1.4 sustainability

Question 1

sustainability

Answer 1

the use/management of resources that allows full recovery of the resources exploited

Question 2

“find, exploit, and move on” approach problem

Answer 2

eventually run out of resources (rapid pop. growth makes this quicker)

Question 3

natural capital

Answer 3

• the supply of resources/services that are derived from nature (forests, mineral deposits, fertile soil)
• conceptualizes natural resources that can provide a sustainable natural income
• conserve it: will generate an income forever –> if it’s exploited faster than it can regenerate it will rapidly decline

Question 4

natural income

Answer 4

the yield obtained from natural resources

Question 5

ecosystem services

Answer 5

ecosystems that can provide services that are essential to human life and well being

Question 6

problems human society face

Answer 6

• rapid pop. growth
• humans want more stuff (fast fashion to basic needs)
• natural resources being rapidly depleted

Question 7

sustainable development

Answer 7

meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 8

what is ecological sustainability assessed through

Answer 8

• biodiversity
• population
• pollution
• climate

Question 9

planetary boundaries

Answer 9

• concept developed in sweden in the 2000’s
• due to human activity, we’re at risk of exceeding the ability of earth’s system to self regulate and risk crossing tipping points which could result in a different set of env. conditions

Question 10

ecological footprint

Answer 10

model that is used to estimate the demands that a human population places on the environment (biocapacity / demand)

Question 11

biocapacity

Answer 11

total measure of the resources available within a country divided by its population

factors affecting it:
- population density
- geography and biome
- GDP

Question 12

earth overshoot day

Answer 12

calculation of how long it takes a society to exceed the sustainably available resources

reasons for overshoot
- imports
- unsustainable resource use

Question 13

environmental indicators

Answer 13

factors that can be studied to determine whether resources are being used sustainably

Question 14

Millenium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA)

Answer 14

• published in 2005: one of the first attempts to quantify sustainability
• established strategies to achieve sustainable use of ecosystems
• 60% of the ecosystems studied were being used unsustainably
• ecosystem degradation was impacting poorer countries more

Question 15

EIA steps

Answer 15

• scoping: focus on areas impacted
• baseline study: study biotic/abiotic factors on site
• predicting/assessing effects: short or long term? good or bad?
• mitigation: identify how impacts can be minimized
• reporting: formal report shared with all stakeholders, cost/benefit analysis completed

Question 16

criticisms for EIA

Answer 16

• lack of standard training for practitioners
• difficult to define system boundaries
• environmental concerns can increase the cost
• ecosystems are complex and it’s difficult to predict what will happen when something is changed

Question 17

factors to measure pollution

Answer 17

• EIA
• MEA
• pollution
• biodiveristy
• carbon footprint calculator