (all except nuclear energy are fossil fuels)
Distinguish non-renewable from renewable energies and classify fossil fuels
Less impactful at local level, local governments aren't at scale with climate change, has limited reach and is less efficient than sweeping national policy18 states have some sort of preemption law in place
Evaluate differential impacts of local regulations, individual actions, corporate practices and national and international regulation on reducing impacts of plastic waste
· Ecosystem services are crucial to survive but we put a price on them to economically benefit from them so value is placed on provisional services · If these services were included then Global Gross National Product would go up b/c we're including more services there's more money (and right now we don't include those other services)
Evaluate the importance of assessing values to ecosystem services and describe how values might be determined
Ecosystem services like coal and petroleum, that have more significant damage caused to the people that harvest them, could be priced higher as a way to discourage people from buying this capital.
Evaluate whether and how the valuation of ecosystem services might include transportation or health costs when those services are traded
· Home gardens are mainly subsistent so they're primary function is food production with the diversified planting and harvesting which provides people with firewood, fodder and timber and sustains soil productivity through nutrient recycling and reduces soil erosion. So everything is localized and the gardens can supply ¼ of the fuelwood requirements for a family thus decreasing deforestation and carbon emissions since consumption patterns are sustainable
Explain how agroforestry could support community needs while acting to mitigate climate change
On a national scale we've done a good job in locally cutting down our carbon footprint and have future goals to further tackle that since nationally transportation is a large contributor to carbon emissions Energy - Reduce campus and building energy intensity - Decrease reliance on fossil fuel energy Food - Support the local food economy with preference to neighborhood food products - Promote mindful food choices Transportation - Reduce carbon emissions from transportation - Create safe, efficient, affordable and healthy routes and options for non-single occupancy vehicle transit
Explain how the goals for Energy, Food and Transportation connect to content discussed in the class
Electric power sector emissions are expected to decline 18% from 2014 levels by 2025 because of factors via the Environmental Protection Agency, Clean Power Plan, and the extension of federal tax credits for wind and solar power. Greenhouse gas standards for vehicles will also reduce emissions
Explain how well the business-as-usual forecast could meet our targets
The EPA projects that non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions-methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs), per fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride)—will increase around 7 percent from 2014 levels by 2025
Explain how well the business-as-usual forecast could meet our targets. Name the predicted changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for each main type of GHG.
It helps create more transparency between governing bodies and the public and also allows the public to be more educated and trust these facts since they're coming from somewhere reliable, and there can be a better providing of support, action and understanding.
Explain the benefits of addressing ozone depletion and climate change at a global level by an international community.
particulate matter
Health effects: can cause harmful effects on cardiovascular system including heart attacks/strokes, premature death, linked to harmful respiratory effects like asthma attacks Environmental effects: reduced visibility of haze in US, making lakes and streams acidic, changing nutrient balance in coastal waters and large river basins, depleting nutrients in soil, damaging sensitive forests and farm crops, affecting diversity of ecosystems, can stain and damage stone including culturally important things like statues/monuments
Regulating services such as wetlands that can reduce exposure and filter some of the pollutants out of the water
Identify the ecosystem services associated with protection against storm damage and floods
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Informally called Superfund, allows EPA to clean up contaminated sites and forces parties responsible for contamination to either perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanup work. Their goal is to protect human health and the environment by cleaning up contaminated sites and making people responsible for the pollution while also involving communities
ecological footprint
Measures the impact of human activities in terms of area of productive land and water required to produce the goods consumed
Habitat transformation, Climate change Over-exploitation Pollution, Impact of invasive alien species
Name the five principal threats to plant biodiversity
- cut greenhouse gas emissions by 82%- cut fossil fuels consumptions by 60%- cut waste by 66%- cut water use by 75%- increased sales by 66 %, doubles earnings, raised profit margins
Name the steps that Interface took to decrease the ecological footprint of the company and how well it has succeeded
· Technological advances in transportation and communications (structural forces) Ex: steamships (death of distance) & telegraphs (made migration easier=increased pop.)
Name the two key processes central to globalization
ecological economies
New theory of economics that considers the long-term impact of our choices of people and the environment
Urban areas are generally hotter than rural areas because man made materials like pavement and buildings absorb heat and increase pollution
Predict the reason for differences between rural and urban areas.
· Opportunities for disadvantaged producers · Transparency and accountability-communication is open on all levels of the supply chain · Fair trade practices-social, economic, environmental well-being of small producers, maintains long relationships based on solidarity, trust and mutual respect, promotes cultural identity · Fair payment · No child labor, no forced labor · No discrimination, gender equity, freedom of association · Good working conditions · Capacity building-positive developmental impacts for small producers Ex: improving management skills, access to market, etc. · Promote fair trade-raise awareness for fair trade and greater justice · Respect for the environment-maximize use of raw materials sustainability
Recognize principles of Fair Trade established by the WFTO
Emissions could be reduced by 18-30% with technology and practices and different agro-ecological conditions
State the potential reduction predicted by the authors for reducing GHG emissions in the livestock sector of agricultural. Describe how manure management could play a role in this reduction, predicting how this could be done in conjunction with other agricultural activities
35.7
US produced ____million tons of plastic waste in 2018, more than 90% of which was either landfilled or burned
climate change
a change attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods
public good
a good anyone can use Ex: clean air
green roof
a) Can store significant amount of water, reduces runoff entering sewer systems and waterways & can stop them from overflowing b) Provides extra insulation thus reducing energy consumption, reduces solar radiation, reduces roof surface temperatures c) Vegetation takes up air pollutants and lessens smog formation d) Reduces CO2 by sequestering carbon
tree planting
a) Intercept rainfall and increase infiltration, canopies diminish raindrops eroding a surface, reduces runoff b) Provide shade which can cool the air and reduce amount of heat being absorbed by buildings, reduce wind speeds and release water into the atmosphere resulting in energy needed for heating or cooling c) Absorb air pollutants and particulate matter and reduce energy consumption d) Via sequestration they reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels
permeable pavement
a) Reduces surface runoff by allowing stormwater to infiltrate underlying soils, can lower water treatment costs and reduce flooding and erosion b) Lowers surrounding temperatures which reduces demand on cooling systems in buildings c) Water doesn't have to be treated so there's no air pollution from power plants and decreases ground level ozone formation d) No power plants needed to treat water so less CO2 emissions and has a longer CO2 lifespan than asphalt and cement
water harvesting
a) Reuse of rainwater reduces water treatment needs which saves on cost for potable water b) Cutting down on potable water use which requires energy to produce, treat and transport c) Reduces energy and amount of pollutants being emitted from power plants d) No power plants needed to treat so less CO2 emissions
Bioretention and Infiltration
a) Store and infiltrate stormwater which reduces flooding and pollution in local waterways b) Increases available potable water and groundwater recharge by directing rainwater into the ground c) Takes up pollutants and minimizes amount of water entering treatment facilities thus lowering amount of GHGs emitted d) Bioretention and infiltration practices reduce carbon dioxide emissions through direct carbon sequestration
fairwild standard
allows for traceability and transparency as well as product safety, implements ecological, social and economic aspects and is implemented as a third party certification system and can be used by communities and government for their plant resource management strategies. So companies like plant collection operations might partake
Paris Agreement
an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation, and finance starting in the year 2020. Aim is to unite countries and their response globally to climate change and keeping the global temperature rise below 2C
· Oceans and land are warming quickly, land is warming faster than ocean b/c it takes more for the ocean to heat
changes in climate since 1880s
triple bottom line
combination of environment, social and economic impacts of our choices--people, profit, planet
· Implementing Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and conserving biodiversity and contributing to sustainable use by ensuring no species gets unsustainably exploited through trade which can result in loss of biodiversity. Levels of trade need to be reported to ensure species aren't endangered as a result of trade
describe how the GSPC is meeting targets for sustainable use and trade of wild plant resources. Discuss international agreements and the expectations for sustainably sourcing plant-based products
flows cycles
energy ___ and matter _______
service economies
focus on the actual product rather than just making money so the products are usually higher quality and available to consumers
ground level ozone
forms when emissions of nitrous oxide and chemical compounds react in the presence of sunlight Health effects: reduces lung function, causes respiratory symptoms (coughing, shortness of breath), aggravates asthma and lung diseases like emphysema which increases hospital admissions, emergency department visits, also increase risk of premature mortality from respiratory causes Environmental effects: damages vegetation by injuring leaves, reducing photosynthesis, impairing reproduction and growth and decreasing crop yields, may alter ecosystem structure, reduce biodiversity and decrease plant uptake of Co2, ozone is also a GHG that causes warming of atmosphere
· Healthy soil (ecosystem service)=nutrient cycling (supporting ecosystem service) & that can lead to economic benefits like enriched soil for growing food =$
give examples of natural capital and explain how ecosystem services arise from natural capital stocks.
Plastics are primarily made from natural gas byproducts ethane/propane which are turned into plastic polymers in high-heat facilities in process called cracking Experts believe the ocean will contain one ton of plastic for every three tons of fish by 2025Microplastics have impacts on human health
how are plastics produced?
2nd in the world, right behind china
how does the US rank globally in plastic pollution
Healthy ecosystems have diversity, productivity and biogeochemical cycling that maintain processes of operation, able to maintained indefinitely
how healthy ecosystems are naturally sustainable
The US has to important resources from other countries and even export some of their waste (sustainability notes also have good defintion)
how the footprint by the population of the United States affects the rest of the world
surface or underground mining Ex: deforestation and erosion, contamination of local water bodies like streams
lifecycle of coal
drilling, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) Ex: pipeline leaks, processing of liquidation in order to export
lifecycle of natural gas
· exploration, drilling, extraction Ex: refinery costs, drilling disrupts wildlife & generates pollution
lifecycle of petroleum
Montreal Protocol
meeting in 1987 where a group of nations met in Canada and agreed to take steps to protect the earth's ozone layer by phasing out chemicals like CFCs and HCFCs
the base of all forms of capital
natural capita is ____
· 27%, gasoline i.e. petroleum—natural gasses
percentage of fossil fuels that are used for transportation and the main type of fuels used for this purpose.
INDCs
primary means for governments to communicate internationally the steps they will take to address climate change in their own countries, reflect each country's goals for reducing emissions based on what they're currently capable of
phytoremediation
process of using plants to clean up toxic soil/water Dr. Doty found licensed strains of microbes to Intrinsyx Environmental, which gave the poplars in Mountain View a boost to enable the trees to survive and even thrive in a toxic landscape found that bacteria can degrade toxins
clean water act
regulations have been implemented in treating sewage, dumping waste and other pollutants that damage water resources. Wetlands, groundwater and surface water found in rivers, lakes and streams are all protected to enhance the economy and quality of life
Feed materials that result in manure deposition and land use change (50%) Enteric fermentation (40%) Energy consumption, mostly related to feed production and fertilization (20%)
sources of GHG emissions from livestock according to activities related to the management of the animals and the products that result (e.g. meat). Name the gases that are most heavily represented in each part of the process.
capital
stock of materials that exist at any point of time, any product or idea that comes from the ecosystem Ex: water, land, air
sustainable development
using renewable resources and efficiently using them to live in the limits of nature so it can be good for the environment, people and make a profit.
natural capital
wealth of resources on earth Ex: oxygen, fish, wetlands, oceans, etc.
natural interest
wealth of resources on earth Ex: oxygen, fish, wetlands, oceans, etc.
Causing extinction of native species, reducing biodiversity, competing with native populations for limited resources, destroying habitats
what makes an invasive species bad?
take back programs
when products have a defined life span like electronics customers can return them for a new one which gives an incentive to the producer to make a durable, high-quality product that be reused or recycled
closed loop system
where the product is folded back into the resource stream when consumers are finished with it or disposed of it in such a way that nature can decompose it
mainstream economic theory
which assumes that individuals make decisions that will maximize their own utility, and uses statistics and mathematical models to demonstrate theories and evaluate various economic developments
Absorbs UV rays and limits the amount of radiation that reaches Earth's surface and can cause health problems
why is the ozone important?
· Carbon sequestration, wood products store CO2, 20-50% decrease in fossil fuel use by replacing steel, concrete with wood, 90% of carbon sinks in the US are in natural forest—takes in more than it releases
· Describe the importance of forest resources in mitigating climate change.
· 1.2% per year due to rapid population growth, expansion of agriculture, ranching, forest fires, and illegal logging
· Describe the rate of deforestation occurring in Guatemala and the area protected by the Maya Biosphere Reserve. Name some of the causes behind deforestation in that area.
· Includes more than 135,000 varieties of wheat, fava bean, lentil, and chickpea crops as well as the world's most valuable barely collection. Some can trace back to what agriculture might've looked like 10,000 years ago and some species contain desirable traits like drought resistance and heat tolerance · Needs a new location because permafrost is melting
· Describe the types of genetic resources that were being stored in the gene bank in Aleppo, as well as in Svalbard, and why a new facility was needed.
Longer vegetative growing season in the Northern Hemisphere at higher latitudes were temperatures rising have been the greatest as well as in correlation to CO2 cycles
· Describe what the general changes in phenology have been relative to leafing out, flowering, production of fruit and growing season. State how this correlates with climate.
CAFE
· Ensures that petroleum-producing companies are producing quality fuels that do not contain lead or sulfur levels above federal standards and contribute to air pollution, established in 1975, customers save money on fuel for their vehicles and sets fuel consumption standards
· If there's monetary rewards, it incentives people to care about protecting the earth · Cap and trade · If you go below the required level, you can sell credits to other companies/people, this encourages innovation
· Evaluate the importance of carbon markets in mitigating climate change.
GWP
· Global warming potential, measured in MTCE (metric tons of carbon equivalent), fluorinated gases are the most dangerous with 23,500 while CO2 is only 1 MTCE
electricity generation, transportation and other forms of energy production and use
· Majority of world's greenhouse gasses come from _____
· CO2-deforestation, burning fossil fuels · Methane- coal mining, agricultural, landfills · Fluorinated gases (FCs)-gas leakage · Nitrous oxide-agricultural, fossil fuels, biomass burning
· Name four major greenhouse gases or types of gases. Identify the primary sources of these emissions for each gas.
· Many species are affected via their food and habitat resources which disrupts the timing between the life cycles of predators and their prey Ex: warmer temperatures in the winter has led a species of moth to eat more and thus alter its life cycle to only take one year per generation instead of 2=increase in population as well as the fungus they spread
· Name the differences among species that lead to variability in responses to climate change and describe how this might affect interspecific relationships.
· Buying locally and not over-consuming, increasing the amount of goods a country produces internally instead of massively importing goods from across the globe
· Suggest how trade in goods and services could be modified to reduce our carbon footprint.
Phenology
· The study of the timing of an organism's developmental stages like breeding or flowering, influenced by temperature, amount of sunlight and precipitation
