unit 3 - global resources consumption and security

Question 1

biocapacity

Answer 1

capacity of land and water to provide resources for humanity

Question 2

circular economy

Answer 2

• economy that is regenerative (long-term)
• e.g.: electrical devices are designed in such a way that they are easier to repair

Question 3

ecological footprint

Answer 3

model that is used to estimate the demands that a human population places on the environment (biocapacity/demand)

Question 4

virtual water

Answer 4

water used in the production of goods and services we use

Question 5

energy security

Answer 5

the availability of energy sources at an affordable price

Question 6

carrying capacity

Answer 6

the number of people a place can support

Question 7

nexus

Answer 7

perspective of sustainability and the inter-relationship between food, water, energy

Question 8

optimistic views / Anti-Malthusian

Answer 8

• esther boserup
• threat of starvation motivates agricultural innovation (green revolution)
• supports idea that ‘necessity is the mother invention’

Question 9

pessimistic views / Neo-Malthusian

Answer 9

• thomas malthus - “cycle of misery”
• pop. growth is exponential where increase in food is arithmetic
• focuses on problems that will ensue as pop. growth exceeds carrying capacity
• had checks proposed for when pop. growth exceeded food supply (sexual abstinence, delayed marriage)

Question 10

physical water scarcity

Answer 10

water resource development exceeded sustainable levels

Question 11

renewable energy

Answer 11

wind, solar and hydro power sources which result from a flow of energy from the sun, wind or water

Question 12

resource stewardship / balanced views

Answer 12

• “humans = ‘caretakers’ of the natural world.”
• suggested as strategies for sustainably managing natural resources
• conservation + preservation of resources

Question 13

sustainability

Answer 13

meeting needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 14

sustainable development goals

Answer 14

adopted by UN in 2015

universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030

Question 15

water withdrawal

Answer 15

freshwater taken from ground water sources, either permanently or temporarily

Question 16

resource security

Answer 16

availability of natural resources for all people

Question 17

carbon footprint

Answer 17

measure of the impact your activities have on the amount of (CO2) produced through the burning of fossil fuels

Question 18

food security

Answer 18

when all people have access to sufficient food meeting dietry need for active healthy life

causes
- poor distribution
- agriculture (poor soil)

Question 19

Rs

Answer 19

reduce
reuse
recycle
refurbish
repair
recover

Question 20

waste - sweden

Answer 20

• recycles 47% + incinerates 52%
• import 800,000 tons of rubbish from UK

Question 21

resource security - switzerland

Answer 21

• water (abundant): lots of rainfall, very clean, accessible
• large agricultural lands
• rich
• hyropower: renewable

Question 22

new global middle class

Answer 22

households with daily expendatures between 10-100$ per person

Question 23

e-waste

Answer 23

• abandoned electric material
• dismantled to extract valuable metals
• health hazards (toxins into environment –> toxic waste dump in agbogbloshie, ghana)