Summer Work Test Flashcards
Concept of interrelatedness in terms of organisms on earth
everything is connected with everything else on earth, abiotic and biotic resources organisms use
Ecosystem
region in which the organisms and the physical environment form an interacting unit
ex.) coral reef
How are the World Economy and the Environment related
based on whatever decision in made in the world economy, it will directly/indirectly affect the environment in some way
Human Well-being
3 different views each of which has different implications for the environment;
- ) resources people have
- ) how people feel about their lives
- ) what people are able to do
Most common health threats to humans
cancer, malaria, coronary heart disease, diarrhea, pollution, and emerging diseases
How has the globalization of our economy affected our environment
spread of exotic species, higher risk of environmental crises, climate change, and more
Describe the intent of the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
to look at the services provided by ecosystems and evaluated the status of each service; supporting services, provisioning services, regulation services, and cultural services
How as worldwide energy demand changed over the past century
kept growing and placing an ever increasing burden on natural resources and on the environment
Describe cultural relativism as it applies to the USA and other countries
in ethics, it acknowledges that all across the world not all cultures share the same ethical commitments and that these differences exist
What is the mission of the NRPE
to work with organizations to develop environmental programs that mesh with their own varied spiritual teachings
Describe the 3 philosophical approaches to environmental ethics
- ) Anthropocentrism- human centered ethics, the view that all environmental responsibility is derived from human interests alone
- ) Biocentrism- life-centered environmental ethics; all forms of life have an inherent right to exist
- ) Ecocentrism- that the environment deserves direct moral consideration and not consideration that is merely derived from human or animal interests
Summarize the other philosophical approaches listed on page 19
- ) Ecofeminism- the view that there are important theoretical, historical, and empirical connections between how society treats women and how it treats the environment
- ) Social ecology- the view that social hierarchies are directly connected to the behaviors that lead to environmental destruction
- ) Deep ecology- the generally ecocentric view that a new spiritual sense of oneness with the earth is the essential starting point for a more healthy relationship with the environment, also includes a biocentric egalitarian world view
- ) Environmental pragmatism- approach that focuses on policy rather than ethics
- ) Environmental aesthetics- the study of how to appreciate beauty in the natural world
- ) Animal rights/welfare- asserts that humans have a strong moral obligation to nonhuman animals
Explain the 3 environmental attitudes towards nature
- ) Development approach- assumes that the human race is and should be master of nature and that the earth and its resources exist solely for our benefit and pleasure
- ) Preservationist approach- rather than seek to convert all of nature over to human uses, preservationists want to see large portions of nature preserved intact
- ) Conservationist approach- interested in promoting human well-being but tend to consider a wider range of long-term human goods in their decisions about environmental management
Describe what is meant by the phrase “sustainable development”
using renewable resources in harmony with ecological systems to produce a rise in real income per person and an improved standard of living for everyone
Describe the relationship corporations have with the environment
it can be detrimental for the environment but beneficial for the corporation
ex.) greenwashers
Explain Natural Capitalism and how to measure and ecological footprint
Natural Capitalism- the idea that businesses can both expand their profits and take good care of the environment
Footprint- measured by one’s lifestyle and how many resources they use
What is at risk concerning the health and welfare of the environment?
harm to human health or the environment that may result from particular management decisions
Explain how environmental economics and resource consumption are related
economics being an allocation process that determines the purposes to which resources are put
Explain how supply and demand impact resource consumption and pricing
resources are allocated involves the establishment of a price for a good or service, the price thus describes how we value goods and services
How is value assigned to the environment and ecosystems?
based on our perception of their relative scarcity, willing to pay for goods/services that are highly valued, and vice-versa
What services do ecosystems provide for man and other organisms?
benefits of nature to households, communities, and economies
Define environmental cost, deferred cost, and external environmental cost
environmental cost- damage done to the environment as a resource is exploited (i.e. air pollution)
deferred cost- a cost that is not paid immediately when an economic decision is made but must be paid at a later date
external environmental cost- expenses, monetary or otherwise, born by someone other than the individuals or groups who use a resource
Explain the use of a cost-benefit analysis and how are they useful?
a formal quantitive method and is used for assessing the costs and benefits of competing uses of a resource or solutions to a problem and deciding which is the most effective
Describe the tragedy of the commons as it applies to resources
when everybody shares ownership of a resource, and how there then is a strong tendency to overexploit and misuse that resource
