Chapter 16 Flashcards
what does it mean to divest yourself of fossil fuels?
you get rid of investments in the oil and gas industry.
A plan or statement of intentions and rules that outlines acceptable behaviors and accomplishes some end is known as a(n)
policy
the creation of _____________ in a democratic system include many influences; negotiation, compromise, citizen action, power, money, and open debate.
policy
Based on Pew research center poll from 2015, what percentage of people surveyed considered climate change a very serious threat?
84%, and 75% favored action to control green house emissions.
Why were insurance companies the first corporations to call for action on climate control?
they could lose billions for worsening storms and droughts.
Cities, countries, and universities are increasingly _______ themselves from fossil fuels; they are getting rid of there investments associated with the oil and gas industry
divesting
Which of the following are examples of the problem identification stage of policy creation?
- A citizen group identifies water pollutants and contacts their representatives to ask for population control.
- Hunting groups are concerned about the loss of wetland habitat and propose new protection ideas.
Environmental ___________involves practices and rules designed to protect natural resources and public health.
policy
policy cycle
- identify problem
- set agenda
- develop proposals
- build support
- enact law or rule
- implement policy
- evaluate results
- suggest changes
What factors are involved in the establishment of a policy?
- public interest
- negotiations and compromise
- power and money
precautionary principle
- people have the duty to take steps to prevent harm. if you suspect something bad might happen you have an obligation to stop it.
- the burden of proof for new technology, process, activity, or chemical lies with its developer and not the general public.
- before using a new technology, process, or chemical, or starting a new activity, there is an obligation to examine full range of alternatives, including the alternative of not using it.
- decisions using the precautionary principle must be open and democratic and must include the affected parties.
Universities are enacting policies for both moral and long-term _________reasons.
economic
Compared to the United States, the European Union(EU) has________ environmental policy standards for manufacturing processes, and this results in_____________________.
stricter; others countries having to adapt to the higher standards in order to have their product imported by the EU
A public group that is interested in wild birds is concerned that the numbers of certain warbler are dropping dramatically and they want to take action; this is the _________________ identification stage of policy creation.
problem
Why were many environmental policies established in the 1970s?
- there was strong bipartisan action in politics
- Environmental degradation was apparent
- the lobbying industry was still small
What does NEPA do?
National Environmental Policy Act
- it requires an environmental impact statement to be published for every major federal project likely to have an impact on environmental quality.
- it directs federal agencies to take environmental consequences into account in decision making.
- it authorizes the Council on Environmental quality.
Every environmental impact statement (EIS) must contain a(n) _____________.
- purpose and need for project
- alternatives to proposed action (including taking no action)
- positive and negative environmental impacts of proposed action.
- short term resource effects, and long term productivity
- irreversible effects on resources
How do American businesses deal with the stricter manufacturing standards of the EU?
they follow them so they can do business with companies in the EU
What are some common air quality concerns that the Clean Air Act protects against?
- Airborne metal such as mercury
- coal smoke
- Airborne sulfuric acid
Sulfur oxides, lead, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide are a few of the “_____________ pollutants” regulated under the Clean Air Act.
criteria
The first goals of the Clean Water Act were to ____________.
- identify and control end-of-the-pipe discharges from factories
- identify and control point-source pollutants
- identify and control discharges from sewage treatment plans
An analysis required by provisions in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, determining the effects on the environment of any major program that a federal agency plans to undertake, is called a(n) ____________ _______________ Statement.
Environmental Impact
The ________ allows a species to be listed for varying levels of protection, and provides rules for protections.
Endangered species act
What is the purpose of the Clean Air Act?
- to identify, monitor, and reduce air contaminants
- To identify and regulate seven major air contaminants
- To provide the first nationally standardized rules in the United States for air pollutants.
A landowner discovers that a listed endangered species lives on their property. how might the ESA handle this?
the landowner could get a tax break for conserving the land.
Criteria pollutants
sulfur oxides lead carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides particulates volatile organic compounds metals and halogens (such as mercury and bromine compounds)
Which agencies are responsible for studying and attempting to restore threatened and endangered species.
Fish and wildlife service
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
The Clean Water Act (CWA) of 1972 aimed to ________.
Make U.S. waters “fishable and swimmable”
Superfund Act
Aims to be comprehensive, addressing abandoned sites, emergency spills, or uncontrolled contamination, and it allows the EPA to try to establish liability, so polluters help to pay for cleanup.
What does the Endangered Species Act do?
- the act provides a structure for identifying and listing species that are vulnerable, threatened, or endangered.
- The act provides rules for protecting endangered species and their habitat.
When the Superfund was created, it was funded by contributions from corporations that produce hazardous waste. Now it is _______________.
funded by individual taxpayers.
Which three entities are involved in the process of passing statutory laws?
The Senate
The house of Representatives.
The President
What can the Endangered Species Act (ESA) do when developers want to build on a site where endangered species is located?
Provide grants and tax reductions to protect habitats
Provide habitat and land-use planning assistance.
Individuals can be involved in the __________ process by writing or calling their elected representative, and showing up at public hearings
Legislative
How does the judicial branch of government establish environmental law?
By ruling on the constitutionality of statues and interpreting their meaning.
Examples of a civil case leading to a conviction?
they do not result in going to jail
How can citizens be involved in the legislative process?
- signing a petition
- by writing a letter to an elected representative
- appearing at public hearings
The 2010 citizens United decision by the Supreme Court __________ political spending by corporations.
allowed unlimited
to establish environmental ______________, the judicial branch examines the body of legal opinions built up by many court cases and reviews legislative records from hearings to determine congressional intent.
laws
describe ways in which lawbreakers can be prosecuted for harming the environment?
- Criminal law allows for someone to seek compensation for damages when they have been impacted by environmental pollution.
- civil law can regulate relations between individuals and corporations where there is accusation of environmental and personal impact.
The various agencies, boards, and commissions within the executive branch oversee environmental policy by_______________.
set rules, decide disputes, and investigate misconduct
How did the 2010 United Supreme Court decision affect the 2012 elections?
Corporations spent billions of dollars on the 2012 election
Which cabinet-level department has the primary responsibility for protecting environmental quality in the United States?
Environmental Protection Agency
Corporations are eager to_______but _______.
avoid taxes; depend on government for roads and communication infrastructure.
The executive branch in the United States includes administrative agencies such as ________________.
Environmental Protection Agency
Regulatory capture occurs when a president hires someone who is antagonistic to an agency’s mission as the head of that agency, with the intent to_______________.
dramatically change U.S. policy
Countries have begun to recognize the interconnections of protecting our global environment, leading them to sign on to international____________>
policies
Over time, the number of nations taking part in negotiations has __________, and the speed at which agreements take force has__________.
increased; increased
National park service
Department of the interior
U.S. Forest Service
Department of Agriculture
This international agreement established rules to restrict unauthorized or illegal trade across national boundaries.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.
The Kyoto Protocol has been controversial because it sets tighter restrictions on ______than _________, with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions
industrialized countries; developing countries
Nations have become increasingly interested in signing on to international agreements because
- They recognize the interconnections pf our global environment
- They recognize that they cannot protect their resources on their own
- many issues cross international boundaries
Enforcement of international agreements depends on how much a country cares about its________ with other countries
Reputation
How did Greenpeace put pressure on Britain to stop disposing of coal ash in the North Sea?
by exposing monitoring data, the evidence proved to be embarrassment to Britain, and the ocean dumping practice was halted.
UN Framework Convention on climate change
Directs governments to share data on climate change and to develop plans for controlling greenhouse gases
Montreal Protocol
Protect stratospheric ozone
Kyoto Protocol
Sets targets for greenhouse gas emissions
The United States did not sign the Kyoto protocol, and Canada withdrew from the agreement, because both considered ______________.
The binding emissions target unreasonable
The World _______ Fund and the Natural_______ Defense Council are two groups involved with environmental challenges.
Wildlife; Resources
Many new environmental groups are also concerned with ________ and environmental causes
social
Trade ___________ can be an effective tool to compel compliance with international treaties as was exhibited with the Montreal Protocol and the encouragement of reduced CFC production
sanctions
Audubon Society
To protect birds which were being killed for their feathers
Sierra Club
To protect the giant redwoods in California
Wilderness Society
To protect wildland from development
one way to help improve the environmental literacy of the general populace is to ______.
Encourage people to spend time outdoors so they become more environmentally aware
established environmental groups such as the Sierra Club have the___________ that newer, smaller groups might not have.
money
influence
professional staff
The poorest people in the world will suffer the most from climate change, so groups such as 350.org_________.
work toward environmental and social causes.
in 1990, congress recognized the importance of environmental understanding by passing the _______.
National Environmental Education Act
A person who has environmental literacy_______.
has fluency in the principles of ecology that gives them working knowledge of the basic grammar and underlying syntax of environmental wisdom.
Native Americans came together at _________ _________ in 2016 to protest the planned route of an oil pipeline across sacred lands.
Standing Rock
While students may press their universities to following green building principles, administration may ultimately follow through because the buildings will___________.
save money
What are two goals of the National Environmental Education Act
- improve public understanding of our environment
2. encourage postsecondary students to pursue careers related to the environment.
in a campus audit, students, faculty, and administrators may examine ________.
- waste production
- recycling amounts
- water use
- energy use
A person who is environmentally literate is more likely to________.
- understand how human society is influencing the environment
- understand the scientific concepts and facts that underlie environmental issues
- be involved in activities to improve and restore environmental quality
Examples of a citizen science project?
- Students from a high school team up with a state park biologist to study the parks bald eagle population
- Farmers gather data on pasture and stream health on their property that they then share with their local agricultural extension agency.
The importance of ________ such as STARS gives universities a visible structure to follow when trying to reach sustainability goals.
a ranking system
The college of the ___________ in Bar Harbor, Maine, is the number one “cool School” according to the Sierra Club (2018). The reasons for the ranking include divestment from fossil fuel companies, high-efficency student _____________, and the use of organic food.
Atlantic; housing
conspicuous consumption is ________.
the purchase of things we don’t want or need to impress others
How can sustainable development be accomplished?
- By having a growing reliance on renewable energy resources
- by growing through resource management, education, and the arts.
Middlebury college is one of the Sierra clubs “cool Schools” because it became _______ neutral in 2016.
Carbon
As of 2018, large progress has been made with the Millennium Development Goals including reducing half_______.
the proportion of undernourished people.
A drive to possess stuff has been dubbed “________.”
affluenza
____________ is a term used to describe ways of living more lightly on earth by using less and sharing more.
sustainable development
Primary aims of the Millennium Development goals?
improve literacy, health, access to safe water, child survival, ending poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equity, preserving biodiversity
The biggest success of the Millennium Development Goals was in reducing levels of ___________.
poverty
