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C&C > 1. Introduction > Flashcards

1. Introduction Flashcards

1
Q

Name two drivers of biodiversity collapse

A
  • Climate change
  • Invasive species
  • Land-use change
  • Disturbance in the nitrogen and phosphorus cycle
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2
Q

What are the two parameters for the PB climate change?

A
  • Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration, measured in PPM
  • Change in radiative forcing, measured in watts per meter squared
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3
Q

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of atmospheric dioxide concentration? (roughly)

A
  • Boundary: 350 ppm
  • Current status: 387 ppm - 415 pmm (depends on date of study)
  • Pre-industrial value: 280 ppm
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4
Q

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of radiative forcing?

A
  • Boundary: 1 W/m2
  • Current status: 1.5 W/m2
  • Pre-industrial value: 0 W/m2
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5
Q

What is the parameter for the PB biodiversity loss?

A

The number of species per million going extinct annually (rate of biodiversity loss).

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6
Q

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of rate of biodiversity loss?

A
  • Proposed boundary: 10x
  • Current status: >100x
  • Pre-industrial value: 0.1-1x
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7
Q

What is the parameter for the PB nitrogen cycle?

A

Amount of N2 removed from the atmosphere in millions of T per year for human use.

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8
Q

What are the boundaries, current status and pre-industrial values of the nitrogen cycle?

A
  • Proposed boundary: 35 million T/year
  • Current status: 121 million T/year
  • Pre-industrial value: 0 T/year
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9
Q

Apart from agriculture, what is another driver of land use change?

A
  • Urbanization
  • Infrastructure development
  • Deforestation
  • Mining
  • Industrial and commercial development
  • Energy production
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10
Q

Name the single driver of the food crisis in Madagascar

A

There is not one single driver

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11
Q

Which two dimensions does the doughnut framework combine and what do they represent together?

A

The doughnut framework combines 9 ecological and 12 social dimensions. Together, they encompass human wellbeing.

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12
Q

Describe the goal of the doughnut framework

A

The goal is to meet the needs of all people, withing the means of the living planet.

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13
Q

What happens when we downscale the doughnut framework to countries?

A

Downscaling shows big national differences. Some countries overshoot more in ecological dimensions (German), and other overshoot more in social dimensions (China).

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14
Q

What can de doughnut framework ultimately be used for?

A

Advising policy recommendations.

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15
Q

Why is carbon offsetting often a myth?

A

90% of carbon offsetting schemes are worthless.

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16
Q

Explain how in UHIs, populations are disproportionately affected by consequences of environmental change.

A

Urban heat islands: there is a trong correlation between poverty and the presence of UHIs.

17
Q

Describe the ‘leave no-one behind’ principle.

A

A principle of equity and fairness aiming to overcome inequalities and discrimination. Underpins the implementation of the SDGs.

18
Q

What is weak sustainability?

A

The Brundtland Report (1987) promoted weak sustainability, which assumes all capitals are equal and can be traded (e.g., money for society for nature). Weak sustainability degrades nature, inputs will be gone and society and economy will suffer.

19
Q

What is strong sustainability?

A

Giddings (2002) promoted strong sustainability, assuming that the economy exists within society, which exists within nature, and that one cannot be traded for the other. Strong sustainability guarantees inputs for society and economy.

20
Q

Which system can we use to address Earth System sustainability?

A

A socio-ecological system

21
Q

What are the four components of the socio-ecological system?

A
  1. Actions & interventions (e.g. logging, fishing)
  2. Ecosystem structure & functions
  3. Ecosystem services (fuel, fibre, wood, water regulation, recreation)
  4. Human system (individuals, groups, institutions)
22
Q

What are CLDs?

A
  • Causal Loop Diagrams are models of dynamic systems.
  • They are more holistic and a good alternative to traditional thinking.
  • They use variables that influence each other.
  • CLDs are useful for uncovering system’s underlying feedback structures and to identify leverage interventions.
23
Q

Name at least three tipping points that are a concern within the PB framework

A
  1. Arctic sea ice
  2. Permafrost Siberia
  3. Greenland ice sheet
  4. Great forests of the north
  5. AMOC slowing
  6. Amazing rainforest
  7. Great Barrier Reef
  8. West Antarctica
  9. East Antarctica
24
Q

According to Rockström, two frontiers need attention. Which are these?

A
  1. Planetary stewardship, consisting of recognizing the PBs and the Global Commons
  2. Society: create an economic logic based on well-being; which means decarbonizing, transforming agriculture from source into sink, protecting oceans and land
25
Q

What is the parameter for the PB phosporus cycle?

A

Quantity of P flowing into the oceans in millions T/year

26
Q

What is the parameter for the PB stratospheric ozone depletion?

A

Concentration of ozone (Dobson unit)

27
Q

What is the parameter for the PB Ocean acidification?

A

Global mean saturation state of aragonite in surface sea water

28
Q

What is the parameter for the PB global freshwater use?

A

Consumption of freshwater by humans (km3 per year)

29
Q

What is the parameter for the PB change in land use?

A

% of global land cover converted to cropland

30
Q

What is the parameter for the PB atmospheric aerosol loading?

A

Overall particulate concentration in the atmosphere on a regional basis

31
Q

List all PBs.

A
  • Climate change
  • Change in biosphere integrity (biodiversity loss and species extinction)
  • Stratospheric ozone depletion
  • Ocean acidification
  • Biogeochemical flows (phosphorus and nitrogen cycles)
  • Land-system change (for example deforestation)
  • Freshwater use
  • Atmospheric aerosol loading (microscopic particles in the atmosphere that affect climate and living organisms)
  • Introduction of novel entities

C&C (15 decks)

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