TOPIC 1 Flashcards
what are three historical movements that have shaped the development of the modern environmental movement?
-Greta Thunberg’s activism
-Gaia hypothesis
-Chernobyl disaster 1986
overview (3 points); case study significance (3 points)
Gaia Hypothesis
**overview: **
-historical movement that shaped the development of the modern environmental movement
-James Lovelock, 1972
-Earth is ONE SYSTEM where LIVING ORGANISMS interact with INORGANIC SURROUNDINGS, maintaining/perpetuating CONDITIONS FOR LIFE
shaped the development of the modern environmental movement:
-earth as a ‘living system’ shaped modern understanding of global warming
-how: everything is connected and influences everything else (causing feedback loops) and damage or change to one aspect can unbalance the whole planet’s equilibrium
-integral part of ecocentric deep ecology arguements: the earth is a whole system and must be protected to continue sustaining life, and shouldn’t be disturbed
overview (3 points); case study significance (2 points)
Greta Thunberg
**overview: **
-historical movement that shaped the development of the modern environmental movement
-Environmental activist, began 2018 with school strikes in protest of government activities
-Swedish
shaped the development of the modern environmental movement:
-raised much public awareness about the impacts of climate change, especially in YOUNG PEOPLE–continuing generation
-MEDIA VISIBILITY and ONLINE ATTENTION on climate change
overview (5 points); case study significance (6 points)
Chernobyl nuclear disaster
overview
-historical movement that shaped the development of the modern environmental movement
-Explosion of nuclear reactors in Chernobyl Power Plant in Ukraine, 1986
-worst nuclear disaster in history
-most expensive disaster in history; cost $700 billion USD
-60 000 -135 000 evacuated
shaped the development of the modern environmental movement:
-created a large distrust in nuclear power as an alternative energy resource
–>if hadn’t occurred, reliance on nuclear may not have been lost and thus used as a clean energy source alternative to fossil fuels, potentially greatly reducing modern impacts of climate change
-resulted in 2 conventions for notification and assistance of disasters
-increased awareness of danger of nuclear power
-strong activist movement in Eastern Europe to mitigate dangers through INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES and LIMITED NUCLEAR ENERGY USE
-conservation efforts to restore and protect ecosystems affected
Three types of natural capital
-renewable
-replenishable
-non-renewable
definition; 3 examples
Renewable natural capital
definition:
-can be GENERATED and/or REPLACED as fast as it is used; inexhaustable
-LIVING SPECIES/ECOSYSTEMS that use solar energy/photosynthesis
-non-living items
examples:
-solar radiation
-wind energy
-tides
definition; 3 examples
Replenishable natural capital
definition:
-Middle ground between renewable and non-renewable sources
-are renewed, but over LONG TIME PERIODS (generally within a human lifetime)
-used much faster than it is replenished
examples:
-ground water
-ozone layer
-trees
definition; 3 examples
Non-renewable natural capital
definition:
-resources that take periods of time far beyond humanity’s ability to conceive or benefit from replenishment (ie. thousands or millions of years)
-for us, once they’re used up, they’re gone
examples:
-fossil fuels (coal, crude oil, etc)
-nuclear energy
-natural gas
Millenium Ecosystem Assessment
what it is and purpose:
-United Nations project, began 2001, ONGOING
-assesses CONSEQUENCES of ecosystem changes for human well-being
and
-establish a SCIENTIFIC BASIS for action to CONSERVE sustainable use of ecosystems and their contribution to human wellbeing
how it works:
-assesses factors on LOCAL TO GLOBAL SCALES as quantitative ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS OF SUSTAINABILITY
* biodiversity
* pollution
* population
* climate
-scientifically appraises trends in ecosystems and services using these, to then inform conservation action
findings
Ecosystem changes are increasing the likelyhood of nonlinear changes in ecosystems, which has consequences on human wellbeing.
3
need to know for DDT
-origins
-uses
-consequences on ecosystems and human systems
3
need to know for millenium ecosystem assessment
-what it is and purpose
-how it works
-findings
3 main things
DDTs
origins:
-originally developed as insecticide; developed in 1874 BUT used as insecticide from 1939
-first modern synthetic insecticide
uses
-insect control in agriculture, institutions, homes, gardens
-combat insect-borne human diseases (e.g., malaria, typhus) by killing the insects
consequences on ecosystems and human systems
-non-solluable and very polluting, very toxic to marine animals and birds (and insects)
-human health issues: cancer, diabetes, neurodevelopmental issues
need to know for historical movements
-overview: when it occurred, what it was
-how it shaped the development of the modern environmental movement:
