1.4 Sustainability Flashcards
Tragedy of the Commons
in which a shared resource system, accessible to all members of a community, is overused and depleted by individuals acting independently according to their own self-interest, despite understanding that depleting the common resource is contrary to the long-term best interests of the whole group.
EIA
a document that assesses the potential environmental effects of a proposed project or action, including its alternatives, to inform decision-making processes.
Stakeholder
an individual or group with an interest or investment in the success and outcomes of a project or organization
Baseline Assessment
the initial study or survey conducted to collect data on the current state of an environment or ecosystem, serving as a reference point for future comparisons.
Benefits of EIA
- Reduced environmental damage
- Transparency/Accountability
- Better project design
- Lower project costs
Stages of an EIA
Screening
Scoping
Baseline Study
Impact Prediction
Mitigation (Recommendations)
Ongoing Assessment/Monitoring
Critisisms of EIA
- Not all impacts identified
- Lack of available data
- Advice not followed
- Lack of monitoring and review
EIS (Non Technical Summary
Environmental Impact Statement: A summary of an EIA, often presented for community consultation and communication.
Greenwashing
a marketing strategy used by a company or organization to falsely present its products, policies, or practices as environmentally friendly or having a positive impact on the environment
Regulatory compliance
When a development is proposed, legally a developer is required to comply with agreed upon government regulations.
Biodiversity credits/offsets
Simply, conserving one area to earn credits which can be spent on the development of another.
