Chapter 1: introducing environmental science and sustainability Flashcards
Highly developed countries
countries with
- complex industrial bases
- low rates of population growth
- higher per capita income
Less developed countries
countries with
- low level of industrialization
- high fertility rate
- low per capita income
consumption
human use of materials and energy
ecological footprint
the amount of resources needed to supply that person with their consumption patters
IPAT model: define and factors
estimated human impacts on the environment
1- number of people
2- affluence - measure of consumption
3- technologies and their effects
sustainability
the ability to meet current human economic and social needs without compromising the ability of the environment to support future generations
tragedy of the commons
by garret hardin, a place to feed animals that is overused
common-pool resources
those parts of our environment available to everyone but no single individual has responsibility
stewardship
shared responsibility for the sustainable care of our planet
sustainable development
development that doesn’t hurt future generations
environmental science
the interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with other organisms and the nonliving physical environment
ecology
branch of biology that studies the interrelationships between organisms and their environment
ecosystems
a natural system consisting of a community of organisms and its physical environment
dynamic equilibrium
steady state in which the input is the same as the output
negative feedback system
a change in some condition triggers a response that counteracts, or reverses, the changed condition. (fish and food)
