APES Chapter 22-24

sciencerush

urban areas

towns or cities with suburbs, population more than 2500

rural area

population less than 2500

a country’s degree of urbanization

the percentage of its population living in an urban area; measured by the ratio of urban to total population

megacities

cities that have more than 10mil people; increasing around the world

hypercities

more than 20mil people; e.g. tokyo, japan

ecocity

a sustainable city designed to minimize ecological impact, integrating green spaces and efficient resource use; e.g. curitiba, brazil

natural increase

the growth of a population resulting from the excess of births over deaths

immigration

the movement of people into a country or region, contributing to population growth; usually rural to urban

why do people migrate to urban areas?

better job opportunities, access to education, improved healthcare, and enhanced living standards

why do people migrate away from rural areas?

poverty, lack of land, declining agricultural work, famine, war

environmental benefits of urbanisation

preservation of biodiversity, increased economic feasibility of recycling, and resource efficiency, reduced per capita energy consumption

city climate

warmer, rainier, foggier, cloudier than suburbs/rural areas

impervious surfaces

surfaces from urban development that lead to increased runoff and reduced groundwater recharge; increased risk of flooding

urban heat island

a phenomenon where urban areas experience higher temperatures than their rural surroundings due to human activities and infrastructure (e.g. cars, factories, furnaces); traps pollutants creating a dust dome

what is the most widespread occupational hazard in the US?

noise pollution, apparently?

alternative: exposure to hazardous materials

urban sprawl

when urban development slowly spreads into nearby rural areas; low population density, increased dependence of automobiles (highway network, cheap gas), plentiful land; threatens nearby ecosystems and natural habitats

heavy rail

operates on tunnels or elevated tracks; good for travelling between cities

suburban/regional trains

connect the central city with surrounding areas

light rail/trams

modern versions of streetcars; good for travelling short distances within a city

land-use planning often encourages what kind of growth?

economic & population growth; 90% of govt revenue comes from property taxes

earth capital

aka natural resources, natural capital, ecological capital

manufactured capital

goods made from the earth

human capital

people’s physical/mental talents, commodified (used for profit)

pure command economic system

centrally planned economy; all decisions are made by the govt (aka communism)

pure market economy

all decisions are made by the iNviSiBLe hAnD of the market (buyer/seller interactions; aka pure capitalism

gdp

gross domestic product; measures economic growth

ecological sustainable development

results in humans being below the carrying capacity of existing natural capital

internal costs

direct costs incurred by seller and buyer

external costs

harmful social effects of producing and using an economic good that is not included in market price (cost to the buyer)

full-cost pricing

includes internal and short- or long-term external costs

statutory laws

developed and passed by legislative bodies

administrative laws

rules/regulations related to the implementation and interpretation of statutory laws

common law

a body of unwritten rules & principles derived from past legislative decisions; legislative understandings almost purely based on precedent

green peace

funnels funds to local activists and projects

environmental defence fund

focuses on legal actions regarding environmental issues

organisations that focus on specific economic/environmental issues

zero population growth, nature conservancy, world wildlife fund

worldwatch institute

focuses on education and research

republican party

encourages market-based solutions; tries to get the economy and the market to stabilise itself

democratic party

more green technology, reducing climate change, more green jobs

libertarian party

campaigns for the private ownership of land and animals

green party

…well, green; campaigns for sustainability

conservation easement

legal agreement between a landowner and an organization (i.e. the govt) that limits the use of a property to protect its conservation value; aka conservation agreement