Ecological & Carbon footprint

Question 1

What is sustainable development?

Answer 1

development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” World Commission on Environment and Development 1987

Question 2

What does “energy content factor” refer to?

Answer 2

Accounts for different types of solid fuels having different energy outputs

Question 3

What are emission factors?

Answer 3

a predetermined amount reflecting the emission created by different types of fuel consumption

Question 4

what is consumption data?

Answer 4

any energy consumed in the manufacture or transport of a product (electricity, petrol, diesel oil)

Question 5

Define carbon footprint

Answer 5

the total amount of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide and methane) that are generated by our actions.

Question 6

What is biocapacity?

Answer 6

The ability of an ecosystem to renew the resources that have been used.

Question 7

Define ecological footprint

Answer 7

The demand a person or population makes on resources and services provided by natural ecosystems

Question 8

How is ecological footprint calculated?

Answer 8

It is calculated by taking into account:
the type and source of food consumed,
the natural resources used to produce them
the CO2 that is produced to provide these goods
waste that are produced
These footprints very greatly depending on lifestyle.

Question 9

What is the great acceleration?

Answer 9

The rapid increase in measures of human activity beginning in the 1950’

Question 10

When using data to calculate ecological footprint, consider: CRACT

Answer 10

1. Relevance - how helpful is the data for the calculation?
2. Completeness - is all data available?
3. Accuracy - how well does the data represent the true nature of the carbon impact?
4. Credibility - is it from a credible source? ?
5. Timeless - how up to date is the data?

Question 11

What are the steps in the life cycle analysis?

Answer 11

1.Goal definition - purpose of study
2.Inventory - systems/stages to be analysed
3.Impact assessment - convert inputs/outputs to their contribution to environmental issues
4.Improvement - evaluate alternate strategies

Question 12

What have been the human impacts on natural systems?

Answer 12

Humans have disrupted natural systems and negatively affects Earth’s four spheres

Question 13

What is the basic carbon footprint calculation for a business?

Answer 13

Consumption data X Emission factor = Footprint