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.
