Ch. 1: Environment, Resources, and Society Flashcards
What are wicked problems?
It’s a overall system referring to issues that are very complex and uncertain; they usually involve incomplete/contradictory info and interpretations, and many stakeholders w/ conflicting values.
-In this concept, there can never just be a simple solution; potential solutions could create new problems worse than the original
What is the Anthropocene Epoch? When did it start?
It’s the current era of earth’s evolution in which humans and human action are massively influencing environmental processes
-It roughly started during the 1800s around the industrial revolution, when many energy-powered tech was created that starting affecting the environment negatively
What is the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment?
It was a research initiative that assessed the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being
-It was established that a lot of these changes are non-linear, meaning once they (like degradation) start, it increases more and more overtime
How does the human population affect the impact we’re making on environmental processes?
-It affects it because of the growth incline that has occurred over the centuries due to humans learning how to exploit energy resources from the earth’s crust (coal, oil); before then, we relied on limited intake of energy from the sun
What are the two components that cause population change? What is the crude growth rate (CGR)?
-The two components are births and deaths and they result in pop change based on their dynamic with each other
-Crude Growth Rate is the crude birth rate minus the crude death rate
Why was it concerning that Thomas Malthus saw the population growth as exponential (increasing in multiples), but food supply growth as arithmetic?
Because that tells us that food resources are more finite, and if we don’t have enough to sustain the larger and growing human population, it could lead to disasters like famine, diseases, or war
What is a demographic transition?
It refers to the 4 main phases a population passes, which shows the relationship between economic growth and population
-High equilibrium - high birth & death rate
-High expanding - high birth rate, low death rate
-Low expanding - falling birth rate, low death rate
-Low equilibrium - low, equal birth & rate
Explain the Kuznet curve
This curve shows the relationship between economic growth and environmental degradation; as economic growth increases environmental degradation gets worse until a threshold is reached - this threshold is the point where enough wealth has been cumulated and can be used to fund environmental improvements
What is the planetary carrying capacity and what is putting pressure on it?
It’s about the maximum population size that Earth can sustainably support w/ out resources depleting or severe environmental degradation; depends on factors like food, production, water availability, energy consumption, tech advances, etc.
-The main things that are putting pressure on it is the overconsumption lifestyles from developed countries, which is resulting in pollution, and the overpopulation of the planet, which is resulting in poverty
-Three system processes have already exceeded safe operating zones (rate of biodiversity loss, climate change, interference w/ nitrogen cycle); the goal is to stay within the safe boundaries because if not, Earth will lose its resilience in its ability to make goods and services needed for humanity support
What are the 4 main reasons why societies fail?
1.) Weren’t expecting the problem (didn’t really know about it)
2.) Knew about problem but didn’t take it seriously enough
3.) Understands problem and severity of it but ignores addressing it
4.) Understands problem and severity and TRYS to solve it, but fails
Define environment and resources
-Environment - includes atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and lithosphere where living, non-living species, and inanimate phenomena exists
-Resources - refers to natural things and places that aid in living species survival as well as to processes of natural phenomena; includes forests, wildlife, oceans, lakes, rivers, minerals, and petroleum
What are the 3 waves of approaches to environmental management?
First wave (1880s-1930s) - When those concerned (called conservationists) about the environment at the time made sure to inventory, protect, and extend places seen as valuable for future generations; goal of this was to protect wilderness areas (lead to creation of parks and refuges)
Second wave (1960s-70s) - When environmental activism was emphasized to acknowledge environmental degradation and urge govts and private sectors to reduces the damages through regulations, policies, and agencies
Third wave (late 20th century) - as well as highlighting environmental degradation, activists in this wave have a goal to achieve sustainability development. Through examining the forces that drive environmental changes, this wave works to create positive and effective solutions, rather than just criticizing
What are the alternative approaches to understanding complex natural and socio-economic systems?
- ) Disciplinary - organized around the concepts, theories, methods, and assumptions linked w/ an academic discipline; but since systems of interest to environmental scientists and managers have many components, the problem w/ this approach is that important connections w/ parts of a system not considered by disciplinary specialist won’t be taken into account
- ) Multi-disciplinary - works to obtain the in-depth insight of the disciplinary specialist, but also get benefits of a broader view; it examining issues from different disciplinary disciplines and synthesizes the findings and insights for more understanding
3.) Cross-disciplinary - a specialist borrows concepts, theories, and methods from other disciplines to enhance their perspective; could improve understanding but, could also confuse it
4.) Interdisciplinary - disciplinary specialists cross boundaries of other disciplines and work with other specialists from the beginning of a project; goal is synthesis and integration of understanding
5.) Transdisciplinary - seeks a holistic understanding that surpasses disciplinary boundaries
What are the 5 guidelines for contributions by scientists for effective management of resources and environment?
1.) focus the science on key issues and communicate it in a policy-relevant form
2.) Use scientific info to clarify issues, identify potential management options, and estimate consequences of decisions
3.) In a clear and simple fashion, communicate important scientific findings to all participants
4.) Evaluate if final decision is consistent w/ scientific info
5.) Avoid advocacy of any specific solution (in order for avoid implication of bias)
What is sustainability development? What is resilience? What’s the relationship between the 2?
Sustainability development - meets needs of present w/ out comprising the ability of future generations to meet own needs; it has 3 strategic parts: it gives a vision or direction of the nature of future societies; emphasizes a system of governance that’s open, transparent, accessible, and decentralized; and ensure that economic, social, environmental parts are considered together and trade-offs are visible and transparent
-Sust development brings enthusiasm because it provides a interesting vision for the 21st century and points out the need of balance of the 3 pillars, but also frustration because the term is vague enough that it can be defined in ways to suit different and usually conflicting interests
Resilience - the ability of a system to go through a disturbance and recover successfully due to the basic structure and functions still being retained
-The more you optimize elements of a complex system of human and nature for a specific goal, the more diminished the system’s resilience is
