Environment as a political issue

Question 1

Define anthropogenic

Answer 1

Caused by humans

Question 2

Why is deforestation a cause of climate change?

Answer 2

Forests function as ‘carbon sinks’ and the less there are the more global warming will increase.

Question 3

Define ‘carbon sinks’

Answer 3

Pieces of undeveloped land like forests and oceans, as they absorb more carbon dioxide than they release.

Question 4

How does overpopulation affect the environment?

Answer 4

The ‘carrying capacity’ of the Earth refers to the idea that we have surpassed the amount of people that can live on Earth.

Question 5

Define ‘carrying capacity’

Answer 5

The maximum population that an ecosystem can support, given the food, habitat, water and other necessities available.

Question 6

Why is pollution a cause of climate change?

Answer 6

Carbon emissions and greenhouse gases, after economic downturn they fell naturally since demand of manufacturers decreased. Australia is the worst per capita.

Question 7

How is globalisation a cause of climate change?

Answer 7

Causes increasing consumption and productions, especially demands for fuel as goods travel over long distances.

Question 8

Why is climate change a global concern?

Answer 8

Pollution doesn’t respect international boundaries - global warming
Some resources, such as fish, are exploited by all - ‘the global commons’
Climate change is likely to affect different countries differently, but this will not relate to their carbon footprints
Greenhouse effect - emission of heat trapping gases

Question 9

What would the impact of environmental degradation?

Answer 9

Acid rain
Pollution
Species endangerment
Population stress

Question 10

What are some of the critical issues regarding cooperation over such an issue?

Answer 10

Achieving a just settlement - allowing less developed countries to develop - ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ and/or ‘the polluter pays’
Allowing more developed countries to continue growth - clean technology more expensive
Free riders - will benefit from sacrifices of others
Some countries will be less damaged than others - some will benefit e.g. Russia will be able to grow things

Question 11

What did the Brundtland Report of 1987 do?

Answer 11

Established the principle of sustainable development

Question 12

What is the Brundtland Report’s definition of sustainable development?

Answer 12

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Question 13

What are the 3 components of sustainable development highlighted by the Brundtland Report?

Answer 13

Environmental protection
Social equity
Economic growth

Question 14

Why is environmental protection a component of sustainable development?

Answer 14

It should be conserved and our resource base enhanced, by gradually changing the way in which we develop and use technologies.

Question 15

Why is social equity a component of sustainable development?

Answer 15

Developing nations must be allowed to meet their basic needs of employment, food, energy, water and sanitation. If this is to be done in a sustainable way, then there’s a definite need for a sustainable level of population.

Question 16

Why is economic growth a component of sustainable development?

Answer 16

Should be revived and developing nations should be allowed a growth of equal quality to the developed nations.

Question 17

What emerged in the 1960/70s?

Answer 17

NGOs such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth who campaigned on issues such as the dangers of pollution, the dwindling reserves of fossil fuels, deforestation and animal experiments.

Question 18

What three general problems does the environmental movement address?

Answer 18

Resource problems
Sink problems
Ethical problems

Question 19

What are the resource problems?

Answer 19

Attempts to conserve natural materials through reducing the use of non-renewable resources (coal, oil, natural gas etc.), increasing the use of renewable resources (such as wind, wave and tidal power) and reducing population growth, thereby curtailing resource consumption.

Question 20

What are sink problems?

Answer 20

Attempts to reduce the damage done by the waster products of economic activity, through, for example, reducing pollution levels, increasing recycling and developing greener (less polluting) technologies. Reduce/prevent damaging consequences e.g. acid rain

Question 21

What are ethical problems?

Answer 21

Attempts to restore the balance between humankind and nature through wildlife and wilderness conservation, respect for other species (animal rights and animal welfare) and changed agricultural practices (organic farming).

Question 22

What characterised environmental politics during the 1970s?

Answer 22

Mainly focused on resource issues, reflected in a growing awareness of the ‘global finiteness’ articulated through the oil crisis of 1973. Recognition that environmental issues are a transnational issue and the growing concern for the impact of acid rain and ozone depletion through man made chemicals - chloroflurocarbons (CFC) and halons.

Question 23

What characterised environmental politics during the 1990s?

Answer 23

Focused on the issue of climate change brought about through global warming, initially concerned with CFC emissions but this shifted to ‘greenhouse gases’ - carbon dioxide, water vapour, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone - which trap heat in the Earth’s lower atmosphere.