Environmental Science and Sustainability Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts of environmental science, sustainability models, economics, ecological diversity, and resource management based on lecture notes.

Environmental Science

The multidisciplinary study of the human environment, incorporating academic fields such as economics and environmental engineering.

Environmentalism

A political movement dedicated to reducing or reversing harm to the environment.

Conservation

A subset of environmentalism dedicated specifically to protecting lands from development.

Law of Supply and Demand

An economic theory stating that resources never truly run out; rather, as they become scarcer, their price increases.

IPAT Equation

An equation formulated by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren defined as Impact = Population $\times$ Affluence $\times$ Technology ($I = P \times A \times T$) to measure environmental footprint.

Paul Ehrlich

Author of 'The Population Bomb' who described an inevitable population-driven slide into Malthusian destruction.

Impact ($I$)

In the IPAT equation, the total environmental damage or footprint, such as greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, or habitat destruction.

Affluence ($A$)

In the IPAT equation, the level of consumption or wealth per person, where wealthier populations generally consume more goods and services.

Technology ($T$)

In the IPAT equation, the processes and technologies used to produce consumed goods, which can either increase environmental impact or mitigate it.

Sustainability

The primary goal of environmental science, which acknowledges that all activities have environmental costs and seeks to limit costs while maximizing benefits.

Pillars of Sustainability Model

A framework showing Sustainability at the central intersection of Social, Environment, and Economic factors, producing Bearable, Equitable, and Viable sub-relations.

Tragedy of the Commons

An economic phenomenon occurring when a shared, common resource is exploited for personal gain, leading to overexploitation because the individual who exploits the most reaps the primary gain.

Precautionary Principle

An approach promoting conservation wherein businesses must prove their actions will cause no harm before permits are issued, shifting the burden of proof away from opponents.

Diversity (Conservation Science)

The primary goal of conservation science, providing risk management by utilitarian measures and aesthetic value in an abstract sense.

Monoculture

An agricultural system focused on growing a single crop species; it represents the most efficient way to maximize short-term profits but carries increased risk from pathogens and market forces.

Polyculture

An agricultural approach utilizing environmental species diversity to lower risk, preventing a single pathogen or market shift from destroying an entire crop.

Structural Diversity

Physical variation in substrate shapes, sizes, or environmental features that provides aeration, refugia for prey, and supports natural food webs.

Thigmotactic Organisms

Organisms that display contact-seeking behaviors or aggregate around physical structures, such as fish gathering around a rock or horses around a tree.