ESS HL Lenses

laws

rules that govern human behavior and are enforced by social or governmental authority

environmental law

rules about how human beings use and impact natural resources

aim of environmental laws

pollution free environment, equitable access, fair treatment, regardless of race, gender, etc.

environmental constitutionalism

introduction of environmental rights and obligations into the constitution

montreal protocol

adopted in 1987, protects ozone layer by phasing out ozone depleting substances

kyoto protocol

adopted in 1997, committed industrialized countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions

paris agreement

adopted in 2015, treaty to limit global warming to below 1.5 C compared to pre-industrial levels

personhood

entities which are recognized as having legal rights and responsibilities

benefits of personhood

stronger environmental protection, alignment with indigenous knowledge systems, ecocentric, rights-based ethics

economics

how humans produce, distribute, consume goods & services, both individually and collectively

opportunity cost

second best alternative missed out by choosing another option

microeconomics

decisions of households/firms in an industry

decisions

how stakeholders affect/influence one another

allocating systems

distribution and use of resources

macroeconomics

country-wide economic sector

commons

publicly available resources

aim of environmental economics

integrate ecological and environmental principles to efficiently allocate resources

polluter-pays principle

those who produce pollution should bear the managing costs

doughnut economics model

regenerative and distributive economy that meets needs of entire population

sustainable development

development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the future’s ability to meet their needs

market failure

allocation of goods and services by free market imposes negative impact on environment

externalities

inadvertent consequences of economic activities that affect those outside the activity

valuation

attempting to attach economic value to natural resources and depletion

cost-benefit analysis

weighing the benefits arising from a policy against perceived costs

greenwashing

using marketing to create an environmentally friendly image

carbon offsetting

reduction in GHGs or increase in carbon storage to compensate for effect

ostrom principles

resources are best managed at a local level

list the ostrom principles

clearly defined and monitored commons, rules fit local circumstances, users are involved in decision making, sanctions for those who abuse commons, easily accessible conflict resolution, right to organize, nest in larger networks

environmental accounting

attempt to attach value to natural resources and their depletion; value can be established by use

ecological economics

views economy as a subsystem of earth’s larger biosphere and social system as a subcomponent of ecology

difference between ecological and environmental economics

emphasis on valuation of ecosystem services, sustainable development is core, holistic, minimize environmental and social impacts

economics growth

change in total market value of goods and services in country over a period

gross domestic product

monetary measure of all goods and services produced by a country

eco-economic decoupling

separating economic growth from environmental degradation