SUST 1001: Final

what is the story about humans not being able to effectively manage resources held in common?

"Tragedy of the Commons" - humans will abuse resources/commons -but Elinor Ostrom's "Governing the Commons" says we can manage resources together

what happened to Asia Pulp and Paper?

-'poster child' for deforestation -lost over 100 customers -committed to protect HCVF and HCS forests

What are some sources of water contamination that occur globally?

-Agricultural runoff is a major water contaminant because the fertilizers in that runoff can impact the adjacent aquatic ecosystems -sewage: around the world there are not adequate sewage systems

What is the difference between physical water scarcity and economic water scarcity?

-Physical water scarcity: occurs when there is not enough water to meet all demands; most common in dry, arid places; can be caused by over consumption of water -Economic water scarcity: caused by a lack of investment in water or a lack of human ability to satisfy the demand for water, even in places where water is abundant; places with weak infrastructure, marked vulnerability to changes in the seasons, and uneven distribution of available water suffer from economic water scarcity

what was the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?

-Rio Earth Summit 1992 -193 parties, U.S. not a party (international property rights, pharmaceutical companies) -aims: 1. conservation of biological diversity (within national boundaries) 2. sustainable use of components of biological diversity 3. fair + equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilizing genetic resources

what are the processes of water treatment facilities?

-catchment -screening -coagulation + flocculation -sedimentation + clarification -ozonation -filtration -disinfection -deposition

how does CWA regulate point sources?

-effluent limits: Total Suspended Solids (TSS), fecal coliform, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), pH, toxics, limits set by industry type -cooperative federalism -wetlands: dredge + fill permits

what are third party certification systems?

-energy star -forest stewardship council (FWC): used by home depot to certify wood

what are the three behavioral motivators?

-government regulations -values -economics

what are the stories about individual choices & change?

-humans are rational economic maximizers -humans have moral license -humans can't manage economic commons -social change is slow, steady, and forward

why should we focus on green supply chains?

-includes both internal corporate economic drivers + social norms -growing rapidly -potential to have major impact on environment, labor, human rights, safety

why is recycling metal dependent?

-iron recycles easily -aluminum builds up impurities and degrades metal quality -lighter cars means more "high quality" aluminum demand -virgin aluminum mining is rising

why is a watershed a good ecological unit?

-it is self-contained -water can be tested at bottom of stream -it is possible to calculate the amount of runoff within it (stormwater, nutrients, sewage flows) -flora and fauna can be counted -mitigation can be performed in measurable ways

what is the deal with TMDLs and Chesapeake Bay?

-litigation by non-profit groups (citizen suit) -settlement 10 years to achieve TMDL compliance for Bay -EPA imposed restrictions if states does not act -American Farm Bureau v. EPA challenge but EPA decision upheld

how is drinking water distributed?

-move from treatment facility to water tower/tank -pressure moves water into homes/buildings

What is the Clean Water Act of 1972?

-one of most successful environmental statutes -major industrial + municipal sources of water pollution have invested in billions of dollars in technology -data on water quality limited -pollution still present -"fishable and swimmable"

what are mass extinctions?

Episodes during Earth's history when huge numbers of species have been wiped out -used to be natural, now due to humans

how do we define the risk to a certain species?

IUCN classification

How do impervious surfaces affect how water will be distributed throughout the surrounding system? What are some ways to reduce their impact?

Impervious surfaces increase the amount of runoff and decrease the amount of groundwater because impervious surfaces, such as asphalt and concrete, cover the ground in human landscapes and diminish the amount of water that can seep into the ground. -reduce their impacts: more green spaces and parks in cities, instead of having the entire city covered in impervious materials -ex) GWU has a well-designed park - whatever part of the park that isn't grass is permeable bricks in which the water can seep through.

what is species diversity? what are the two types?

Incorporates species richness and abundance of each species -species richness: how many species -species abundance: is there an even abundance of species? (evenly distributed)

what is the Nagoya Protocol under CBD?

Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing -a legal framework for implementing fair and equitable sharing of benefits from utilization of genetic resources -3rd pillar -within national boundaries

what is SDG 12?

Responsible Consumption and Production -enable more food to be produced sustainably

what is a pollutant?

Substances that are harmful to the environment

what is an example of internal codes of conduct/standards?

Target requires suppliers to have water stewardship and do their own auditing

what is the water cycle?

The continuous movement of water from the ocean to the atmosphere to the land and back to the ocean

what is bioaccumulation?

accumulation of a pollutant in an individual organism's body -persistent organic pollutants (POP): long-lived in organism (ex. dioxins, PCBs)

what is biomagnification?

accumulation of pollutants up the food chain -increases at higher trophic levels -resistant to degradation in the body -top predators most affected

what is the story surrounding the Rebound Effect?

aka Jevons Paradox -we can preserve our environment if we make stuff more efficiently -we find ways to save energy, but use that energy in other ways (ex. big energy user TV to more energy efficient TV, but demand increases, quantity increases, SO per unit cost is lower, but overall effect is that you're spending more)

what does "discharge of pollutant" mean?

any addition of any pollutant to navigable waters from any point source

what is the story surrounding the Kuznets Curve?

as societies get wealthier, they take better care of the environment -wealth increases, so does income inequality, but income inequality eventually decreases -wealthier means relying on exporting pollution

how do we measure biodiversity?

at an ecosystem scale -study of abiotic and biotic factors within a defined area 1) species diversity 2) habitat size 3) gene pool - genetic variation

what is the edge effect?

at the edge of habitat, there is a transition and that area is not actually part of the habitat

what are CSOs?

combined sewer overflows -contain untreated or partially treated human and industrial waste, toxic materials, and debris as well as stormwater

can discharges into groundwater be discharges into waters of the U.S.?

county of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund -yes, if discharge is "functional equivalent" of a direct discharge

what is a circular economy?

cradle to cradle -vs linear economy: cradle to grave

what is the story surrounding the Status Quo Bias?

creating a sustainable society is a matter of technical fixes -technology will get better, we don't have to make any lifestyle changes -we want to think in terms of ways we normally think, but we need to give up certain ways of thinking -circular economy

why is building a tunnel for a river not a good idea?

decreases infiltration -decreases resiliency -decreases biodiversity

what is green washing?

disinformation disseminated by an organization so as to present an environmentally responsible public image

what is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety under CBD?

for safe handling, transport, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological biodiversity -also accounts for human health risks

what is the sustainability gap?

good environmental regulatory programs are necessary but not sufficient to assure that human activity remains within the carrying capacity of the Earth

what are some solutions to CSOs?

green infrastructure -rain gardens -green roofs -permeable paving -downspout disconnect -water harvesting

what is the Total Maximum Daily Load?

how much total pollution can be discharged into a water body before it becomes "impaired" -includes pollution from point source and non-point sources

what is water conveyance?

how water travels -from high to low elevations -runoff swept along -water gathers speed and can cause erosion or flooding

what is the Malthusian philosophy?

human population will exceed resources (food)

what is the story about moral license?

if we do the right thing most of the time, we can cheat some of the time

what are the stories about economy & sustainability?

impact the way we think, but not the right way of thinking for sustainability -the Kuznets Curve -the Rebound Effect -Status Quo Bias

are GMOs good or bad?

increase pollution through increased chemical use

what is green supply chain management?

integrates environmental thinking into supply chain management -becoming more prevalent

What are some issues regarding combined sewer outflows?

issues when there is a rainstorm -When a rainstorm occurs, the stormwater runoff goes into the sewers and is combined with the untreated sewage -The overflow from the rainstorm brings both the stormwater and the sewage water into bodies of water -These bodies of water become polluted and can pose threats to humans and ecosystems

why is biodiversity important? (what are the benefits of biodiversity?)

makes communities more productive, more stable, and helps prevent collapse

what is conservation? what are three ways to practice conservation?

management of the use of resources without destruction of the ecosystem -logical management: best outcome for whole -increase protected areas -restrict mining and deforestation

what are the benefits of an ecosystem on water?

mitigation of water loss and flooding

what is the UN Global Compact?

non-binding United Nations pact to encourage businesses worldwide to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, and to report on their implementation -traditional corporate approaches to environmental issues will not be sufficient

what is the consumer goods forum?

organization that helps the world's retailers and consumer goods manufacturers to collaborate, alongside other key stakeholders, to secure consumer trust and drive positive change, including greater efficiency -no net loss of timber by 2020 -eliminate use of HFCs by 2025

what is non-point source pollution? why is it not regulated the same way as point-source pollution?

pollution that comes from many sources -harder to monitor and involves politically sensitive activities like agriculture ex) chemicals added to road surfaces, soil runoff from farms and construction sites, precipitation containing air pollutants, and oil and gasoline from personal watercraft

what is the basic restriction of the CWA?

prohibits discharge of pollutants from point sources into a navigable water of the United States w/out permit from EPA or states

what are keystone species?

relative to their abundance, they support a diverse community -sea otters eat sea urchins, without them, urchins would take over

what is a solution to non-point source pollution?

riparian buffers -serves as a buffer to pollutants entering a stream from runoff, controls erosion, and provides habitat and nutrient input into the stream

what happens as we build more and more impervious surfaces?

runoff increases, shallow + deep infiltration decreases, evapotranspiration decreases

what are the agricultural impacts on water?

runoff into: -aquatic systems -groundwater: fertilizers, manure, pesticides, herbicides, microbes, sediment -agricultural development (deforestation)

what are adjacent watersheds?

separated by a ridge line, hill, or mountain

Define the Clean Water Act and explain what it regulates

statute passed in 1972 that aims to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's water -The federal government, under the Commerce Clause, has the authority to regulate navigable waters of the US and, because of the Clean Air Act, to regulate the discharge of pollutants from point sources into such water

why are there less COVID deaths than the deaths of the 1918 flu pandemic?

stronger institutions and infrastructure now

how do subsidies relate to agriculture?

subsidies for crops that are not used for human consumption

what is one of the targets of SDG 6 related to the DC Clean Rivers Project?

support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

what is a monoculture?

the cultivation of a single crop in a given area -low biodiversity -> danger to stability

what are ecosystem services?

the essential processes of an ecosystem 1. provisioning - material benefit (food, drinking water) 2. regulating - things humans need (pollination, water purification) 3. supporting - things every ecosystem needs (photosynthesis, water cycle) 4. cultural - non-material benefit (recreation, art)

what is globalization and how does it relate to private environmental governance?

the process by which businesses or other organizations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale. -moves many environmental problems outside reach of national legislation

what is desertification?

the process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture

what is gray water?

the relatively clean waste water from baths, sinks, washing machines, and other kitchen appliances.

what are planetary boundaries?

there is a limit to human operations on the environment

what is a watershed?

total land area that contributes drainage to a water body, stream, river, lake, or ocean -surface water gradually converges at single stream, where the watershed drains into larger basin -function as small ecosystems

what are navigable waters?

waters that are subject to the ebb and flow of the tide and/or are presently used, or have been used in the past, or may be susceptible for use to transport interstate or foreign commerce -wetlands are considered navigable, but must be adjacent -federal authority over these waters limited by commerce clause

what is the story about gen Zers and social change?

we don't have the attention span for social change -BLM, March for Our Lives, etc.

what is the story about humans being rational, economic, and policy maximizers?

-only material benefits matter -dispassionate analysis of future choices is possible -social "benefits" also matter (empathy/recognition, sense of belonging, shared values) -calculating is slow, hard work (seeing what others do provides fast answers) -human behavior can be changed by social norming

what are the tools of private environmental governance?

-operational footprint -green supply chain management -circular economy

what are some common causes of impaired water?

-polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) -mercury

what is GW's water plan?

-potable water: reduce total potable water consumption by 25% over 10 years -rainfall capture: capture rainwater that falls on our campus -- zero runoff -wastewater: reduce the amount of contaminants going into our campus wastewater system -- zero pollution -bottled water: reduce the use of bottled water on campus

what are the steps of a life cycle assessment?

-raw material acquisition -material manufacture -product manufacture -product use (most Americans focus on this phase) -product disposal

what is internal economics?

-reputation: powerful motivator for companies -customer desires: societal values changing -hire and retain employees: young employees care about environment -liability mitigation: breaking contracts

what is the issue with deforestation in the Amazon?

-rise of 29% since 2016 due to cattle ranching, soybean farming, and hydroelectric dams -indigenous people displaced due to mining -Brazil's Forest Act, new administration scaling back protection -Amazon is an important deforestation front

what causes water contamination?

-sewage -access to toilets -agricultural issues -impervious surfaces -excess runoff: trash, point source, non-point source

what is the story that social change is slow, steady, and consistent?

-smoking was changed quickly -environmental attitudes -contending visions of the future -conservatism (Trump) vs. progressivism (Obama)

what is the issue with open defecation?

-spreads disease -contaminates terrestrial/aquatic systems

how does CWA regulate non-point sources?

-state water quality standards -states must identify "impaired" waters

where does our drinking water come from?

-unconfined aquifers: exposed -confined aquifers: filtered

how do you measure a watershed?

-use a grid overlay and convert to square feet, yards, or miles -calculate amount of water that runs into the stream in a given storm -allows you to determine the amount of potential runoff, including nutrients + pollutants that the area can collect

Explain each of these legal issues as they relate to the Clean Water Act: wetlands, perennial vs. ephemeral streams, and groundwater.

-wetlands: question of whether or not wetlands are navigable waters; Rapanos case - ruled that wetlands adjacent to navigable waters can be regulated under CWA -perennial vs. ephemeral streams: whether or not they have an impact on interstate commerce: Trump admin - protection for ephemeral streams was removed in the CWA -groundwater: whether or not discharges into groundwater are considered discharges into waters of the US; County of Maui v. Hawaii Wildlife Fund case - the Supreme Court ruled yes to this question, but only if the discharge is the "functional equivalent" of a direct discharge

how can ecosystem services be valued?

1. corrective taxation 2. limit pollution 3. liability rules 4. protecting vulnerable ecosystems 5. financial support for R&D

what are the 3 goals to achieve sustainable development?

1. economic growth 2. broad based social inclusion 3. environmental sustainability

how can a species become an invasive species?

1. introduced by mistake or by design 2. can be native species (white tailed deer) that takes over b/c destruction of predator (coyotes) 3. can be cultivated species that escapes + colonizes new area -have aggressive growth habits -have an ecological edge because they lack predators

what types of pollutants cause pollution?

1. pesticides - DDT (detrimental to birds) 2. chlorofluorocarbons CFCs - damage to ozone 3. endocrine disrupters - BPA + Phthalates

how do you set a Total Maximum Daily Load?

1. states must evaluate waterbodies to determine if they are impaired 2. if impaired, states must list them and set priorities for remediating the impairment 3. states adopt TMDL for the impaired waterbodies 4. states allocate the TMDL among the various sources discharging into water, including point and non-point sources

what percent of water on Earth is freshwater?

2.5%

what is point-source pollution?

A source of pollution that can be traced to one source ex) leaking septic tank system, unlined landfills, leaking storage lagoons for storage waste, polluted water from active and abandoned mines

what is cooperative federalism?

A system of government in which powers and policy assignments are shared between states and the national government -states enforce CWA for point sources

How does a third party certification help to control a company's waste disposal programs?

A third party certification ensures that a company meets the standards for sustainable waste disposal. Third party certifications have a set of protocols, guidelines, and tools to review a company's waste management process. Companies are inclined to get a third party certification to attract customers to a more sustainable product.

what is habitat fragmentation?

Breakup of a habitat into smaller pieces, usually as a result of human activities

how did the CBD and UN have a consensus on biodiversity?

COP-10: 10th meeting (Aichi Prefecture, Japan 2010) -recognition of failure to meet biodiversity goals -updated *Strategic Plan for Biodiversity* that includes Aichi targets for biodiversity (10 year framework, 20 ambitious targets -> Aichi targets, governments develop National Strategy)

what are external supplier codes of conduct?

Ceres principles