ENVS 101 - Module 1.1 VOCAB

Environmental literacy and sustainability

Environment

the biological and physical surroundings in which any given living organism exists

Environmental science

an interdisciplinary field of research that draws on the natural and social sciences and the humanities in order to understand the natural world and our relationship with it

Applied science

research whose findings are used to help solve practical problems

Empirical science

a scientific approach that investigates the natural world through systematic observation and experimentation

Environmental literacy

a basic understanding of how ecosystems function and of the impact of our choices on the environment

Sustainable development

development that meets present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same

Anthropocene

the newly proposed geologic epoch that is marked by modern human impact

Anthropogenic

environmental change caused or influenced by people, either directly or indirectly

Sustainable

capable of being continued indefinitely

Renewable energy

energy that comes from an infinitely available or easily replenished source

Ecosystem services

essential ecological processes that make life on Earth possible

Biodiversity

the variety of life on Earth

Nonrenewable resources

a resource that is formed more slowly than it is used or that is present in a finite supply

Social traps

decisions by individuals or groups that seem good at the time and produce a short-term benefit but that hurt society in the long run

Tragedy of the commons

the tendency of an individual to abuse commonly held resources in order to maximize his or her own personal interest

Worldview

the windows through which we view our world and existence; they are influenced by cultural, religious, and personal experiences, and they vary across countries and geographic regions

Environmental ethic

the personal philosophy that influences how a person interacts with their natural environment and this affects how one responds to environmental problems

Anthropocentric worldview

a human-centered view that assigns intrinsic value only to humans

Biocentric worldview

a life-centered approach that views all life as having intrinsic value, regardless of its usefulness to humans

Ecocentric worldview

a system-centered view that values intact ecosystems, not just the individual parts