Anthropology 1010 Uconn - Final Exam

How does the earth charter think we should move towards sustainability?

"an international declaration of fundamental values and principles considered by its supporters as the basis for building a just, sustainable, and peaceful interdependent global society founded on respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of peace"

How does the EPA define environmental injustice?

"the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies"

How does solar energy work?

1. V (photovoltaic) Cells convert sunlight into direct current electricity 2. Inverter converts from direct current to alternating current electricity 3. Electrical panel sends electricity into home/building

What are the four basic permaculture principles?

1. Working with nature rather than against it 2. Thoughtful labor 3. Each element should perform many functions rather than one 4. Everything is connected to everything else

What are droughts?

A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall; a shortage of water resulting from this.

How is resilience contrasted with rigidity?/How is resilience newly defined?

A resilient system can absorb disturbances and undergo some degree of change to respond to them. Resilience now includes both an element of recovery and an element of change

Where do climate refugees go?

African countries affected by droughts: Migrate to Europe Rural farmers and fishermen: Move to large cities (Skills no longer utilized in large overcrowded and industrial cities so there is Job difficulty) Countries and Islands affected by sea level rise: People of Tuvalu move to Fiji and New Zealand People of Bangladesh move to India The United States: Coastal Georgia residents may move to Atlanta and Florida residents will move to Texas (According to Migration Modeling Software)

How did victims recover from Katrina?

After the hurricane the response to help was extremely inadequate. The government continued to fail to support aid for those suffering from the effects of the hurricane. For over the $100 billions in damage the city only received $70 from the federal government with its recovery efforts. Levees broke pushing more water into the city.

Explain the Nile River Basin Project

An ecosystem-based management example is the nile river basin project: The nile system is one of Africa's most important ecosystems. Due to its size and varying climate and topographies, it's a complex river basin. The project aims to minimize the projected stress of too little and too much water (water scarcity and flooding) for conflict prevention and disaster reduction through knowledge based policy intervention, technology transfer and investment in key infrastructure.

What is anticipatory action?

Anticipatory action taken in advance of climate change effects is the equivalent of primary prevention (developing and training for, having the resources and facilities on hand in preparation for heat-related illness)

What is Mitigation?

Any action to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life, property, and the environment

What's wrong with a linear economy?

Supply risk: the planet only has so many materials Degradation of ecosystem: it diminishes the capacity of species to survive We also produce too much toxic waste

What are the 3 classes of forest fires?

Surface fire: on surface Ground fires: on or below surface Crown fires: jump from tops of tree

What is sustainable development?

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

What is anticipatory action?

Taken in advance of climate change (developing and training for, and having resources and facilities on hand in preparation for an event)

What is tertiary adaptation?

Tertiary adaptation involves actions taken when significant effects of climate change have been experienced to help "return life to normal" or to a "new norms" (such as resupplying herders who have lost their herds to flooding with new animals)

What are environmental effects of drought?

Wildlife may need to migrate due to change in weather patterns Wildlife may perish (stress on endangered species) Poor soil quality which negatively impacts agriculture Low water levels in streams, lakes, ponds, and reservoirs Loss of wetlands Water and wind erosion of soil Increased wildfires

What are wildfires?

Wildfires are uncontrollable, unplanned, and unwanted fires that wipe out large areas of land. They move at speeds of about 14 miles per hour

What are some limits to adaptation?

1. No funding or resources 2. Local communities aren't included in adaptation plans (top down approach) so they aren't effective 3. Climate change denial

Define Risk

A combination of the magnitude of the potential consequences of climate change impacts and the likelihood that the consequences will occur

What are some actions taken by individuals, businesses, and governments to adapt to climate change?

- A farmer choosing to grow a different crop variety better suited to warmer or drier conditions - A company deciding to relocate key facilities away from coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise and hurricanes - A community updating its ordinances to protect wetland habitat that provides critical ecosystem services like flood protection - A city developing early warning system for severe storms

What are four types of adaptation activities that have been described?

1. Share loss or share risk 2. Bear loss or bear risk 3. Prevent effects or avoid/reduce with a technical or structural change 4. avoid or exploit changes in risk

The way impacts are perceived and responded to depend on what?

1. The nature of the impacts 2. Whether impacts are gradual or sudden 3. the nature of the society 4. environmental setting 5. available resources 6. gender differences

What are some methods of mitigation?

1. Use new technologies and renewable energies 2. Making older equipment more energy efficient 3. Changing management practices or consumer behavior 4. Restructuring of the economic system away from a consumerist, profit-driven, expansionist approach to economics

What actions can be taken to promote adaptation?

1. A farmer choosing to grow a different crop variety better suited to armer or drier conditions 2. A company deciding to relocate key facilities away from coastal areas vulnerable to sea level rise and hurricanes 3. A community updating its ordinances to protect wetland habitat that provides critical ecosystem services like flood protection 4. A city developing early warning systems for severe storms 5. A government agency increasing its water-use efficiency at regional facilities to prepare for more frequent and severe drought

What are some useful tools in Mitigation?

1. Agriculture 2. Forest 3. Energy 4. Manufacture 5. Transport 6. Buildings 7. Waste

What are the four kinds of objectives of adaptation that have been described?

1. Building adaptive capacity pre-preemptively, including building awareness of climate change and its effects and potential responses. 2. Reducing risk and vulnerability to climate change risks 3. Increasing coping capacity, after the fact, for extreme events 4. Capitalizing on the conditions brought about by climate change (finding ways to take advantage of climate changes, if possible)

How did Nepal improve it's country's adaptive capacity?

1. Heat, drought, and pest resistant crops 2. Irrigation improvement like drip systems 3. Adopting minimum tillage strategies in the rice, wheat, and maize to reduce carbon and water loss from soil. 4. Green manuring and cover crops to preserve soil moisture and increase soil organic content 5. Improved watershed and graze land management 6. Preservation of seed varieties to avoid biodiversity loss

What are some motivations for why countries developed national adaptation policy?

1. International climate negotiations and treaties 2. Experience of extreme weather events 3. Encountering examples of adaptation actions in other countries 4. Research on impacts and adaptation 5. Assessment of the significant economic costs of inaction 6. Recognition of the potential opportunities presented in climate change 7. Identification of compatibility with other policies in existence.

What are four types of drought?

1. Meteorological Drought: When dry weather patterns occur for a long time 2. Hydrological Drought: When there is a lack of precipitation present in streams and rivers 3. Agricultural Drought: When crops are affected by the drought 4. Socioeconomic Drought: When supply and demand of society is affected

What are renewable energy sources?

1. solar 2. wind 3. hybrid 4. bio energy 5. geothermic 6. Hydropower

How can energy be used for mitigation? (3 ways)

As populations and incomes grow, so does the demand for energy 1. We can invest in renewables, wind, solar, geothermal 2. Engage ingenuity of nations 3. Make energy competition fair

Why is renewable energy so important?

Based on data from the E.P.A, 28.4 percent of 2016 U.S greenhouse emissions came from electricity production. This was the second biggest source of emissions, just slightly behind transportation. As you can see a huge portion of our greenhouse gas emissions comes from energy production, so moving to cleaner renewable energies is big step towards nullifying our impact on the environment.

What is the downside of electric cars?

Batteries - require many batteries and are extremely sensitive to temperature changes. The batteries take a couple hours to fully recharge. Electric Charging Stations - Still today there is very limited availability to recharge stations. Gas stations and even parking lots are starting to implement them, but it is still tough to find them in certain areas. Price Range - Current electric cars are priced between $30,000 - $40,000. They are more expensive than your average gas-powered vehicle.

How did Nestle impact the water supply in Flint?

Because of Nestle pumping water near the state of Michigan, Flint's water supply has become increasingly contaminated.

How does racism of the past (segregation) affect environments today?

Because of the past (Jim Crow Laws - Segregation) people today do have to burden environmental injustice. (Black children are more likely to live near polluting power plants and unhealthy environments)

What are the upsides to electric cars?

Cheaper to Operate - Electricity provides a big cost advantage over petroleum. No Emission Output - Electric cars have no tailpipe and it benefits the air quality in the environment. Convenience of Charging at Home - No need to travel to gas stations to fuel up. Have the convenience of charging at home. Quiet and Quick - Electric cars are extremely quiet and also provide a large amount of torque.

What are human causes of drought?

Clear Cutting of forests (less stored moisture in trees means lack of evaporation into rainfall). Building dams on rivers can obstruct water flow and lead to drought in some areas

What is climate adaptation?

Climate adaptation: the ability of living or social system to adjust to climate change (including fluctuation and climate extremes) to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.

How are coastal communities affected by climate change?

Coastal communities are vulnerable to climate change because of sea level rise, increased temperatures, storm intensity, and acidification. For example) Tuvalu

How can buildings be used for mitigation?

Construction consumes more than one third of our resources.Improving energy efficiency in buildings through greener construction methods and retrofitting existing structures can make an enormous difference in reducing GHG emissions.

What is Tesla's impact on the auto-industry?

Created a greater sense of urgency as far as innovation and electric. Excitement grew around electric cars because of the way their electric cars were designed. More automakers are transitioning from making internal combustion engines to making all electric and hybrid systems. Tesla's Model 3 is aiming at influencing other automakers and people that an electric car can look sleek, drive fast, and hold enough energy for a long charge.

How can agriculture be used for mitigation?

Current farming methods are depleting the earth's resources and producing alarming quantities of greenhouse gases. Organic farming technology allows agricultural system to collect carbon (as organic matter is accumulated in the soil, or when above-ground woody biomass acts either as a permanent sink or is used as an energy source substitutes for fossil fuels, Increase composting Alternate food sources, alternate food philosophies, Ethical population control, Subsidy shifts (Make it so that organic farmers can make subsidies to the same degree as non-organic farmers who make millions).

How can transport be used for mitigation?

Current transport methods use huge amounts of fossil fuels (and we're running out). Subsidies can be used to encourage companies to make green vehicles. Vehicle use is increasing, the global vehicle fleet is set to triple by 2050. 1. Investments in public transportation and vehicle efficiency can yield exceptional economic returns. Several studies show that a green, low-carbon transport sector could reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the sector by as much as 70% with minimal additional investment For this transformation to happen, however, there needs to be a major shift toward sustainable/renewable low-waste producing fuels, public transportation and non-motorized transport, and improved city planning to diminish transport needs. It is far more difficult to motivate a consumer-based society who believes bigger is better and waste is profit than it is to design these things.

What are some benefits of urban agriculture?

Defense against food supply chain disruption: such as natural disasters, and wars. Economic benefits: Growing your own food is cheaper. Food produced locally minimizes transportation time and lowers cost. Urban farming creates jobs that wouldn't otherwise exist in cities. Introduces fresh produce in food deserts : areas without convenient access to supermarkets and healthy food options Using less water by using hydroponics systems: Hydroponic systems use less water than conventional soil growing methods. Reusing wastewater: Treated wastewater can be used in place of freshwater.

Explain the Diana Liverman analysis on vulnerability

Diana Liverman wrote that the country had become more vulnerable to drought in recent years because of the expansion of commercial agriculture and land reform, which created groups of poor rural dwellers with limited and insecure access to land resources. In her analysis, Liverman focuses on drought and mentions pregnant women, children, elderly, the poor and the ones who live in areas of high hazard as the most vulnerable. She also said that technology does not always reduce vulnerability. Irrigation, variety of improved seeds, and fertilizers can reduce vulnerability. Industrial farming technology also replaces traditional hazard prevention strategies such as mixed cropping and expands agriculture into areas of high risk such as mountains. The result is dependencey on foreign inputs and further environmental degradation. She concludes landlessness, poor soils, and political weakness, mixed with inappropriate industrial farming technologies, make some people more vulnerable to drought than others.

What is one key function in permaculture? What are some examples of this function?

Each element should perform many functions rather than one. Ex. Pond doubles as grey water reserve for chickens Additional collection tanks provide grey water for laundry, bathrooms, and irrigation Vegetation chosen to reflect what would be found on the site naturally

What is early adaptation?

Early adaptation involves actions taken in response to early evidence

What is EcoCradle Packaging?

EcoCradle is a company who makes packaging from crop waste and mushroom roots that's eco friendly.

How can economic policies and community involvement help people increase their sustainability in developing countries?

Economic policies: These should include appropriate resource pricing and the creation of economic alternatives for poor people. Community involvement: Projects should be designed to assist community development and access to information regarding land-use issues and economic environmental and health impacts of development. Projects must ensure effective citizen participation and the protection of cultural values.

How does El Nino contribute to flooding?

El Nino is well known for creating uncharacteristically warm temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific which as we have learned gives the ocean a lower density and raises its volume. It also increases the rate of evaporation and likewise, precipitation, as we can observe in the flooding storms over Peru.

How does El Nino cause drought?

El Niño Southern Oscillation(ENSO) Occurs every 2-7yrs. It is an irregularly recurring flow of unusually warm surface waters from the Pacific Ocean toward and along the Western Coast of South America Prevents upwelling of nutrient-rich cold deep water Causes change in atmospheric pressure and global weather patterns Droughts include areas such as Australia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brazil, Southern Africa, western Pacific basin islands, Central America, Parts of the U.S.

How do governments engage with vulnerable communities?

Engagement with vulnerable communities, including low income, socially marginalized, and indigenous communities is ignored; rather these are mentioned in terms of vulnerability and resource deficits (as groups in need of protection not empowerment)

How can environmental injustice be analyzed on different scales?

Environmental injustice can compare nations, communities, individuals within communities, and nations (A study showed that people in the U.S who earned more than $75,000 emit nearly four times as much CO2 as those who earned less than $10,000 a year: The world's richest people cause emissions thousands of times greater than those of the world's poorest. Our blame may go hand in and hand to our income according to Pacala- we can look at individuals instead of nations)

What is environmental injustice?

Environmental injustice refers to the unequal and unfair distribution of environmental benefits (resources) and burdens (being exposed to harmful waste production, greenhouses gas effects)

How can environmental policies help people in developing countries be sustainable?

Environmental policies are necessary to prevent degradation. They should include citizen participation in sustainable water use policies.

How can environmental racism be considered a factor of white privilege and what are some examples of this?

Environmental racism can be considered a factor in white privilege. It is a form of racism and the reason environmental racism is overlooked is because people lack an understanding of the what the word racism really means. It was shown in Southern California that areas most populated by whites have no toxic waste sites whereas highly latino or african-american populated areas have many uncontrolled toxic waste sites. In Shanxi (North China) : A province in North China where they mine coal. Many jobs were created but the pollution affected many people's health, now the government is trying to improve the ecological system in this area. When the Puerto Rico was hit with major storms this year it took Trump 2 weeks to stand with Puerto Rico because he said it would hurt the budget, but Puerto Rico is technically a part of U.S territory.

How much energy is used by transport?

Estimated 20% and 25% of the world's energy used by transport. There are now around 750 million cars in the world

What actions can be taken to help support climate refugees?

Expanding "Refugee" definition Take into account climate change realities Include people fleeing natural and man-made disasters to SURVIVE Recognizing the different challenges faced by different communities Case documentation Funding Communication among countries and institutions Rethink how migration process benefits all parties

What are economic effects of drought?

Farmers may lose money due to lost crops People might need to pay more for produce Businesses that rely on water may go out of business Ships and barges may have a hard time travelling due to lower water levels, so supplies might be harder to receive. People or businesses that use hydroelectric resources may need to spend money on a different energy source

How can forest be used for mitigation?

Forest goods and services support the livelihoods of over 1 billion people, most of whom are poor and live in developing countries. We could: 1. Halt deforestation (and forest-replanting) is critical 2. Forest conservation programs-culturally informed, community based conservation 3. Increased attentional to ecological justice 4. PES

How are hybrids, biofuel, and hydrogen used for green transportation?

Hybrids- Combination of electricity and I.C.E Biofuel- Made by fermenting plant materials and biodiesel is made from vegetable oils, animal fats or recycled grease. Hydrogen- Most promising because abundant hydrogen

How does bioenergy work and how efficient is it?

HOW BIOENERGY WORKS 1. Biomass is turned into biofuels, most commonly biodiesel and ethanol 2. The fuel is burned just like traditional fuels to produce energy. Biomass based fuels release far less greenhouse gases when compared to traditional fuels. Even though some emissions are being put out by biomass fuels, they should theoretically all be absorbed by the next crop used to produce biomass. Some waste products can be converted into biofuels, which reduces waste and landfill use.

What is geothermal energy and how efficient is it?

HOW GEOTHERMAL PLANTS WORK 1. Geothermal plants are built on geothermal reservoirs, which are aquifers deep within the Earth. These aquifers range in temperature from 300 to 700 degrees fahrenheit. 2. Once a geothermal reservoir is located, wells are drilled into the aquifer for steam release and water pumps. 3. The emerging steam is used to spin turbines which provide electricity. Since the heat coming out of the Earth is constant, a geothermal plant has the capability to put out power twenty four hour a day, three hundred sixty five days a year, making more efficient than other sources such as wind and solar. In 2014, 21 countries were taking advantage of geothermal energy. The U.S is the current leader. In 2016 the U.S produced 17.4 billion kilowatt hours through geothermal power plants.

How does hydroelectric energy work and how efficient is it?

HOW WATER TURBINES WORK: 1. Turbine converts energy from flowing water to mechanical energy 2. Generator converts the mechanical energy into electricity Hydroelectric energy makes up 24% of renewable energy, based on 2017 preliminary data. Hydroelectric power is generally reliable and requires less maintenance than other energy sources. China is the leader in hydroelectric power, with the U.S being fourth.

How do ecosystem enhance resilience and why is ecosystem-based management a good thing?

Healthy, well-functioning ecosystems enhance natural resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change and reduce vulnerability of people Ecosystem based management: an approach for climate change adaptation. This approach uses biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people and communities adapt to the negative effects of climate change at local national and regional and global levels.

How was hurricane Katrina formed?

Hurricane Katrina started out as just a tropical storm. When it hit Florida Hurricane Katrina was category 1. By the time it hit Louisiana the hurricane was category 3

What are hurricanes?

Hurricanes are tropical disturbances capable of substantial destruction. They develop over the Atlantic or eastern Pacific ocean and can achieve wind speeds of over 160 mi. an hour. Begin as tropical disturbances in warm ocean waters with surface temps of at least 80 degrees. When a storm's wind speeds reach 74 mi. an hour it becomes a hurricane earning a category rating of 1-5.

What do designers of permaculture landscapes consider when designing?

Impacts on the Earth (Maximize positive impacts, Minimize negative impacts) Environmental stewardship: responsible use and protection of the environment through sustainable practices

How do natural conditions encourage wildfires?

In terms of how nature amplifies a wildfire, dry weather and drought convert green vegetation into bone-dry, flammable fuel allowing strong winds to spread the fire quickly over land Warm temperatures also encourage combustion and when these factors come together all that is needed is a spark. The spark can be natural like lightning or a downed power line due to a storm as well as through human activity such as arson, or burning campfires and cigarettes However, only 10% of wildfires occur naturally with 90% occuring as a result of human activity Wildfires are most common in Western region of the U.S., where heat, drought, and frequent thunderstorms create the perfect wildfire conditions.

What are social effects of drought?

Increase in disease due to lack of nutrients and poor water quality Health concerns because of increased Dust (ex. The Dust Bowl) Depression and anxiety Migration Reduced safety due to increased forest fires Less activities (canoeing, fishing ect.)

What is the difference between a linear and a circular economy?

Industrial system that is regenerative (keeping resources in use for as long as possible) for a circular economy a linear model extracts raw materials, make products, and then we dispose of them

How is environmental injustice a stress multiplier?

Injustice is magnified by the ways climate change increases the cost of meeting life's necessities (food and fuel costs). If you already make $2 a day and then your water is contaminated, it's going to become even more costly to obtain that water - it's a stress multiplier)

How can we create a circular economy?

Instead of disposing of appliances and packaging, we can find a way to recycle and renew them through regeneration. To transport these materials we must be renewable energy. In order for a circular economy to work multiple manufacturers must work together.

What is the vulnerability-resilience indicators model used for?

It allows one to look at a set of variables that determine the resilience of a region. There are two parts to this model, one that measured the sensitivity to climate change of a region by looking at things like it's food security, water resources, and the health of the population. The second thing it looks at is it's coping and adaptation capacity based on the availability of human resources, economic capacity and environmental capacity.

What are natural causes of wildfire ignitions?

Lightning (most common cause) Spontaneous combustion Volcanic eruptions (rare)

How is the Anasazi an example of the rigidity trap?

Loss of pinion and juniper forest did not lead to collapse, it led to switch to other kinds of wood to retain their basic social system (a short term resilience to allow a few more generations of cultural pattern)

What is greenwashing?

Marketing to convince customers that their products are environmentally friendly. These companies often spend more money on marketing then they do in implementing green products.

What is the rigidity trap (mode of production resilience)?

Mode of Production Resilience: refers to the ability of a social system and its mode of subsistence/production to respond to threats and challenges- changing just enough so as to enable a continuation of the core features of a cultural tradition/way of life.

What is it going to take to move towards sustainability?

Moving towards sustainability is also a social challenge that entails extensive environmental, social, technological, and economic knowledge and capacity, participatory planning, and the will to change traditional, and profitable approaches.

What are some preparations in New York against climate change ?

New York faced huge issues with storm Sandy. Some technology includes barriers, zoning codes require that no utilities be in the basement will have to be built on the second floor, extension of wetlands that slow storm flooding, built up beaches, urban parks that slow down flood water, enhanced storm water culverts that allow water to flow under roads.

Is mitigation an individual effort?

No - Although individuals can act to reduce their carbon footprints and some piecemeal carbon regulations are in effect, mitigation is fundamentally a global effort, since greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are indistinguishable by earthly sources.

Why isn't there more support for climate refugees?

No universal definition No international laws protecting climate refugees. Thus, they do not have the same rights as those fleeing from war and persecution Fear of migrants in host countries (might explain why there is a scientific and public debate) Literature talks about millions of displaced people which makes people believe regional security is threatened Lack of Political Influence Climate change for human population distribution are unclear and unpredictable

Is climate change education being funded as it should be?

No, countries only spend a small portion of their health and medical research budget on climate change education. Existing adaptation policies are not well integrated with other government programs; they tend to be stand alone programs.

What effects does non-involved policy making have?

Non-involvement in adaptive policy-making and planning leads to failures to effectively plan for the needs of the poorest, least resourced, most vulnerable groups in society. It also wastes the potential valuable inputs of community experience.

What are N.I.M.B.Y laws and who has a say in them?

Not in my back yard laws (Educated people with high incomes can often argue to their town council to not have some kind of dump or waste placed in their community - but those who do not have these resources often don't get a voice on these decisions)

What are climate refugees?

People who must leave their homes and communities because of the effects of climate change and global warming

How is permaculture holistic?

Permaculture is holistic When designed with the environment in mind, your landscape can do the work for you chicken tractors: the natural scratching and bug-hunting behavior of hens is harnessed to clear an area of pests and weeds in preparation for planting

What is permaculture?

Permaculture is the conscious design and maintenance of agriculturally productive ecosystems which have all the elements of natural ecosystems

What does the term "Cradle to cradle" mean?

Producing goods that are going to give back into the earth. An example of this is a cherry tree, some cherries are eaten and some fall to the ground and give back to the Earth. This is William Mcdonough definition of a circular economy.

Compare rapid-onset natural disasters to slow onset disasters

Rapid-onset natural disasters: such as hurricanes and typhoons, will force people to seek temporary shelter elsewhere in the country or across borders Slow onset disasters: including sea level rise, desertification and water shortages, will harm economic development, agriculture, and force people out of climate-sensitive livelihoods

What is secondary prevention?

Response to early evidence of health effects (including strengthening disease surveillance programs)

How can manufacturing be used for mitigation?

Responsible for 35% of global electricity use, 20% of CO2 emissions. Changing the way industries make things would go a long way towards mitigating manufacturing's negative environmental impacts 1. Circular economy (things keep going back into the economy) In some cases, simply re-designing a product can improve not only the product's life span, but also lead to a more efficient use of resources, easier recycling, and less pollution during the manufacturing process and life of the products. Remanufacturing and reconditioning, both labor-intensive activities, can create jobs and require relatively little capital investment

How can we reduce short term conveniences?

Short term convenience does a lot of damage to the environment: driving instead of walking or riding a bike) We can use state regulations to help to reduce short term conveniences: taxes, regulations on what companies can and cannot produce.

What is environmental racism?

Socially marginalized racial minority communities which are subjected to exposure of pollutants, the denial of access to sources of ecological benefits (such as clean air, water, and natural resources) or both. (Landfills, train tracks, and industrial complexes often get built in low income areas)

How efficient is solar energy technology?

Solar energy output is continually on the rise, with 30 gigawatts today up from 1.2 gigawatts in 2008. In fact, it would only take PV panels on 0.6% of the U.S's total land area to provide power for the entire county, on top of that panels placed on rooftops take up no usable space. The cost of solar panels continually decreases, down 60% since 2010.

What is an example of how social issues make it difficult for people to migrate?

The Bangladesh Refugees: Move to India as a result of flooding however Bangladesh is a predominantly Muslim country Majority of Indian population practices Hinduism so people of Bangladesh are not welcome. Culture and religious clash India is now building a barbed wire fence Myanmar population, also affected by floods, move to India however 87.9% practices Buddhism

How does the IPCC define adaptation?

The IPCC defines adaptation as "the adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment. Adaptation to climate change refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Various types of adaptation can be distinguished, including, anticipatory and reactive adaptation , private and public adaptation, and autonomous and planned adaptation.

How are women involved in sustainability?

The Role of women: sustainable development projects can be an effective way of raising the economic status of women because it is mostly women who take care of household resources and public goods like water and fuel wood, women's integration into sustainability programs are crucial.

What is climate adaptation?

The ability of living or social system to adjust to climate change (including climate fluctuation and climate extremes) to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences.

People who live off the land are aware of changes in climatic patterns but what information are they lacking?

The causes of climate change

How is ecosystem based management an approach to climate change adaptation?

This approach uses biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy and mitigation strategy by reducing emissions from ecosystem loss and degradation and enhancing carbon sequestration.

What are the challenges of people in developing countries and why does this prevent them from sustainability?

The challenges of developed countries include: Poverty, population growth as a household response to poverty, unavoidable rural-urban migration, and debt to international lender institutions and developed nations. These challenges drive sustainable environmental practices that are designed to meet immediate needs rather than be long term sustainability goals (on the principle that if you do not survive the short-run the long-run is irrelevant) Economic necessities force poor people in the agricultural sector to hurt the environment (cut down trees, etc.) Environmental degradation may lead to increasing use of marginal land Landless people may move into ecologically sensitive areas. Increasing population density - in part a consequence of meeting life challenges of poverty (having enough children to provide labor- leads to land, water, and fuel shortages. In many less developed countries, population is growing more rapidly than increases in food production.

Define Vulnerability

The degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variable to which a system is exposed.

What is vulnerability?

The degree to which a system is unable to cope with adverse effects of climate change.

What is the top down approach?

The emphasis is on a top down approach in which scientific experts and government representatives provide technical advice and support to communities but communities are not engaged with them. Communities are receivers not holders of useful knowledge. For example, Health care workers are presented as needing "training" not as a source of information about meeting community health needs in local context. Engagement with vulnerable communities, including low income, socially marginalized, and indigenous communities, is ignored, rather these are mentioned primarily in terms of vulnerability and resource deficits (as groups on need of protection not empowerment).

How are oysters still being sold after storms on the Gulf coast a rigidity trap?

The fact that oysters are still being sold after a huge devastation shows that people were not trying to adapt to the changing environment after the storm.

How does urban agriculture contribute to the reduction of the heat island effect?

The heat island effect gets its name from the fact that urban areas are typically hotter than their surrounding suburban and rural areas, making them an "island" of heat surrounded by lower temperatures. Rooftops and pavement are dark and have low albedo, meaning they mostly absorb, rather than reflect solar radiation. By utilizing dark rooftop spaces for gardens, the rate of heat absorption can be reduced by up to 84%, leading to lower energy use from the reduced need for air conditioning. Less air conditioning equates to less fossil fuels being burned, and lower C02 emissions.

How are small island nations affected by climate change (sea-level rise)?

The loss of coastal lands, flooding of homes, roads and other infrastructure, soil salinization and damage to crops. The problem of sea level rise contributes to significant flooding in low-lying areas.

What is the rigidity trap?

The rigidity trap is stabilization to the extent that a system is rigid and resistant to adaptive change. More and more effort is invested in maintaining patterns as they are. Those that strongly resist change despite increases in human disease, suffering, and death are at risk for collapse.

What is Climate whiplash

The sudden appearance of flooding in a completely dry and barren environment is just how fast the droughts stopped and the flooding began. Climatologists have come to define this phenomenon as "Climate Whiplash" and it is incredibly dangerous for people to experience.

How does urban agriculture reduce food miles?

The term "Food Miles" refers to the amount of C02 emissions caused by the packaging, cold storage, and shipping of food by trucks, ships, and airplanes.

What are bio-ecological limits to adaptation?

There's a point in which damages become irreversible despite human effort. One example of this is habitat ranges of species: they can't relocate because of certain resources they need. A human example of this is people not being able to relocate because of culturally constructed values, knowledge's and ways of understanding the world, groups goals, political-economic systems, and structures of social relationship.

What are developing countries doing to adapt to climate change?

They are developing climate change adaptation policy statements

What are the 3 conditions that need to met in order for a wildfire to form?

They require a fuel source which can be any flammable material surrounding a fire including trees, grasses, brush, and even homes Oxygen, supplied by the air And lastly, a heat source such as lightning, burning campfires and cigarettes, hot winds, and even the sun can spark wildfires by bringing fuel sources to temperatures hot enough to ignite

How are the Hohokam an example of the rigidity trap?

They were expert farmers of corn, beans, squash and cotton but when the Spanish arrived the villages were deserted and in ruins. The reason for this was most likely due to worsening conditions, dropping food availability, warfare, and increases in rates of disease. They clung to their cultural ways and could not adapt to a drying climate.

What are people worried about when it comes to climate change in terms of losing their homes?

They're afraid their cultural identities will be lost.

What is primary prevention?

This prevents the onset of disease (such as by providing access to safe drinking water)

How is the difficultly to predict weather and ice conditions affecting people in the arctic?

This prevents them from deciding what to hunt because it limits their mobility, they cannot bring back much food to their people.

What are the three pillars of sustainability?

Three Pillars of Sustainability: Social, environmental, and economics needs should be a part of sustainability.

What is tertiary prevention?

Treatment to reduce suffering caused by disease

What is urban agriculture?

Urban agriculture is simply agriculture in a city or highly populated area. In urban agriculture, the same aims of rural agriculture are met on a smaller scale through creative use of space, and with many added benefits.

How can you help during a drought?

Use less water Install low flow shower heads Wash dishes and do laundry loads only when you have enough for full loads Do not let the water run while brushing teeth

How do people respond locally to climate change to minimize impacts?

Use stilts on buildings where flooding is occurring, changing diet, rainwater collection, etc. In some regions relocation is required.

What are risks in terms of climate change?

Vulnerability and the likely hood that the climate change event may happen

How can waste be used for mitigation?

We produce various forms of waste through our various economic and social activities and as biological beings. As countries grow, so does their volume of garbage. The goal is to produce as little waste as possible, recycle or remanufacture as much as possible and treat any unavoidable waste in a manner that is the least harmful to the environment and humans-or even as a source of sustainable energy. Lot's of metals (Gold) that we mine to find are often in old technologies that we throw away.

How does wind energy work and how efficient is it?

Wind Energy = Energy obtained from wind currents HOW WIND TURBINES WORK: 1. Wind turbines convert the wind's kinetic energy into mechanical power 2. Generators convert that mechanical power into electricity Although wind turbines are large, the land between turbines is still usable which is an advantage over some other energy sources such as solar. Currently all but one of the U.S's wind farms are land based, but offshore farms show a lot of potential. Wind energy is expected to surpass hydroelectric energy in terms of being the largest renewable energy generator in the U.S

What are floods?

● Floods are Earth's most common and most destructive natural disaster. ● They can occur when water overflows or floods land that is normally dry, which can happen in many different ways. Most commonly when rivers or streams overflow their banks. ● Floods can take hours or days to develop, however others generate quickly with little warning.