topic 1 Flashcards
perspectives
can be developed based on where someone grows up and how they have adjusted to their geographical location, what someone is exposed to, politics, traditions within cultures/families.
factors that form perspectives
culture, religion, family etc.
ecocentric
places value and importance on the entire environment and all life in it, not just the parts that are useful to humans.
anthropocentric
regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence.
technocentric
a value system that is centered on technology and its ability to control and protect the environment.
environmental justice
ensures fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens for all communities.
important environmental movements
1960s: james lovelock published gaia hypothesis
1961: WWF founded
1962: rachel carson published silent spring
1972: stockholm conference
1975: greenpeace
1986: chernobyl
1987: our common future
1992: earth summit
1997: kyoto portocal
2006: an inconvenient truth
2011: fukishima
2011: durban conference
2012: UN conference on sustainable development
system
a set of inter-related parts working together to make a complex whole.
open system
a system where both matter and energy can flow in and out of it. eg. an ecosystem.
closed system
a system where only energy can flow in and out of it, not matter. eg. earth.
isolated system
a system where neither energy or matter can flow in and out of it. these cannot be found in nature.
storage
represented as a box in system diagrams.
flow
represented as an arrow, each arrow indicates the direction of each flow. they can be processes that may be either transfers or transformations.
transfer of energy
simple transfer
transformation of energy
changes the flow eg. photosynthesis- light is changed to chemical energy.
emergent properties
the effects on the system based on inputs and outputs. eg. sunlight as an input into a pond system has an effect on the survival of the animals and plants living in the pond.
negative feedback
reduces any deviation from an equilibrium and promotes stability.
positive feedback
increases change, leads to exponential deviation away from an equilibrium and towards a tipping point.
tipping point
the minimum amount of change that will cause destabilisation within a system.
resilience
the capacity of a system to resist, recover or adapt effectively to disturbance.
steady-state equilibrium
a stable condition in an ecosystem or system where input and output are balanced, and the system remains unchanged over time.
dynamic equilibrium
a state of balance in a system where opposing processes occur at the same rate, maintaining stability despite continuous changes.
model
simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept.
sustainability
the use of resources at a rate that allows natural regeneration and minimizes damage to the environment.
what are key sustainability indicators?
- carbon footprint: measures greenhouse gas emissions.
- biodiversity levels: indicates ecosystem health.
- water footprint: tracks water usage in production and consumption.
donut economy
integrates both environmental and societal considerations.
circular economy
an economic model aimed at eliminating waste and continually using resources through reducing, reusing, and recycling.
ecological footprint
how much land and water area is needed to support a population.
pollution management strategies
- prevention: reducing the release of pollutants (e.g., using renewable energy).
- mitigation: dealing with pollution after it occurs (e.g., oil spill clean-up).
- restoration: repairing damaged ecosystems (e.g., reforestation).
