Chap 1 - Issues, Trends, Impacts and Perspectives

Question 1

Two sustainable development key concepts are… (from Our Common Future)

Answer 1

• Concept of “needs”, in particular, the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given
• The idea of “limitations” on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs imposed by the 1) state of technology and 2) social organization

Question 2

Financial capital

Answer 2

Cash, investments, and monetary instruments

Question 3

Infrastructure, machines, tools, and factories

Answer 3

Manufactured capital

Question 4

Labor and intelligence, culture, and organization

Answer 4

Human capital

Question 5

Natural capital

Answer 5

Resources, living systems, and ecosystem services

Question 6

Community capital

Answer 6

All the natural, human, social and built capital from which a community receives benefits and on which the community relies for continued existence

Question 7

Economic model that highlights the relationship between society and the ecosystem expressed in economic terms.
Decision-makers consider the Earth’s carrying capacity and the risks associated with the limits to growth

Answer 7

Natural capitalism

Question 8

Four central strategies of ‘natural capitalism’

Answer 8

1) Radical resource productivity
2) Biomimicry (emulation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems
3) Service and flow economy
4) Invest in natural capital

Question 9

A view of sustainable development that sees nature as having “critical” elements—conceptualized as ecosystem services—that uniquely contribute to human wellbeing. As “critical natural capital,” maintaining nature’s ecological functioning is required if society will continue to provide for the needs of future generations.

Answer 9

strong sustainability

Question 10

A view of sustainable development that assumes natural capital and manufactured capital generate the same level of wellbeing to society. Proponents of this view believe that sustainability can be achieved for future generations by maintaining or increasing the aggregate value of all capital stocks.

Answer 10

weak sustainability

Question 11

This gas, composed of three atoms of oxygen, occurs both at ground level and in the upper atmosphere. In the upper atmosphere, it protects the Earth’s surface from harmful UV rays. When found at lower levels, it is a volatile organic compound (VOC), created through chemical processes, which can be harmful to human health. The Montreal Protocol agreement set regulations to curb the use of compounds that produce this gas.

Answer 11

Ozone (O3)

Question 12

While weather refers to atmospheric conditions over short periods of time, climate is the long-term behavior of the atmosphere—an accumulation of weather over time. Although daily weather may appear relatively constant, incontrovertible scientific data shows that Earth’s climate is changing. The result is an increase in severe weather events, drought, changes in ocean chemistry, and rising tides.

Answer 12

Climate Change

Question 13

This refers to the deep ocean currents that are driven by differences in water density, which is controlled by temperature and salinity . As glacier ice forms, the salt precipitates out into the surrounding seawater making it saltier and denser, causing it to sink. As this saltier water sinks, the fresh surface water drawn in to replace it also becomes salty—eventually sinking as well. The resulting deep ocean currents circle the globe in a kind of conveyor belt.

Answer 13

Thermohaline circulation

Question 14

These are formed through the process of anaerobic decomposition of buried plant matter, which gradually transforms into minerals—including petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because they consist mainly of hydrogen and carbon, they are also referred to as hydrocarbons. When excavated and burned to produce energy, the sequestered carbon gets released back into the atmosphere. Because the production process takes millions of years, these fuels are considered nonrenewables.

Answer 14

Fossil Fuel

Question 15

Any positive benefit provided by an ecosystem. Four major categories of these were identified by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA): Provisioning (e.g. food, water); Regulating (e.g. pollination, carbon sequestration); Cultural (e.g. recreation, inspiration); Supporting (e.g. photosynthesis, carbon cycle).

Answer 15

Ecosystem services

Question 16

This global initiative, that focuses on “making nature’s values visible,” aims to bring ecosystem service and biodiversity issues into mainstream decision-making practice

Answer 16

The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity

Question 17

full range of life forms on Earth—their species, genetic, and ecological diversity.

Answer 17

biodiversity

Question 18

Limits to the availability of
natural resources, including ecosystem services. Published by the Club of Rome in 1972, this was a controversial paper, authored by a team at MIT, working under Jay W. Forrester.

Answer 18

Limits to growth

Question 19

Various combinations of reinforcing and balancing feedback loops that commonly occur in systems. They include: Fixes that backfire or fail, Shifting the burden, Limits to growth or success, Tragedy of the commons, Accidental adversaries, Escalation, Drifting or eroding goals, Success to the successful, and Growth and underinvestment.

Answer 19

Systems archetype

Question 20

Positive feedback loops, and generate exponential growth or collapse at an increasing rate. This runaway behavior strengthens with each iteration.

Answer 20

Reinforcing loops

Question 21

The maximum population that can survive indefinitely on the available resources and services

Answer 21

carrying capacity

Question 22

1 - Conceptual model used to describe the relationship between the three main drivers of humanity’s Earth impacts—population, affluence, and technology.

2 - Developed by Paul and Ann Ehrlich of Stanford University, this model suggests that humanity’s impact on the systems that sustain our existence can be approximated

Answer 22

IPAT Equation

• I = society’s negative impact on the ecosphere
• P = population size
• A = affluence of average individual (consumption)
• T = technology and services driving consumption

Question 23

Energy that is available to all people—both today and in the future. Having the capacity to provide this requires a strong infrastructure, deriving fuel from renewable sources, and practicing energy efficiency.

Answer 23

Sustainable energy

Question 24

Derived from a 19th century word describing land that is shared collectively by the community, this term now refers to any shared and unregulated resource.

Answer 24

The commons

Question 25

Widely considered one of the most effective environmental agreements, this protocol set forth a timetable for the mandatory phase-out of all ozone depleting substances. Included among these substances are CFCs, halons and HCFCs, chemicals with high global warming potential.

Answer 25

Montreal protocol

Question 26

An international agreement, linked to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which commits the parties to binding emissions reductions. It created 3 mechanisms to reduce GHGs: International Emissions Trading; Clean Development Mechanism (CDM); and Joint Implementation (JI).

Answer 26

Kyoto protocol

Question 27

Taking a holistic approach to analyzing complexity. Rather than focusing on the details of isolated problems, way of thinking allows us to see the interconnections between constituent parts and the causes and effects of action.

Answer 27

Systems thinking

Question 28

Because the Brundtland commission did not elaborate upon how society might meet their needs, many have used this theory of human motivation to understand this aspect of sustainability. According to this theory, the main categories in order of importance, are: Physiological; Safety; Love & belonging; Esteem; and Self-actualization.

Answer 28

Hierarchy of needs

Question 29

A mental model comprised of several interconnected core concepts that help us to understand a system. These concepts stand alone, while supporting each other, together forming a philosophical foundation for planning.

Answer 29

Frameworks

Question 30

The most widely accepted definition of this development approach comes from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, which describes it as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”

Answer 30

Sustainable Development

Question 31

A mechanism established by the Kyoto Protocol designed to encourage project-based emission reduction activities in developing countries. Purchasing the CERs produced by these projects allows Annex 1 countries to meet their reduction commitments.

Answer 31

Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM)

Question 32

Sparked by a Tunisian street vendor who set himself on fire in December of 2010, this refers to a period of uprising across the Arab world. Years of economic inequality, high unemployment, and political disenfranchisement came to a head when millions of Arab people protested and rioted, demanding political, social, and economic justice.

Answer 32

Arab spring

Question 33

Adopted in the wake of World War II (1948), this declaration, represented the first global expression of the belief that all people have certain inherent and fundamental rights that should be universally protected.

Answer 33

Universal Declaration on Human Rights (UNDHR)

Question 34

addresses the interaction between environmental quality and social justice. It is governed by the principle that everyone has the right to equal protection from damage, risk, and discrimination due to pollution.

Answer 34

Environmental justice

Question 35

Entering into effect in 2001 among EU countries, and drafted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), this agreement guarantees the rights of individuals—independently and collectively—to live in “an environment adequate to his or her health and wellbeing.” This includes the “rights of access to information, public participation in decision-making, and access to justice in environmental matters.

Answer 35

Aarhaus convention

Question 36

According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), “[this] exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”.

Answer 36

Food Security

Question 37

Formed through cellular respiration, the decomposition of biomass, and combustion. This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 1.

Answer 37

Carbon Dioxide

Question 38

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 265 over a 100 year time horizon.

Answer 38

Nitrous Oxide

Question 39

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential of 28 over a 100 year time horizon.

Answer 39

Methane (CH4)

Question 40

This is one of the greenhouse gases that nations are required to track under the Kyoto Protocol. According to the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) it has a global warming potential that ranges from 6,630 to 17,400 over a 100 year time horizon.

Answer 40

Perfluorocarbon (PFC)

Question 41

Each greenhouse gas captures infrared radiation and reflects it back out into the atmosphere at a different rate, thus having a different potential to warm the Earth. This is the term normalizes this potential relative to carbon dioxide (CO2)—the least impactful off all GHGs. This makes it possible to compare their relative impacts on climate change.

Answer 41

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Question 42

The universal unit of measurement expressing the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases. It is used to compare the radiative force of a GHG to CO2

Answer 42

Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e)

Question 43

Sometimes called “the other carbon problem,” this results when the pH balance of seawater drops as a result of becoming supersaturated with calcium carbonate. Balanced absorption of CO2 into seawater is important to the ocean’s ecosystem, strengthening the skeletons and shells of marine organisms.

Answer 43

Ocean acidification (OA)

Question 44

This phenomenon results when resident algae die, due to changes in environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, light, nutrients), causing them to be expelled from their hosts.

Answer 44

Coral bleaching

Question 45

This is a tool used to address negative social or environmental impacts, by developing new, more effective ways of functioning after change has occurred

Answer 45

Adaptation

Question 46

This is a tool for addressing the root cause of negative social or environmental impacts, thereby diminishing the potential for damage before it occurs

Answer 46

Mitigation

Question 47

This UN assessment was Initiated in 2001 to develop a scientific basis for action to conserve ecosystem resources and implement sustainable use policies. Assessment of the consequences of ecosystem change on human wellbeing included an appraisal of ecosystem services and suggested options for restoring, conserving, or enhancing the sustainable use of ecosystems.

Answer 47

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA)

Question 48

These chemicals are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Over time, they persist, bioaccumulating with potentially significant impacts on human health and the environment.

Answer 48

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)

Question 49

These chemical compounds are organic substances that evaporate easily, contributing to the formation of ozone and smog. They are linked to respiratory illnesses and memory impairment

Answer 49

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Question 50

Toxic metals, such as arsenic, lead, and mercury have harmful effects on human health when found in large quantities

Answer 50

Heavy Metals

Question 51

In addition to tracking GHGs, the IPCC Assessment Reports track anthropogenic gases that have the potential to deplete the Earth’s atmospheric ozone layer. Used widely in refrigeration and as solvents, these gases are covered under the Montreal Protocol.

Answer 51

Ozone-depleting substances

Question 52

Refers to water that is removed from the environment through either evapotranspiration or consumption.

Answer 52

Consumptive water use

Question 53

This is a term Economists use to refer to the large indirect costs that affect people but are not captured in prices. Without capturing these costs in market prices, people cannot make informed decisions. Carbon emissions provide an excellent example of how this negatively impacts society.

Answer 53

Externality

Question 54

This is an index of a country’s economic output—the economic value of all goods and services, derived by tallying either all income received or all money spent. It is used to determine a nation’s level of prosperity. Calculated by summing recorded market transactions, many consider it an inaccurate indicator of progress because it ignores social costs, environmental impacts and income inequality.

Answer 54

Gross Domestic Product (GDP)

Question 55

This indicator measures the economic welfare generated by economic activity by including the depreciation of community capital as an economic cost. Going beyond consumption (represented by GDP), this indicator accounts for income distribution, environmental costs, crime, pollution, volunteering, household work, among other activities.

Answer 55

Gross Progress Indicator (GPI)

Question 56

An approach to business and sustainable development that replaces our “take, make, waste” economy with one that continuously reuses outputs, adding only those inputs derived from exclusively renewable sources.

Answer 56

Circular Economy

Question 57

Refers to an assessment of impacts beginning with materials extraction through to the point where the materials become inputs for new products. This type of assessment is fundamental to a circular economy.

Answer 57

Cradle-to-cradle

Question 58

A revision of earlier estimates, this term states that society has the potential of improving resource efficiency by 80%—a five-fold productivity improvement–using existing methodologies

Answer 58

Factor 5

Question 59

A phenomenon found in developed nations throughout the Americas, Europe, and Asia, This term describes both a market sector and a consumer demographic. The marketplace of goods and services relate to all aspects of sustainable living—health, environmental responsibility, social justice, and personal development.

Answer 59

LOHAS ( Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability)