topic 1

Question 1

perspectives

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

factors that form perspectives

Answer 2

culture, religion, family etc.

Question 3

ecocentric

Answer 3

places value and importance on the entire environment and all life in it, not just the parts that are useful to humans.

Question 4

anthropocentric

Answer 4

regarding humankind as the central or most important element of existence.

Question 5

technocentric

Answer 5

a value system that is centered on technology and its ability to control and protect the environment.

Question 6

environmental justice

Answer 6

ensures fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens for all communities.

Question 7

important environmental movements

Answer 7

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

Question 8

system

Answer 8

a set of inter-related parts working together to make a complex whole.

Question 9

open system

Answer 9

a system where both matter and energy can flow in and out of it. eg. an ecosystem.

Question 10

closed system

Answer 10

a system where only energy can flow in and out of it, not matter. eg. earth.

Question 11

isolated system

Answer 11

a system where neither energy or matter can flow in and out of it. these cannot be found in nature.

Question 12

storage

Answer 12

represented as a box in system diagrams.

Question 13

flow

Answer 13

represented as an arrow, each arrow indicates the direction of each flow. they can be processes that may be either transfers or transformations.

Question 14

transfer of energy

Answer 14

simple transfer

Question 15

transformation of energy

Answer 15

changes the flow eg. photosynthesis- light is changed to chemical energy.

Question 16

emergent properties

Answer 16

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.

Question 17

negative feedback

Answer 17

reduces any deviation from an equilibrium and promotes stability.

Question 18

positive feedback

Answer 18

increases change, leads to exponential deviation away from an equilibrium and towards a tipping point.

Question 19

tipping point

Answer 19

the minimum amount of change that will cause destabilisation within a system.

Question 20

resilience

Answer 20

the capacity of a system to resist, recover or adapt effectively to disturbance.

Question 21

steady-state equilibrium

Answer 21

a stable condition in an ecosystem or system where input and output are balanced, and the system remains unchanged over time.

Question 22

dynamic equilibrium

Answer 22

a state of balance in a system where opposing processes occur at the same rate, maintaining stability despite continuous changes.

Question 23

model

Answer 23

simplified description designed to show the structure or workings of an object, system or concept.

Question 24

sustainability

Answer 24

the use of resources at a rate that allows natural regeneration and minimizes damage to the environment.

Question 25

what are key sustainability indicators?

Answer 25

1. carbon footprint: measures greenhouse gas emissions.
2. biodiversity levels: indicates ecosystem health.
3. water footprint: tracks water usage in production and consumption.

Question 26

donut economy

Answer 26

integrates both environmental and societal considerations.

Question 27

circular economy

Answer 27

an economic model aimed at eliminating waste and continually using resources through reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Question 28

ecological footprint

Answer 28

how much land and water area is needed to support a population.

Question 29

pollution management strategies

Answer 29

1. prevention: reducing the release of pollutants (e.g., using renewable energy).
2. mitigation: dealing with pollution after it occurs (e.g., oil spill clean-up).
3. restoration: repairing damaged ecosystems (e.g., reforestation).