Environmental Science Flashcards

0
Q

Ecological footprint

A

Land needed to provide resources assimilate waste of a population

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1
Q

Anthropogenic

A

Caused by or related to human action

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2
Q

Carrying Capacity

A

Population size that an area can support indefinitely

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3
Q

Sustainable

A

A method of using resources in such a way that we can continue to use them indefinitely.

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4
Q

Empirical Science

A

A scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation

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5
Q

Applied Science

A

Research whose findings are used to help solve practical problems

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6
Q

Environmental Literacy

A

A basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact of our choices on the environment.

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7
Q

Trade-offs

A

The imperfect and sometimes problematic responses that we must at times choose between when addressing complex problems

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8
Q

Triple bottom line

A

The combination of the environmental, social, and economic impacts of our choices

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9
Q

Renewable Energy

A

Energy that comes from an infinitely available or easily replenished source.

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10
Q

Biodiversity

A

The variety if species on Earth.

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11
Q

Non-renewable Resources

A

Resources whose supply is finite or not replenished in a timely fashion.

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12
Q

Social Traps

A

Decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce a short-term benefit, but that hurt society in the long run.

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13
Q

Tragedy of the Commons

A

The tendency of an individual to abuse commonly held resources in order to maximize his or her own personal interest.

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14
Q

Time Delay

A

Actions that produce a benefit today set into motion events that cause problems later on.

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15
Q

Sliding Reinforcer

A

Actions that are beneficial at first but that change conditions such that their benefit declines over time.

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16
Q

World views

A

The window through which one views one’s world and existence.

17
Q

Environmental Ethic

A

The personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with his or her natural environment and thus affects how one responds to environmental problems.

18
Q

Anthropocentric Worldview

A

A human-centered view that assigns intrinsic value only to humans

19
Q

Instrumental Value

A

The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its usefulness to humans.

20
Q

Biocentric Worldview

A

A life-centered approach that views all life as having intrinsic value, regardless of its usefulness to humans

21
Q

Intrinsic Value

A

The value or worth of an object, organism, or species is based on its mere existence

22
Q

Ecocentric Worldview

A

A system-centered view that values intact ecosystems, not just the individual parts.

23
Q

Sustainable

A

Capable of being continued without degrading the environment

24
Economics
The social science that deals with allocate scarce resources.
25
Ecosystem Services
Essential ecological processes that make life on Earth possible
26
Ecological Footprint
The land needed to provide the resources for and assimilate the waste of a person or population
27
Natural Capital
The wealth of resources on Earth
28
Natural Interest
Readily produced resources that we use and still leave natural capital behind to replace what we took
29
IPAT model
An equation (I=P x A x T) that identifies three factors that increase human impact (I) directly: population size (P), affluence (A), and technology (T).
30
Internal Cost
Those costs-- such as manufacturing costs, labor, taxes, utilities, insurance, and rent-- that are accounted for when a product or service is evaluated for pricing.
31
External Cost
Costs that are not taken into account when a price is assigned to a product or service.
32
True Cost
Including both internal and external costs when setting a price for a good or service.
33
Closed-loop System
A production system in which the product is folded back into the resource stream when consumers are finished with it, or is disposed of in such a way that nature can decompose it
34
Cradle-to-Cradle
Management of a resource that considers the impact of its use at every stage of the process
35
Discount Future Value
To give more weight to short-term benefits and costs than to long-term ones.
36
Environmental/Ecological Economics
New theories of economics that consider the long-term impact of our choices on people and the environment
37
Sustainable Development
Economic and social development that meets present needs without preventing future generations from meeting their needs.
38
Green Business
Doing business in a way that is good for people and the environment
39
Service Economy
A business model whose focus is on leasing and caring for a product in the customer's possession rather than on selling the product itself (selling the service that the product provides).