Climate Change and the Environment

Question 1

Critical Perspective: Treadmill of Production

Answer 1

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)

Question 2

Critical Perspective: Metabolic Rift

Answer 2

People take more from the environment than the ecosystem can sustain (ex. over-fishing)

Question 3

Critical Perspective: Ecologically Unequal Exchange

Answer 3

People take more from the environment that what they can give back

Question 4

Optimistic Perspective: Ecological Modernization

Answer 4

Development of technology that allow humans to deal with any issues that arise (ex. carbon capture technology)

Question 5

Other (2) Optimistic Perspectives

Answer 5

1. ) Reflexive modernization

2. ) World society

Question 6

Critical Perspectives

Answer 6

Focus on environmental degradation and crisis
Economy leads to social change
No clear solution
Relatively pessimistic about economy and environment. Sees them in conflict

Question 7

Optimistic Perspectives

Answer 7

Focus on environmental protection and regulation
Coalitions form
More development offers solutions
Economic development can exist along side improvements in the environment

Question 8

Anthro-shift

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Climate Change

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Addressing Climate Change and Pathways

Answer 10

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

Question 11

How Climate Change will Affect Canada

Answer 11

Larger, hotter, more devastating wildfires
Food insecurity
Animal extinctions
Spread of invasive species and diseases
Melting glaciers, sea ice, and permafrost
Sea level rise

Question 12

Scale of Environmentalism

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Environmental Racism

Answer 13

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

Question 14

E-waste

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Best Way to Reduce Emissions

Answer 15

Policies and laws. Invoke businesses to change

Systematic changes
Major individual changes (that affect the whole)
Affect politicians, which then affect certain views

Question 16

Total Emissions

Answer 16

The scale of environmental change: how much carbon

Question 17

Per Capital Emissions

Answer 17

(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

Question 18

Emissions per Unit of Gross Domestic Product

Answer 18

Quantify relative levels of carbon efficiency or eco-efficiency

Question 19

4 Effects of Environmental Changes

Answer 19

1. ) Melting polar ice cap
2. ) Sea levels rising
3. ) Desertification
4. ) Extinction of some plants and animals

Question 20

Climate Denial

Answer 20

Climate denial involved internationally spreading misinformation so people are unsure about the severity of climate change or whether humans cause it

Question 21

How is Climate Misinformation Used?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Disproportionality and Why is it Important?

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Hyperpolluters

Answer 23

Industries and sectors that are disproportionately responsible for environmental harms, including contributing to climate change

Question 24

Environmental Racism vs. Class (in the US)

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Environmental Racism in Canada

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Climate Change Migration and its Causes

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Climate Change in Northern Canada (Indigenous communities)

Answer 27

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