Sociology 2155 Ai Flashcards
What are the three parts of environmental issues as discussed?
- Material part
- Ideal (ideological) part
- Practical part
These parts encompass consumption, economy, culture, ideology, and mobilization.
What does environmental justice identify?
Inequalities, unfairness, and gaps in mutual aid within and across community members
It includes aspects across time, social space, and species.
What are the implications of global climate change?
- Ocean acidification
- Drought
- Flooding
- Rising sea levels
- Implications for infectious diseases
Warmer temperatures facilitate the survival and spread of ticks and mosquitoes.
What is the primary source of the world’s carbon energy economy?
81% oil, coal, natural gas + 9% other biofuels and waste
This accounts for 90% of the carbon energy economy.
Which fossil fuel is considered the most polluting?
Coal
Coal contains more carbon than other fossil fuels.
What is fracking and why is it controversial?
Fracking is the extraction process of oil and gas using high-pressure fluids, controversial due to:
* Methane’s potency as a warming agent
* Concerns over water contamination
* High water usage
Methane is more potent than carbon and has a much longer degradation time.
What percentage of the world’s electricity is generated from nuclear energy?
10%
This is from 440 reactors worldwide.
What are some challenges associated with renewable energy sources?
- Hydro disrupts water flow
- Wind turbines produce noise pollution
- Biofuels can compete with land for food and habitat
These trade-offs highlight the complexities of transitioning to renewable energy.
What does the Gini coefficient measure?
The gap between rich and poor
A higher Gini indicates greater inequality.
What is environmental racism?
Targeting groups based on prescribed biological characteristics, leading to higher exposure to industrial hazards in racialized spaces
It involves placing polluting industries near communities of color.
What is the ‘One Health, One Future’ concept?
The interconnectedness of the natural world and human health
It emphasizes that all creatures suffer when one falls, promoting a holistic approach to health.
Fill in the blank: The precautionary principle is preferred over _______ in environmental regulation.
Cost-benefit analysis
The precautionary principle focuses on preventing problems rather than just evaluating outcomes.
What is the main concern with corporate responsibility after environmental disasters?
Corporations often prioritize profit over genuine environmental sustainability
They may change marketing without implementing real changes.
What does the theory of leisure class suggest about consumption?
Consumption is motivated by competition and emulation
People signal status through conspicuous consumption.
True or False: The average person in wealthier countries consumes significantly less water than those in poorer countries.
False
Wealthier individuals consume 3x more water, 6x more meat, and 10x more energy than those in poorer nations.
What are some impacts of climate change on agriculture and food prices?
Affects agricultural yields and increases food prices
This leads to food security challenges, especially in vulnerable regions.
What does ND-Gain measure?
A country’s vulnerability to climate change based on income and readiness
A lower score indicates better readiness and lower vulnerability.
What are the material needs easily satisfied according to Marshall Sahlins?
Eat well, work less, more time for leisure
According to Veblen’s theory of leisure class, what motivates consumption?
Competition and emulation
Define conspicuous consumption.
Buying expensive cars/homes/etc. to show off
What is conspicuous leisure?
Vacation travel, especially long distances
What does conspicuous waste refer to?
Throwing out old things and replacing them instead of trying to fix them
What are positional goods?
Goods that are in short supply and demonstrate power
How do goods help maintain social relationships?
They carry sentiments and meanings cultivated in objects
What is green consumerism?
Consumers feeling environmentally conscious, often exploited by companies
What is the Easterlin paradox?
Weak relationship between wealth and happiness
What is the hedonic treadmill?
Growing affluence and goods without gain in satisfaction
What significant trend occurred from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century?
Long work hours
What is mass consumption?
Increasing consumption of commoditized goods and services
What is the impact of online shopping on consumer behavior?
Shopping is much easier and more enjoyable, leading to overconsumption
How much clothing does the average American throw away annually?
81 pounds
What percentage of global emissions comes from tourism?
10%
What has happened to the size of North American homes since 1910?
Homes built today are 75% larger
What is the relationship between caloric intake and wealth?
Wealthier countries have much higher calorie levels
What is the Ontario housing crisis characterized by?
New homes being double the size of those in the 70s, leading to environmental degradation
What is the cultural idea regarding economic growth?
Economic growth is key to meeting human needs
What is the wage-price gap?
Hard for workers to buy products they make because they are too expensive
What does the ‘invisible hand’ refer to in economic theory?
Competition leading to productivity and efficiency
What is the ‘invisible elbow’ in economic terms?
Negative externalities that harm workers and the environment
What does Wallerstein’s World Systems theory discuss?
Core, periphery, and semi-periphery countries
What is commodity fetishism?
Lack of recognition that every product has a human and environmental story
What is the crisis of overproduction?
An economic situation where supply exceeds demand
What does neoliberalism emphasize?
Individual freedoms and property rights, reduction in the influence of government
What is green technology?
Application of environmental science to conserve resources and minimize human impact
What is sustainable development?
Meeting human needs without undermining natural resources and ecosystems
What is Jevons Paradox?
Technological innovations lead to increased overall consumption despite greater efficiency
What are rebound effects in technology?
Unexpected increases in consumption due to greater efficiency
What is the impact of SUVs on the environment?
Worse gas mileage and higher carbon dioxide emissions compared to medium-sized cars
What is the role of information technology in consumption?
Can facilitate telecommuting but also worsen urban sprawl
What are the costs of technological innovation?
Resource acquisition, hazardous by-products, and technology disposal
What is e-waste?
Disposal of electronic products that often contains hazardous chemicals
What are the costs of technological innovation?
- Resource acquisition - batteries
- Hazardous by-products - microplastics
- Technology disposal - e-waste
- Lightbulbs contain mercury and leak it into the earth from landfills
E-waste often contains hazardous chemicals and is frequently dumped in periphery countries, such as Ghana, leading to significant environmental harm.
What is an example of a negative externality in technological innovation?
Microplastics
Microplastics are a hazardous by-product of various technologies that can harm the environment.
How can economic incentives influence technological innovation?
- Make negative externalities visible
- Regulations (e.g., setting car prices based on environmental impact)
- Incentive-based approaches
- Extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies
- Policies regarding disposal and pollution permits
These strategies can promote more responsible technology use and reduce harmful impacts.
Who discussed the social organization of comfort and convenience in technology usage?
Elizabeth Shove
Shove’s work emphasizes that consumption is driven not only by status but also by a pursuit of comfort and convenience.
What percentage of domestic water use is accounted for by cleaning?
70%
This statistic highlights the resource intensity of modern cleaning practices.
Fill in the blank: The concept that we drive because the ‘how-to’ has become a ‘have-to’ is described by _______.
Elizabeth Shove
What term describes the routine consumption controlled by conceptions of normality?
Cultural forces
Cultural forces shape our habits and consumption patterns, often escalating resource use.
What is the theory that focuses on the mutual consequences of humans and technology?
Actor-Network Theory (ANT)
Developed by Bruno Latour, ANT considers both human and nonhuman actors and their complex interactions.
True or False: Natural disasters are purely natural events and not influenced by human actions.
False
A systems approach indicates that many disasters are partly the result of human actions, such as flooding and deforestation.
What does Ulrich Beck’s ‘The Risk Society’ suggest about modern risks?
- Transition to more technological hazards
- Risks typically result from science and technology
- Growing uncertainty and loss of faith in experts
This theory highlights the increasing scale and potential for catastrophe in contemporary society.
What are the two types of systems discussed by Perrow regarding technological disasters?
- Linear systems
- Complex systems
Linear systems are spread out (e.g., assembly lines), while complex systems are tightly coupled (e.g., nuclear power).
What is a characteristic of tightly coupled systems?
Stress on the whole system
Tightly coupled systems, like nuclear plants, have interdependencies that can lead to catastrophic failures.
What influences knowledge about technology and the environment according to the text?
Power and control over messaging
This dynamic can lead to distrust in science along political lines, hindering dialogue about change and solutions.
