ENVIRON Exam #2

Population pyramid

Graph that breaks down a country's population into age and sex. Provides an idea of what population growth/decline will look like in the future, and displays irregularities in the population (ex. Gender imbalance in a particular age group)

Assisted migration

When animals are relocated by humans to a more hospitable habitat because their previous one has become unlivable due to climate change

Geoengineering

The use of technology to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as the construction of bigger wind turbines and green concrete

Bioengineering

The process of changing the genetic makeup of organisms to make them more resilient to climate change (ex. American chestnut)

Leapfrogging

The ability for less developed nations to skip over less efficient and more carbon using technology and move straight to cleaner energy sources as they develop

Climate havens

Cities that are predicted to face less impact from climate change and be a more hospitable place for people to move to; however, the term is misleading because there is no way to truly escape the effects of climate change

Climate alarmism/catastrophism

Exaggerating the severity or immediacy of climate change, often by presenting overly dramatic or apocalyptic scenarios, sometimes with the intention to promote specific policy actions

Climate denialism

The belief or theory that climate change caused by human activity is not occurring

Outright denialism

Not happening, conspiracy, data manipulation

Real, but

Natural, irrelevant, positive, manageable, unavoidable

Climate migration

The movement of people, either temporarily or permanently, from their homes due to environmental changes caused by climate change

Stepwise migration

A process of human spatial behavior in which individuals or families embark on a migration path of acculturation which gradually takes them, by way of intermediate steps, from a traditional-rural environment to the modern-urban environment

Climate abandonment

The phenomenon where people are forced to leave their homes and communities due to the increasing risks of climate change, particularly flooding, leading to population decline in certain areas known as 'climate abandonment areas'

Climate resilience

The ability to prepare for, respond to, and anticipate climate-related events, trends, or disturbances. The goal of climate resilience is to help communities and businesses withstand changing conditions in the short and long term

Atman/An-atman

In Buddhism, the essence of the true self (soul) vs the non-self, which is nonpermanent and constantly changing, emphasizing the concept that clinging to the idea of a permanent self leads to suffering.

Forensic religion

Religions that deal with guilt and moral status (typically Abrahamic religions)

Consciousness religion

Religions that deal with the mind (typically Eastern)

4 noble truths

Suffering is the basic ill; Suffering arises from self-centering desire; Desire can be extinguished; To extinguish desire, follow the path

Impermanence

Nothing is eternal, but everything is transitory and changing

Interconnection

Belief in Buddhism that everything is connected, nothing exists in isolation

Nirvana

Extinction of desire and the end of samsara (compared to moksha=release in Hinduism)

Samsara

Although there is no 'soul' which re-enters or resumes this cycle, the desires and attachments of a life generate desires and attachments of another; the cycle of life, death, and re-birth

Arhat/bodhisattva

The ideal (the 'saint') within Buddhism is either the arhat (in Theravada Buddhism one who attains Buddhahood) or the bodhisattva (in Mahayana Buddhism the one who helps others attain Buddhahood)

Green concrete

'CarbiCrete' made from leftover slag that comes from steel production, which can be made into bricks or tiles

Allegiance to Gratitude

Kimmerer asserts that Indigenous and American worldviews manifest different commitments during their ritual expressions (Thanksgiving Address vs the Pledge of Allegiance); Indigenous see gratitude as the essential virtue while Americans see loyalty as the essential virtue

Narratives

Human stories that drive action; many argue that the narratives around climate change should not be alarmist, rather they should focus on the positive changes that are happening (win-win scenarios)

Theravada Buddhism

Oldest school of Buddhism, involves a personal journey to Nirvana

Mahayana Buddhism

Newer branch of Buddhism, emphasizes that one should help others in their journey to Nirvana because there is no real self

Zen Buddhism

Buddhism that emphasizes meditation as the greatest means to achieving Nirvana

Engaged Buddhism

Social movement that uses Buddhist teachings to advocate for social and environmental issues

Thich Nhat Hanh

Buddhist monk that has had a major impact on the engaged Buddhism movement, known for his teachings on mindfulness and peace

Electrification

Replacing technologies or processes that use fossil fuels, like internal combustion engines and gas boilers, with electrically-powered equivalents, such as electric vehicles or heat pumps

Traditional grid

Transfers power from plants to consumers (unidirectional)

Super grid

Multinational smart grid, distributes power more evenly across the continent

Smart grid

2 way flow of energy and communication; consumers can produce energy (solar panels) and plants can consume the excess energy

Words That Come Before All Else

A Haudenosaunee speech that gives thanks to the natural world; it is very long, giving the listener ample opportunity to reflect on the gifts we receive from Earth; serves as a shaping and unifying experience for a group

Three Sisters

Corns, beans, and squash

Despair

Feeling that Kolbert calls a 'sin', since it selfishly allows the person experiencing this to sit and do nothing