Sustainability Flashcards
What is a tipping point?
When changes tip the equilibrium over a threshold (tipping point) and the system may transform into a very different one.
What are the characteristics of tipping points?
- Positive feedback making the change self-perpetuating.
- Beyond it, a fast shift of ecological change occurs.
- Threshold cannot be precisely predicted.
- Changes are long lasting and hard to reverse.
Example of low resilience leading to a Tipping point: Coral to algal dominance in the Caribbean.
In the Caribbean, overfishing and increased nutrient loading led to declines in herbivorous fish, which allowed the sea urchin (erizo) to dominate the Coral Reefs because of the increased algae. But in 1981, a hurricane severely damaged the coral reefs, but the presence of the sea urchin helped the recovery of the coral since they ate the algae. However, in subsequent years, the urchin was hit hard by a pathogen and as a consequence was no longer able to control the algae. As a result, fleshly brown algae came to dominate the reefs. And these algae that now cover the coral reefs are largely unpalatable for other herbivores, so this serves to keep the coral reefs in state of algal dominance.
What is NATURAL CAPITAL?
The stock of an ecosstem that can yield a supply of valuable goods and services.
Eg. Land, air, water, living organisms.
What is NATURAL INCOME?
Goods and services obtained with natural capital.
What is sustainability?
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
The long-term harvest rates should not exceed the rates of capital renewal.
What are the key ideas of sustainability?
- Nature keeps going into the future.
- Balance between society, economy and environment.
- Allows people to live well in the future and today.
What are the differences between unsustainable technology and sustainable technology?
Unsustainable technology: Uses resources that cannot be replaced, produces waste that cannot be broken down, steals from the future to feed the present.
Sustainable technology: Uses resources that are replaced regularly, produces waste that can break down harmlessly, and protects the future.
What is the problem with sustainability?
- There is an increasing population and more efficient technology.
- The Tragedy of the Commons.
What does the Tragedy of the Commons refer to?
When man individuals act in their own self interest to harvest a resource unsustainably. This happens when many individuals share a limited resource, so they have the opportunity to benefit themselves while spreading out negative effects to others.
Short-term self-interest against the common good
