SSCI 165Lgw Final Study Guide Weeks 9-15

Flashcards for SSCI 165Lgw Final Study Guide covering Weeks 9-15.

Mitigation

Directly reducing emissions, such as using EVs or renewable energy.

Adaptation

Preparing cities for the effects of climate change, like heat plans or seawalls.

Earth Systems Engineering (ESEM)

Tech-based interventions to combat climate change, like carbon capture or aerosols.

Radiative Forcing

A measure of how much energy the Earth absorbs versus radiates back to space due to greenhouse gases.

Global Warming Potential (GWP)

Helps compare the heat-trapping ability of different gases relative to CO2.

Urban Heat Island (UHI)

Urban areas being hotter than surrounding areas due to materials and lack of greenery.

Carbon Accounting

Inventories tracking citywide versus municipal-level emissions.

IPAT Model

I = P × A × T: A framework for modeling emissions based on human behavior (Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology).

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)

Capturing CO2 at its source to prevent it from entering the atmosphere.

Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR)

Removing CO2 directly from the atmosphere.

Geoengineering

Large-scale interventions in the Earth’s climate system to counteract climate change (e.g., sulfate aerosols, solar reflectors).

VMT (Vehicle Miles Traveled)

A measure of the total distance traveled by vehicles in a specific area and a key target for reduction in transportation mitigation strategies.

Urban Sprawl

Low-density development, car reliance, and single-use zoning that contributes to environmental and social issues.

Auto-mobility

Car-centered design and planning that prioritizes automobile use.

True Mobility

Multi-modal transportation systems providing equitable access to destinations.

Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

Compact, walkable, transit-linked neighborhoods.

Procedural Environmental Justice

Ensuring inclusion and fair process in environmental decision-making.

Distributive Environmental Justice

Fair distribution of environmental impacts and benefits across all communities.

Institutional Racism

Structural disadvantage via policy and systemic practices.

Equality

Providing the same resources or opportunities to all individuals, regardless of need.

Equity

Fairness based on different needs and contexts, ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed.

Riskscape

The combination of exposure, vulnerability, and susceptibility to environmental risks.

Citizen Science

Data collection performed by non-professional scientists, such as grassroots community members.

MAUP (Modifiable Areal Unit Problem)

The problem that boundaries used in spatial analysis can affect the outcomes.

Dasymetric Mapping

A method that improves the resolution of spatial data by using land use data to refine population distribution.

New Regionalism

Emphasizes metro-scale planning for sustainability and equity.

Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)

A geographic region defined by commuting patterns, often crossing jurisdictional boundaries.

Regional Governance

Collaborative efforts across fragmented local governments to address shared challenges and opportunities.

Epistemic Communities

Informal networks of experts coordinating policy across different areas/sectors.

Industrial Ecology (IE)

Seeks circular, sustainable production systems.

Circular Economy

An economic system that minimizes waste by emphasizing reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing.

Embodied Energy

The total energy required to produce a product or service.

Embedded Energy

Retrievable energy from waste.

Urban Metabolism

Tracks the flow of materials, energy, and waste within a city viewed as a living system.

Hard Infrastructure

Physical infrastructure like roads and pipes.

Soft Infrastructure

Non-physical systems like policies and organizations that support urban functions.

Regional Innovation Systems (RIS)

Clusters of firms and knowledge that are geographically concentrated and contribute to innovation.

Sustainability Indicators

Tools used to track progress in complex systems toward sustainability goals.

Geodesign

Spatial and stakeholder tools for sustainable urban design.

Sustainable Citizenship

Adding responsibility across time, place, and species to the concept of citizenship.

Sustainable Livelihoods

Ensuring all people have their basic needs met for sustainability to be truly realized.