Summer Work Test

Question 1

Concept of interrelatedness in terms of organisms on earth

Answer 1

everything is connected with everything else on earth, abiotic and biotic resources organisms use

Question 2

Ecosystem

Answer 2

region in which the organisms and the physical environment form an interacting unit
ex.) coral reef

Question 3

How are the World Economy and the Environment related

Answer 3

based on whatever decision in made in the world economy, it will directly/indirectly affect the environment in some way

Question 4

Human Well-being

Answer 4

3 different views each of which has different implications for the environment;

1. ) resources people have
2. ) how people feel about their lives
3. ) what people are able to do

Question 5

Most common health threats to humans

Answer 5

cancer, malaria, coronary heart disease, diarrhea, pollution, and emerging diseases

Question 6

How has the globalization of our economy affected our environment

Answer 6

spread of exotic species, higher risk of environmental crises, climate change, and more

Question 7

Describe the intent of the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

Answer 7

to look at the services provided by ecosystems and evaluated the status of each service; supporting services, provisioning services, regulation services, and cultural services

Question 8

How as worldwide energy demand changed over the past century

Answer 8

kept growing and placing an ever increasing burden on natural resources and on the environment

Question 9

Describe cultural relativism as it applies to the USA and other countries

Answer 9

in ethics, it acknowledges that all across the world not all cultures share the same ethical commitments and that these differences exist

Question 10

What is the mission of the NRPE

Answer 10

to work with organizations to develop environmental programs that mesh with their own varied spiritual teachings

Question 11

Describe the 3 philosophical approaches to environmental ethics

Answer 11

1. ) Anthropocentrism- human centered ethics, the view that all environmental responsibility is derived from human interests alone
2. ) Biocentrism- life-centered environmental ethics; all forms of life have an inherent right to exist
3. ) Ecocentrism- that the environment deserves direct moral consideration and not consideration that is merely derived from human or animal interests

Question 12

Summarize the other philosophical approaches listed on page 19

Answer 12

1. ) Ecofeminism- the view that there are important theoretical, historical, and empirical connections between how society treats women and how it treats the environment
2. ) Social ecology- the view that social hierarchies are directly connected to the behaviors that lead to environmental destruction
3. ) 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
4. ) Environmental pragmatism- approach that focuses on policy rather than ethics
5. ) Environmental aesthetics- the study of how to appreciate beauty in the natural world
6. ) Animal rights/welfare- asserts that humans have a strong moral obligation to nonhuman animals

Question 13

Explain the 3 environmental attitudes towards nature

Answer 13

1. ) 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
2. ) Preservationist approach- rather than seek to convert all of nature over to human uses, preservationists want to see large portions of nature preserved intact
3. ) 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

Question 14

Describe what is meant by the phrase “sustainable development”

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Describe the relationship corporations have with the environment

Answer 15

it can be detrimental for the environment but beneficial for the corporation
ex.) greenwashers

Question 16

Explain Natural Capitalism and how to measure and ecological footprint

Answer 16

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

Question 17

What is at risk concerning the health and welfare of the environment?

Answer 17

harm to human health or the environment that may result from particular management decisions

Question 18

Explain how environmental economics and resource consumption are related

Answer 18

economics being an allocation process that determines the purposes to which resources are put

Question 19

Explain how supply and demand impact resource consumption and pricing

Answer 19

resources are allocated involves the establishment of a price for a good or service, the price thus describes how we value goods and services

Question 20

How is value assigned to the environment and ecosystems?

Answer 20

based on our perception of their relative scarcity, willing to pay for goods/services that are highly valued, and vice-versa

Question 21

What services do ecosystems provide for man and other organisms?

Answer 21

benefits of nature to households, communities, and economies

Question 22

Define environmental cost, deferred cost, and external environmental cost

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Explain the use of a cost-benefit analysis and how are they useful?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Describe the tragedy of the commons as it applies to resources

Answer 24

when everybody shares ownership of a resource, and how there then is a strong tendency to overexploit and misuse that resource