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APES unit 1 vocab

Terms in this set (45)

Enviroment
The natural world, as a whole or part of a geographical area (especially as affected by human activity)
Environmental science
The study of the interaction of human systems and natural systems
Ecosystem
A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
Ecosystem services
The process by which life-supporting resources are provided
Ecosystem indicators
Something that shows the overall health of an environmental system
-Biodiversity
-Food production
-Average global surface temp/CO2 concentrations (climate change)
-Human population
-Resource depletion
Biodiversity
Diversity of the different forms of life (micro level, species diversity, ecosystem diversity)
Genetic diversity
Diversity at the micro, DNA/genetic level
Species
A group of organisms that is distinct from other groups in its morphology/behavior
Species diversity
Number of different species in a given area
Speciation
Evolution of a new species
Background extinction rate
The average rate at which species become extinct over the long term
Greenhouse gases
Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat near the surface
Anthropogenic
caused by humans
Development
improvement in human well-being through economic and industrial advancement
Sustainibility
The concept of using Earth's resources in such a way that they provide for people's needs in the present without diminishing Earth's ability to provide for future generations.
Sustainable development
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Biophilia
an appreciation for life
Ecological footprint
the impact of a person or community on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.
Biocapacity
the amount of biologically productive land and sea available to us
Accuracy**
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Precision**
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Uncertainty**
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Control group
the group that does not receive the experimental treatment.
Extranalities
Costs that are not calculated into the upfront price of an item (ex. Labor, environmental damage, poverty)
Gross domestic product
Value of products/services produced in a year per nation
Includes Consumer spending, Investment, Gov spending, Exports—Imports
Genuine progress indicator
Inclusive way to measure progress in economic terms
Includes Personal consumption, Income distribution, Health, Resource depletion
Kuznets curve
As a country develops, environment worsens for a while, then improves as it gets wealthier
Market failure
a situation in which the market does not distribute resources efficiently
Valuation**
...
Sustainable economic systems (inputs/outputs)**
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Stewardship
The careful and responsible management of Earth and its resources.
Tragedy of the commons
the tendency of a shared, limited resource to become depleted because people act from self-interest for short-term gain
UN
United Nations
UNEP
Environmental arm of UN
World Bank
Financial assistance to developing countries (global)
World Health Organization
UN branch for human health
UNDP
United Nations Development Program ; reduce poverty, increase health (global)
EPA
Environmental Protection Agency (national)
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (national)
DOE
Department of Energy (national)
CDC
Center for Disease Control (national)
Measures of sustainability and development
HDI (Human Development Index): measures Life expectancy, Education, Standard of living
HPI (Human Poverty Index): measures average Longevity, adult Illiteracy, % of people without clean water and health services
Command and control approach
Government sets regulation, consequence if not followed
Green tax
tax environmentally harmful activities
Triple bottom line
To be sustainable we need to consider the people, the planet and a profit.
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