Environment Basics Flashcards
What is the Environment?
The surroundings in which an organism lives including both natural and human-made factors.
What is Ecology?
The study of the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
What is an Ecosystem?
A biological community of interacting organisms and their environment.
What is Biodiversity?
The variety of life forms in a habitat or on Earth including species
What is a Habitat?
The natural environment in which a species lives.
What is a Niche?
The role or function of an organism within an ecosystem.
What is Sustainability?
The ability to maintain ecological balance without depleting resources.
What is Environmental Degradation?
The decline of the environment through resource depletion pollution
What is Conservation?
The protection and preservation of natural resources and ecosystems.
What is Renewable Energy?
Energy from sources that are naturally replenished such as wind
What is Non-Renewable Energy?
Energy from sources that cannot be replaced once depleted like fossil fuels.
What is Climate Change?
Long-term changes in temperature precipitation
What is Global Warming?
The increase in Earth’s average temperature due to greenhouse gases.
What are Greenhouse Gases?
Gases that trap heat in Earth’s atmosphere such as CO2
What is the Greenhouse Effect?
The trapping of heat in Earth’s atmosphere by greenhouse gases.
What is the Carbon Footprint?
The total amount of greenhouse gases emitted by human activities.
What is Deforestation?
The large-scale removal of forests often for agriculture or development.
What is Desertification?
The process of fertile land turning into desert due to drought or human activity.
What is Soil Erosion?
The removal of topsoil by wind or water reducing soil fertility.
What is Overfishing?
Catching fish faster than they can reproduce leading to population decline.
What is Pollution?
The introduction of harmful substances into the environment.
What is Air Pollution?
Harmful substances in the air such as chemicals and particulate matter.
What is Water Pollution?
Contamination of water bodies with harmful substances.
What is Land Pollution?
The contamination of land with waste or chemicals.
What is Plastic Pollution?
The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment especially oceans.
What is Noise Pollution?
Harmful levels of noise from sources like transportation and industry.
What is Light Pollution?
Excessive artificial light disrupting ecosystems and human health.
What is Eutrophication?
Water body enrichment with nutrients causing excessive algae growth.
What is the Ozone Layer?
A layer of ozone that absorbs harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun.
What is the Hole in the Ozone Layer?
Thinning of the ozone layer mainly caused by human-made chemicals.
What is Biodiversity Loss?
The decline or extinction of species and ecosystems.
What is the Endangered Species Act?
A law protecting species at risk of extinction in the U.S.
What is Habitat Fragmentation?
The breaking up of habitats into smaller isolated patches.
What is an Invasive Species?
Non-native species that harm local ecosystems.
What is an Ecological Footprint?
A measure of human demand on Earth’s ecosystems.
What is Reforestation?
Planting trees in areas that have been deforested.
What is Afforestation?
Planting trees in areas that were not previously forested.
What is Sustainable Agriculture?
Farming that maintains environmental health and conserves resources.
What is Organic Farming?
Farming that avoids synthetic chemicals using natural methods instead.
What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?
Using biological mechanical
What is the Precautionary Principle?
Taking action to prevent harm when there is uncertainty about environmental risks.
What is Greenwashing?
False claims by companies about being environmentally friendly to attract consumers.
What is the Circular Economy?
An economic model focused on reusing recycling
What is Sustainability Reporting?
Reporting on a company’s environmental social
What is the Paris Agreement?
A global treaty to limit global warming to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels.
What is the Kyoto Protocol?
A treaty committing countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
What is Carbon Credit?
A permit allowing the holder to emit a certain amount of CO2.
What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?
Evaluating the potential environmental effects of a proposed project.
What is a Renewable Resource?
A resource that can naturally be replenished such as wind or solar energy.
What is a Non-Renewable Resource?
A resource that cannot be replenished on a human timescale like fossil fuels.
What is Biomass?
Organic material used as fuel like plants or animal waste.
What is Wind Energy?
Energy harnessed from wind using turbines.
What is Solar Energy?
Energy captured from sunlight typically using solar panels.
What is Hydropower?
Energy generated from the movement of water usually through dams.
What is Geothermal Energy?
Energy derived from the heat beneath Earth’s surface.
What is Tidal Energy?
Energy generated from tidal movements in oceans.
What is Nuclear Energy?
Energy from splitting atomic nuclei often used for electricity generation.
What is Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)?
A technology to capture CO2 emissions and store them underground.
What is the Tragedy of the Commons?
When individuals overuse shared resources leading to their depletion.
What is the Anthropocene?
The current geological age viewed as the period when human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment.
What is Ecotourism?
Tourism that focuses on preserving the environment and supporting local communities.
What is a Green Building?
A building designed to reduce environmental impact and improve sustainability.
What is a Carbon Sink?
A natural system that absorbs more CO2 than it releases such as forests or oceans.
What is Climate Adaptation?
Adjusting practices and systems to reduce the impacts of climate change.
What is Climate Mitigation?
Efforts to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change.
What is the Environmental Kuznets Curve?
A theory that suggests environmental degradation rises and then falls as economic development progresses.
What is Habitat Restoration?
The process of returning degraded ecosystems to a more natural state.
What is an Ecological Reserve?
A protected area set aside to conserve biodiversity.
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?
An international agreement aimed at conserving biodiversity.
What is Ocean Acidification?
The decrease in ocean pH due to increased CO2 absorption.
What is a Sustainable City?
A city designed with minimal environmental impact using renewable resources and green infrastructure.
What is a Carbon Tax?
A tax on fossil fuels based on their carbon content to reduce emissions.
What is Cap and Trade?
A system where emissions limits are set and companies can trade allowances to meet these limits.
What is Ecological Restoration?
Restoring degraded ecosystems to their natural state.
What is Land Use Planning?
Managing land to balance development with environmental conservation.
What is Circular Economy?
A model where products and resources are reused reduced
What is Carbon Neutrality?
Balancing the amount of CO2 emitted with an equivalent amount of CO2 removed or offset.
What is Environmental Justice?
Ensuring fair treatment of all people in environmental decision-making regardless of race or income.
What is Environmental Education?
Teaching people about environmental issues and how to protect the environment.
What is Climate Resilience?
The ability to adapt to and recover from the effects of climate change.
What is an Environmental Hazard?
A potential source of harm to the environment or human health.
What is a Greenhouse Gas Inventory?
A record of the greenhouse gases emitted by an organization or region.
What is Energy Efficiency?
Using less energy to accomplish the same task.
What is Renewable Resource?
A resource that is naturally replenished like sunlight or wind.
What is Carbon Trading?
A system where companies can buy and sell carbon credits to offset emissions.
What is Climate Justice?
A concept linking human rights to climate change action.
What is the Polluter Pays Principle?
The idea that those responsible for pollution should bear the costs of cleaning it up.
What is Overconsumption?
Using resources faster than they can be replenished leading to environmental harm.
What is the Food Chain?
A series of organisms each dependent on the next as a source of food.
What is a Biodegradable Material?
A material that can be broken down by natural processes.
What is Green Infrastructure?
Natural or semi-natural systems used to manage stormwater and improve urban ecosystems.
What is Sustainable Transport?
Transport methods with minimal environmental impact such as electric vehicles or public transit.
What is a Carbon Tax?
A tax on carbon emissions to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint.
What is an Environmental Audit?
A process to evaluate and assess an organization’s environmental performance.
What is Energy Conservation?
Reducing energy consumption through more efficient use of resources.
What is the Global Footprint Network?
An organization that measures humanity’s demand on Earth’s ecosystems.
What is a Natural Resource?
Materials or substances found in nature that are used by humans like water
What is Eco-Friendly?
Products or actions that are not harmful to the environment.
What is Carbon Offset?
A reduction in emissions of CO2 or other greenhouse gases to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere.
What is a Pollutant?
A substance that contaminates the environment and harms ecosystems or human health.
