Theme 3 - 3.7 - Environmental Risks Of Economic Development Flashcards

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1
Q

Define pollution.

A

Contamination of the environment.

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2
Q

What are some forms of pollution?

A
  • Air
  • Water
  • Noise
  • Visual
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3
Q

Define prevailing wind.

A

The major direction of winds in a region.

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4
Q

Define externalities.

A

The side effects, positive and negative, of an economic activity that are experienced beyond its site.

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5
Q

Define enhanced greenhouse effect.

A

Large-scale pollution of the atmosphere by economic activities has created an enhanced greenhouse effect.

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6
Q

Define deforestation.

A

The loss of forested lands for a number of reasons.

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7
Q

Define overgrazing.

A

The grazing of natural pastures at stocking intensities above the livestock carrying capacity.

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8
Q

Define desertification.

A

The gradual transformation of habitable land into desert.

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9
Q

Define dust storm.

A

A severe windstorm that sweeps cloud of dust across an extensive area, especially in an arid region.

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10
Q

Define resource management.

A

The control of the exploitation and use of resources in relation to environmental and economic costs.

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11
Q

Define sustainable development.

A

A carefully calculated system of resource management which ensures that the current level of exploitation does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own need.

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12
Q

Define environmental impact statement.

A

A document required by law detailing all the impacts on the environment of an energy or other project above a certain size.

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13
Q

Define conservation of resources.

A

The management of the human use of natural resources to provide the maximum benefit to current generations while maintaining capacity to meet the needs of future generations.

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14
Q

Define recycling.

A

The concentration of used or waste materials, their reprocessing, and their subsequent use in place of new materials.

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15
Q

Define reuse.

A

This involves extending the life of a product beyond what was the norm in the past, or putting a product to a new use and extending its life in this way.

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16
Q

Define quotas.

A

Involving agreement between countries to take only a predetermined amount of a resource.

17
Q

Define rationing.

A

A last resort management strategy when demand is massively out of proportion to supply.

18
Q

Define subsidies.

A

Financial aid supplied by the government to an industry for reasons of public welfare.

19
Q

Define carbon credit.

A

A permit that allows an organisation to emit a specified amount of greenhouse gases.

20
Q

Define carbon trading.

A

A company that does not use up the level of emissions it is entitled to can sell the remainder of its entitlement to another company.

21
Q

Define community energy.

A

Energy produced close to the point of consumption.

22
Q

Define microgeneration.

A

Generators producing energy with an output of less than 50kW.

23
Q

Give some environmental threats which economic activities may pose.

A
  • Soil erosion
  • Desertification
  • Enhanced global warming
  • Pollution
24
Q

What are some causes of global warming?

A
NATURAL
• Plate tectonics
• Solar cycles
• Variations in the Earth's orbit
• Volcanic eruptions
• Ocean circulations
HUMAN
• Release of greenhouse gases (CO2, methane, nitrous gases)
• Anthropogenic heat -> Heat released by people and man-made structures
• Release of water into the atmosphere
25
Q

What are some consequences of global warming?

A
  • Sea levels rise -> Due to thermal expansion
  • Changes location of vegetation belts and associated fauna
  • Melting ice -> Add to sea level
  • Agriculture -> Changes in location
  • Spread of pests and disease
  • Increased incidence and intensity of storms
  • Changes in energy consumption
  • Greater temperature variation
  • Changing rainfall patterns
  • Disruption of ocean currents (e.g. Gulf stream)
26
Q

Give an example of air pollution.

A

China

27
Q

Give an example of water pollution.

A

Deliberate dumping at sea in London (sewage)

28
Q

Give an example of soil erosion.

A

The Sahel

29
Q

What are the causes of soil erosion?

A

Generally similar to those of desertification.

30
Q

Define fragile environment.

A

A natural environment that is sensitive to, and easily abused by, human activity.

31
Q

What two things are vital for the future of the world’s natural resources?

A
  1. Resource management

2. Sustainable development

32
Q

Describe the process by which fish stocks are being depleted.

A
  • Rich fishing grounds attract boats from many countries
  • Total catch increases
  • Then fish stocks fall, reducing reproduction
  • Total catch decreases
  • Need for resource management
33
Q

What is an example of the need for sustainable development and management?

A

The depleting fish stock due to overfishing.

34
Q

How is agriculture and fishing managed in the European Union?

A

Agriculture: Common Agriculture Policy (CAP)
Fishing: Common Fisheries Policy

35
Q

Give some reasons why sustainable development and management are so important.

A
Consequences of lack of management:
• Deforestation
• Desertification
• Destruction of coral reefs
• Food problems
• Health problems
• Climate change
36
Q

Make sure you know the difference between conservation and sustainable development.

A

Check with teacher

37
Q

What are some ways in which resources are conserved?

A
  • Reuse
  • Recycling
  • Quotas
  • Rationing
  • Reducing subsidies
  • Product stewardship -> Where manufacturers, retailers and consumers are encouraged/required to assume responsibility for a product’s impact on the environment
  • Substitution -> The use of common and less valuable resources in place of rare, more expensive ones (e.g. aluminium instead of copper)
38
Q

How can energy demands be met while avoiding serious environmental degradation?

A
  • Investment in renewable energy
  • Conservation
  • Recycling
  • Carbon credits
  • ‘Green’ taxation
39
Q

How can energy be conserved?

A
GOVERNMENT
• Improve public transport
• High petrol tax
• Regulations on car and electrical item efficiency
• Encourage businesses to monitor and reduce energy use
• Promote investment in renewable energy
INDIVIDUAL 
• Walk rather than drive
• Buy low consumption + low emission cars
• Public transport
• Carpooling
• Low-energy light bulbs
• Home insulation
• Turn boiler and radiator settings down
• Wash clothes at lower temperatures
• Energy efficient appliances