Class 13 - Operations Management and the Natural Environment

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards for GMGT 1010 focused on operations management and its impact on the natural environment.

Operations Management

The administration of business practices to create the highest level of efficiency possible within an organization.

Externalities

Costs or benefits that affect a party who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit.

Climate Change

A significant and lasting change in the Earth's climate, primarily caused by human activities.

Pollution

The introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem.

Tragedy of the Commons

A situation in which individuals acting in their own self-interest deplete shared resources, leading to long-term negative consequences.

Sustainability

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Sustainable Development

Development that ensures resource use today does not harm future generations.

Carbon Capture

The process of trapping carbon dioxide emissions at their source and storing them.

Reforestation

The process of replanting an area with trees after it has been depleted or deforested.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere and contribute to climate change.

Carbon Pricing

An approach to reducing global warming emissions by putting a price on carbon.

Cap-and-Trade

A system that allows companies to buy and sell allowances for emissions, with a limit on total emissions.

Negative Externality

A cost that affects a third party who did not choose to incur that cost.

Positive Externality

A benefit that affects a third party who did not choose to incur that benefit.

Animal Rights

The idea that non-human animals have rights similar to human rights.

Animal Welfare

The well-being of animals, ensuring they live healthy lives.

Environmental NGOs

Non-governmental organizations that focus on environmental protection and conservation.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

Corporate efforts to improve society while enhancing their brand reputation.

Air Pollution

The presence of harmful substances in the air we breathe.

Water Pollution

Contamination of water bodies, typically as a result of human activities.

Food-related Greenhouse Gases

Gases emitted during the production and distribution of food.

Technological Innovations

New technologies that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of processes.

Clean Energy

Energy that is produced with minimal impact on the environment.

Emission Trading

A market-based approach to controlling pollution by providing economic incentives for reducing emissions.

ISO 14000

A set of standards relating to environmental management that exists to help organizations minimize their environmental impact.

Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)

An international non-profit organization that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

Business Case for Environmental Management

The rationale for investing in environmental management based on potential economic benefits.

Water Scarcity

The lack of sufficient available water resources to meet water needs.

Climate Refugees

People who are forced to leave their homes due to the impacts of climate change.

Corporate Accountability

The responsibility of corporations to report on their performance in social and environmental impacts.

Environmental Legislation

Laws designed to protect the environment from harm.

Pollution Prevention

Strategies aimed at reducing waste and pollution at the source.

Biodiversity Conservation

Efforts to protect and sustain the diversity of life on Earth.

Air Quality Standards

Regulations that set acceptable levels of air pollutants.

Greenwashing

Disinformation disseminated by an organization to present an environmentally responsible public image.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that maintain the health of the environment while providing food.

Renewable Energy

Energy from sources that are naturally replenished, such as solar, wind, and hydro.

Waste Management

The collection, transportation, and disposal of waste materials.

Ecosystem Services

The benefits humans receive from ecosystems, including clean air, water, and pollination.

Carbon Footprint

The total greenhouse gas emissions caused by an individual, event, organization, or product.

Fossil Fuels

Natural fuels formed from the remains of living organisms, including coal, oil, and natural gas.

Green Building

Designing and constructing buildings that minimize environmental impact.

Pollutants

Substances that cause pollution, particularly in air, water, and soil.

Climate Mitigation

Actions taken to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Adaptation Strategies

Methods to adjust to environmental changes and minimize their impacts.

Carbon Neutrality

Achieving a balance between emitting carbon and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

Species Extinction

The end of an organism or a group of organisms, typically due to habitat loss or environmental changes.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

A procedure to evaluate the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project.

Wildlife Conservation

Protecting wildlife and their habitats in order to preserve biodiversity.

Circular Economy

An economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources.

Ecosystem Restoration

The process of assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded.

Carbon Trading

A market-based system that allows companies to buy and sell carbon credits.

Sustainable Transportation

Methods of transport that have lesser environmental impacts.

Environmental Stewardship

Responsibility for environmental quality shared by all parts of society.

Global Warming

The long-term increase in Earth's average surface temperature due to human activities.

Zero Waste

A philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused.

Wildlife Trafficking

Illegal trade of wildlife and wildlife products.

Industrial Agriculture

Large-scale farming practices that often rely on monocultures and synthetic fertilizers.

Food Security

The state of having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food.

Deforestation

The clearing of trees and forests to make way for agriculture or urban development.

Climate Action

Steps taken to address and combat climate change.

Biosphere

The global sum of all ecosystems, where life exists.

Natural Resources

Materials or substances that occur in nature and can be used for economic gain.

Marine Conservation

The protection of marine ecosystems and resources.

Ethical Consumerism

Purchasing products that are made ethically and sustainably.

Carbon Offset

A reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions produced elsewhere.

Policy Advocacy

The act of arguing in favor of a particular policy.

Green Economy

An economy that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment.

Sustainable Innovation

New ideas or technologies that address societal needs while promoting sustainability.

Renewable Resource

A resource that can be replenished naturally over time.

Hydroponics

A method of growing plants without soil using mineral nutrient solutions.

Ecotourism

Responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the well-being of local people.

Carbon Life Cycle

The series of processes that carbon undergoes in various forms from production to disposal.

Land Use Planning

A process by which land is evaluated to decide its best use.

Soil Degradation

The decline in soil quality and productivity.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

An environmentally sensitive approach to pest management.

E-waste

Discarded electrical or electronic devices that can be recycled.

Urban Heat Island Effect

Urban areas that become significantly warmer than their rural surroundings.

Environmental Justice

The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people in environmental issues.

Green Infrastructure

A network providing the “ingredients” for solving urban and hydrological challenges by building with nature.

Natural Capital

The world's stocks of natural assets which include geology, soil, air, water, and all living things.

Carbon Leakage

The situation where regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions drive businesses to relocate to countries with laxer regulations.

Resource Efficiency

Using the Earth's limited resources in a sustainable manner while minimizing impacts on the environment.

Sustainable Fisheries

Fishing practices that maintain fish populations and ecosystems.

Ecological Footprint

A measure of human demand on the Earth’s ecosystems.

Air Quality Index (AQI)

A measure used to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become.

Phytoremediation

The use of plants to remove, transfer, stabilize, and destroy contaminants in soil and water.

Organic Agriculture

Farming that does not use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides but relies on natural processes.

Agroforestry

Land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland.

Biodynamic Farming

An organic farming method that emphasizes the health of the soil and ecosystem and the use of compost and natural fertilizers.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA)

A system that connects producers and consumers directly.

Sustainable Forestry

Forest management practices that maintain the biodiversity, productivity, and ecological processes of the forest.

Environmental Risk Assessment

The qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the risk posed by an environmental hazard.

Carbon Sequestration

The process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

A universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity by 2030.

Landfill Diversion

Reducing the amount of waste sent to landfills by recycling, composting, or repurposing.

Public Transport Infrastructure

Facilities and systems that support public transportation.

Urban Sustainable Development

Development aimed at creating an urban environment that is economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable.

Environmental Sustainability

The ability to maintain the qualities that are valued in the physical environment.