Sustainability Flashcards
exam questions
What is sustainable development?
It’s a principle that aims to meet human development goals while also
1. allowing natural systems to provide necessary natural resources
2. and ecosystem services to people.
How is the concept of sustainable development used to effectively manage a resource?
Sustainable development is used to
1. ensure the long term use of a resource
2. while allowing people in the present to benefit from it as well.
*Both criteria should be met with the mentality of of minimizing damage done to the environment.
What is biocapacity?
The capacity of the ecosystem to
1. produce useful biological materials
2. as well as to absorb waste materials generated by humans.
What is ecological footprint?
The amount of environmental resources necessary to produce the goods and services that support an individual’s lifestyle, a nation’s ability to thrive, or the economic activity of humanity as a whole.
What are some general features and conclusions that can be made when biocapacity and ecological footprint are compared over time?
If sustainable development is not taken into consideration, the risk of depleting resources and causing the environment to lose its ability to supply said resources is extremely high. This phenomenom is called “ecological overshoot” and its when the demand of a resource exceeds it supply.
What are some general features and conclusions that can be made when biocapacity and ecological footprint are compared between nations?
Highly developed nations often demand more from the environment than what they need (due to affluence and overconsumption). While there is often a higher population in developing countries, they consume out of survival and necessity, therefore consuming less as a country. Their demand on the environment is more sustainble than that of developed countries.
Why is a person living in a highly developed, less populated nation said to have a larger impact on the environment than a person living in a less developed, highly populated nation?
An individual living in a highly developed nation is more likely to engage in overconsumption. Although there are less people within the country, each individual is consuming more due to affluence, social pressures, ease, trends etc.
An individual living in a less developed nation will, on average, consume what is necessary therefore the nation will consume less overall because the consumption is coming from need, not want.
What is the scientific method? What steps does it entail?
It is a process used to validate observations made while curbing observer bias.
The steps include:
1. Recognize a problem
2. Develop a hypothesis
3. Design and perform an experiment
4. Analyze and interpret data
5. Share knowledge with other scientists
