1st lecture

Question 1

Why does the environment matter?

Answer 1

We are:
-dependent on the environment
-part of the environment
-Producing from resources that were extracted from the environment

Question 2

Resources are:

Answer 2

Material resources of use to individuals and society
Flows of energy which can be harnessed for useful purposes
Other attributes of the environment that contribute to something of value

Question 3

What are Flow and stock resources?

Answer 3

Renewable (or flow) resources: fresh water, fruit and vegetables, meat

Non-renewable (or stock) resources: coal, limestone

Question 4

What are reserves?

Answer 4

those quantities which have been demonstrated to exist and which it would be possible to extract or use in current economic circumstances
We can calculate: local, regional and global reserves

Question 5

Environmental Services are:

Answer 5

Services provided by the environment for the human race

Question 6

Environmental problems are:

Answer 6

when the provision of environmental services is insufficient, either in quantity or quality, to meet human needs.

Question 7

Policy:

Answer 7

Set of principles and intentions used to guide decision making.

Question 8

Environmental policy

Answer 8

is a set of principles and intentions used to guide decision making about human management of environmental capital and environmental services.