Unit 9.3 - Technology and the Environment Flashcards
Major environmental problems (4) caused by agriculture and the growing economy
Deforestation (cutting down trees), desertification (natural vegetation removed by soil erosion and agriculture), the decrease in air quality (because of pollution), and the increased consumption of freshwater
How population growth caused a strain on the environment
More people meant an increased demand in food and the more the land was used for agriculture, the more deforestation and desertification there was. In addition, water sources are overfished and depleted.
How urbanization caused a strain on the environment
As more people moved to an increasing number of cities, farmers have to cut down more trees to make room for more farming and cities produce a lot of waste
How globalization/industrialism caused a strain on the environment
Industrialization in developing countries is creating new middle classes which lead to the demand for more manufactured goods like cars however their production causes pollution and requires more natural resources.
Example of resource deprivation affecting the environment
Industrialization has depleted the Earth of half of its reserves of petroleum and the other half is predicted to be used up in the next 30-40 years. After that, if coal has to make up for the loss of petroleum, it all will be used up in 60 years.
Example of inequality/scarcity affecting the environment
The world has an unequal supply and distribution of fresh water, the number of people who do not have access to it continues to grow
Example of greenhouse gases and the environment affecting the environment
Greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere allows the Sun’s heat to come to Earth but then do not let it leave and the Earth’s natural repellants such as trees are being decreased
Example of increasing environmental awareness affecting the environment
Green Parties and the Green Belt Movement are examples of how activists are spreading awareness and the call for change to help our environment
Important Responsibility of women and children in developing countries and how it negatively affects them
They are tasked with retrieving freshwater and the time spent doing so is time spent not working a job for money or going to school to get education
What contributed to the debates of nature and causes of climate change?
The release of greenhouse gases and pollutants
Kyoto Protocol and how it was similar/different (3) to the Paris Climate Agreement
Similarities between these two movements were that they were both aimed to fight global warming, major powers like the U.S. and China were involved, and in both cases, the U.S. withdrew. Differences were that in the Kyoto Protocol, the U.S. blamed developing countries like China and India for their increasing output of carbon dioxide and they needed to stop while in the Paris Agreement, the U.S. and China were on the same side.
Anthropocene Age
A time period where humans have greater power over their environment than it does on them
Evidence (2) that we live in an Anthropocene Age
By depriving the Earth of its natural resources like petroleum, we show the Earth how we can bypass its previous limitations such as large bodies of water separating us from other groups of people and the manufacturing of technologies like weaponry, vehicles, and phones. In addition, by means of deforestation as an example, we exert our power over the Earth and build cities over the habitats of animals and vegetation.
