Climate Change and the Environment Flashcards
Critical Perspective: Treadmill of Production
As humans develop more technology to solve issues, the technology actually makes things worse
Ex. Farm tools; can create soil run-off, and the industrial revolution (coal)
Critical Perspective: Metabolic Rift
People take more from the environment than the ecosystem can sustain (ex. over-fishing)
Critical Perspective: Ecologically Unequal Exchange
People take more from the environment that what they can give back
Optimistic Perspective: Ecological Modernization
Development of technology that allow humans to deal with any issues that arise (ex. carbon capture technology)
Other (2) Optimistic Perspectives
- ) Reflexive modernization
2. ) World society
Critical Perspectives
Focus on environmental degradation and crisis
Economy leads to social change
No clear solution
Relatively pessimistic about economy and environment. Sees them in conflict
Optimistic Perspectives
Focus on environmental protection and regulation
Coalitions form
More development offers solutions
Economic development can exist along side improvements in the environment
Anthro-shift
How society-environment relationships change over time. It’s multi-directional; things can get better or worse
Risk spreads throughout society, then Anthro-shift occurs, then reorientation of social actors leads to different environmental outcomes
Climate Change
Result of carbon dioxide emissions; human caused that have consequences on society. Wealthier countries usually have higher emissions because of consumption and production. CO2 in developing countries are getting higher because they’re industrializing
Addressing Climate Change and Pathways
Goal is to keep warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, where there will still be major climate changes that will affect society, but beyond that will be devastating
Pathways to avoid warming above threshold:
- Greatly reduce carbon emissions; move away from fossil fuels
- Develop technology to remove carbon from atmosphere
- Combinations of the above 2
How Climate Change will Affect Canada
Larger, hotter, more devastating wildfires
Food insecurity
Animal extinctions
Spread of invasive species and diseases
Melting glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost
Sea level rise
Scale of Environmentalism
Local: focuses on Not-In-My-Backyard issues and locally unwanted land uses
Ex. Where to put landfill or toxic dump waste
National: focus on advocacy for environmental policies and funding
Ex. Push to protect endangered species
Global: increase in international NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) and advocacy networks. Focus on environmental issues that cross national boundaries
Ex. Climate change agreements
Environmental Racism
Policies and practices that discriminate against communities of colour. Environmental harms (ex. sewage plants, landfills) are disproportionately located in communities of colour, Indigenous communities, and low-income areas
E-waste
Millions of E-waste are generated, but only a very small portion is recycled. Many electronics recycled in industrialized nations are legally/illegally exported to to developing nations
Best Way to Reduce Emissions
Policies and laws. Invoke businesses to change
Systematic changes
Major individual changes (that affect the whole)
Affect politicians, which then affect certain views
Total Emissions
The scale of environmental change: how much carbon
Per Capital Emissions
(The amount of emissions per person) Asses international inequalities in carbon emissions, where the atmosphere is viewed as a global commons, a resource available to everyone
Emissions per Unit of Gross Domestic Product
Quantify relative levels of carbon efficiency or eco-efficiency
4 Effects of Environmental Changes
- ) Melting polar ice cap
- ) Sea levels rising
- ) Desertification
- ) Extinction of some plants and animals
Climate Denial
Climate denial involved internationally spreading misinformation so people are unsure about the severity of climate change or whether humans cause it
How is Climate Misinformation Used?
Political elites support specific political perspectives and agendas that get trapped in echo chambers, where groups of ideologically similar policies actors who amplify and distort climate misinformation
Disproportionality and Why is it Important?
Inequalities in the production of environmental harms. We need to understand disproportionality so we could make significant improvements for the quality of the environment, such as addressing companies
Hyperpolluters
Industries and sectors that are disproportionately responsible for environmental harms, including contributing to climate change
Environmental Racism vs. Class (in the US)
Racism trumps class. Middle-income African Americans are more likely to live in polluted neighborhoods than their White counterparts. Zip codes are considered to be a powerful predictor of health and not all zip codes are equal
Ex. Southwest Detroit is surrounded by industries, like the salt mining production. It has the highest number of children’s asthma cases in the state
Environmental Racism in Canada
Crowded housing and poor water and sewage, correlated to infectious diseases. They were disregarded when dealing with immigrants, the working poor, and non-White races.
Polluting on the Crown land can range from $20000 to $1000000, polluting on Indian Reserves in only $200
Climate Change Migration and its Causes
People tend to leave their homes (ex. Central America) because of extreme weather that lead to drought and crops failing. Causes extreme urbanization in the US and the population overconsumes resources, causing a deficiency of resources. Population surges, poverty deepens, and uneducated immigrants will have a difficult time finding jobs
Climate Change in Northern Canada (Indigenous communities)
They built on permafrost and the land foundation is melting because of climate change. Landslides occur. This affects culture as is displaces Indigenous communities.
For other Indigenous cultures, it affects their hunting as animal behavior changes. Affects their culture and cannot pass it on to the next generations. They cannot travel traverse on frozen waters because it does not get cold enough
