Environmental Science Ch. 1

Biocentric Preservation

A philosophy that emphasizes the fundamental right of living organisms to exist and pursue their own goods

Ecological Footprint

measure that quantifies the demands we place on nature, individually or collectively

Ecosystem Services

Resources provided by nature (food, water, energy, etc) that life depends on

Environment

The circumstances or conditions that surroung an organism or group of organisms, as well as the complex social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

Environmental Justice

A recognition that access to a clean, healthy environment is a fundamental right of all human beings

Environmental Racism

Decisions that restrict certain people or groups of people to polluted or degraded environments on the basis of race

Environmental Science

The systematic, scientific study of our environment, as well as our role in it

Ethics

A branch of philosophy concerned with right and wrong

Global Environmentalism

A concern for, and action to help solve, global environmental problems

Inherent Value

Ethical values or rights that exists as an intrinsic or essential characteristic of a particular thing or class of things simply by the fact of their existence

Instrumental Value

The value or worth of objects that satisfy the needs and wants of moral agents. Objects that can be used as a means to some desireable end

LULUs

Locally Unwanted Land Uses. Ex: toxic waste dumps, incinerators, smelters, airports, freeways, and other sources from the environment, economic, or social degradation

Managing the Commons

Systems for managing common resources

Millennium Development Goals

Goals established in 2000 by the US aiming to end poverty and hunger. universal education, gender equity, child health, maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and global cooperation in development efforts

Modern Environmentalism

Environmental issues that includes concern for environmental resources and pollution

Moral Extensionism

Expansion of our understanding of the inherent values or rights to persons, organisms, or things that might not be considered worthy of value or rights under some ethical philosophies

Moral Value

The value or worth of something based on moral principles

Quality-Of-Life Indicators

Factors, such as infant mortality, life expectancy, income, sanitation, and education that indicate the quality of life in a country

Stweardship

A philosophy that holds that humans have a unique responsibility to manage, care for, and improve nature

Sustainable Development

Improving well-being and the standard of life over the long-term; that is, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Sustainable Development Goals

Set of 17 goals adopted by the UN in 2015, they aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Each goal has specific targets to be achieved by 2030

Throughput

The flow of energy and matter into, through, and out of a system

Tragedy of the Commons

An inexorable process of degradation of communal resources due to the selfishness of “free riders” who use or destroy more than their fair share of common property

Toxic Colonialism

Shipping toxic wastes to a weaker or poorer nation

Utilitarian Conservation

A philosophy that resources should be used for the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time