Unit 9: Topic 3 - Technological Advancements: Debates about the Environment after 1900 Flashcards
deforestation
The clearing of forested land, usually in order to make space for agricultural expansion, wood harvest, and infrastructure expansion. Too much of this activity can lead to loss of biodiversity, damage to natural habitats, disturbances in the water cycle, and soil erosion.
greenhouse gases
Gases that trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere and are primarily responsible for the greenhouse effect. The most significant greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. These gases allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere, but they prevent some of the heat that is reflected back from the Earth’s surface from escaping into space. This results in a warming of the Earth’s atmosphere, which is known as the greenhouse effect. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes have significantly increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, leading to climate change and global warming.
desertification
A process of land degradation in drylands, where the loss of productive land leads to a decline in the quality of life for people and wildlife. It occurs when drylands, which include arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas, become increasingly barren and unable to support their ecosystems or human populations. This process is primarily caused by human activities such as overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable land use practices, as well as natural factors such as drought and climate change.
air pollution
The presence of harmful substances in the air that we breathe, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds, among others. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources, including factories, transportation (such as cars and trucks), power plants, and agricultural activities.
water pollution
The presence of harmful substances or contaminants in water bodies, including oceans, lakes, rivers, and groundwater. These pollutants can come from a variety of sources, including industrial waste, agricultural runoff, sewage and wastewater, and oil spills. Water pollution can have significant impacts on both human health and the environment. Contaminated water can cause illness or disease if consumed or used for bathing and cooking. It can also harm aquatic life and wildlife, reducing biodiversity and altering the balance of ecosystems.
marine plastics
The general term to describe the plastic waste that has entered the world’s oceans, eas, and other marine environments. This can include a wide range of plastic items, such as single-use plastic bags, food packaging, bottles, fishing gear, and other types of plastic waste. Marine plastics pose a serious threat to the health of the ocean and its inhabitants, as they can harm and kill marine life, such as fish, birds, and marine mammals, by entangling them or causing them to ingest the plastic. Marine plastics also have long-lasting impacts on the ocean and the environment. Plastic debris in the ocean can take hundreds of years to degrade, and the breakdown of plastic into smaller particles can make it more difficult to remove and even more harmful to marine life.
Great Pacific Garbage Patch
A name for the collective debris (mostly plastic) in the Pacific Ocean. There is a series of currents in the Pacific in the form of a vortex which causes debris to accumulate, resulting in big spaces with a high density of trash. These places are commonly called “patches.”
single-use plastics
An item made of plastic that is used once, or for a very short time, before being thrown away. They are extremely detrimental to our environment.
sea level rise
A phenomenon caused by climate change, where the sea level is steadily increasing.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
An intergovernmental body of the United Nations. Its job is to advance scientific knowledge about climate change caused by human activities.
Kyoto Protocol
The first major international agreement to reduce carbon emissions, signed in 1997. Developed nations in Western Europe among some others stated that developing countries such as China, India, Russia, and Brazil needed to curb their rapidly increasing carbon output.
Paris Agreement
A deal signed in 2015 by 195 countries to work against global warming. Leaders of both the United States and China supported this new deal. However, in 2017 President Donald Trump stated the United States would withdraw from the deal.
Green Party
A political party that emphasizes environmentalism, social justice, and non-violence. The party was established in the early 1980s and has since grown to become a global movement, with Green Parties existing in many countries around the world. The main goals of the Green Party include promoting sustainable development, reducing inequality, and ensuring a healthy environment for future generations. Green Party platforms typically call for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protecting biodiversity, and moving away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources.
Green Belt Movement
A Kenyan environmental and social justice organization founded in 1977 by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Maathai. The organization works to promote conservation, community development, and women’s empowerment by planting and caring for trees, as well as advocating for good governance and social justice. The Green Belt Movement has planted over 50 million trees in Kenya, helping to restore degraded land, prevent soil erosion, and provide food, fuel, and income for local communities. It also works to educate communities about the importance of conservation and sustainable development, and to empower women by giving them a leadership role in environmental initiatives.
fossil fuels
Materials extracted from the Earth’s crust used for energy. Includes coal, oil, petroleum, and natural gas. They are formed from the remains of dead plants and animals.
