Environmental Science Unit 3 Outcome 2 Flashcards

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards for Environmental Science Unit 3 Outcome 2, covering sustainability principles, risk management, life cycle analysis, and environmental legislation.

What is the definition of sustainability as provided in the lecture notes?

The ability or capacity of something to be maintained or to sustain itself into the future.

How is Ecological Sustainable Development (ESD) defined?

Using, conserving and enhancing the community’s resources so that ecological processes, on which life depends, are maintained and the quality of life for both present and future generations is also maintained.

Which four Earth systems are considered in the context of sustainability impacts?

Hydrosphere, Lithosphere, Atmosphere, and Biosphere.

What does the ESD principle of 'Conservation of Biodiversity and ecological integrity' assess?

It assesses whether the ecosystem may be affected by a proposed development.

Define the ESD principle of 'Intragenerational equity'.

The equal distribution of, or access to, resources between people across the same generation, including between different nations.

Define the ESD principle of 'Intergenerational equity'.

Considers the impacts of a development on future generations, taking into account future environmental, social and economic factors.

What responsibility does the 'precautionary principle' place on the proposers of an activity?

It is the responsibility of the proposers to show their proposal will not reduce biodiversity or that the environmental costs are minimal.

What does the 'user pays principle' state regarding the price of natural resources?

The price of the natural resource or environmental service should reflect its full cost, including the cost of managing waste.

Name the four specific challenges to sustainability principles mentioned in the notes.

$1$. Population, $2$. Food, $3$. Water, $4$. Energy.

What is 'circular economy thinking' in environmental decision making?

Continually seeking to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption and gain more productive uses from natural resources.

How is a 'Cost-benefit analysis' used in environmental management?

A technique used to determine if an idea or product is worth the cost to make the product or idea come to life (benefit).

What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?

A hazard is a substance or situation that can cause harm; risk is the probability that a hazard will cause harm or create adverse impacts.

What information is integrated into a Risk Assessment?

Toxicological data, human experience, exposure information, fate of a chemical and transportation data, and statistics and probability.

Record the six steps involved in a risk assessment in sequential order.

$1$. Problem characterisation and hazard identification, $2$. Hazard accounting and exposure assessment, $3$. Quantification of event probabilities, $4$. Quantification of consequences, $5$. Overall impact and risk assessment, $6$. Risk management and risk prevention.

What determines a 'qualitative risk analysis'?

It is a subjective process of assessing risk characteristics using categories like low, medium, and high rather than numerical data.

What does a Life cycle analysis (LCA) quantify?

All environmental impacts of a product over its entire life cycle, including materials, energy, and water used, and the types and quantities of materials discharged.

What are the four steps of a Life cycle analysis?

$1$. Goal definition, $2$. Inventory, $3$. Impact assessment, $4$. Improvement.

To what international standard should an Environmental Management System (EMS) conform?

AS ISO $2214001$22

What are the four functions of an Environmental Management System (EMS)?

$1$. Planning, $2$. Organising, $3$. Implementing, and $4$. Controlling.

Name the four value systems mentioned regarding stakeholder perspectives.

Anthropocentrism, Biocentrism, Ecocentrism, and Technocentrism.

What are the goals of The Convention on Biological Diversity $1992/1993$?

Conserve biological diversity, sustain use of its components, and share fair and equitable benefits arising from the use of genetic resources.

Which Commonwealth act resulted from the World Heritage Convention?

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act $1999$.

What does CITES ($1975$) protect?

Endangered species from international trade.

List the seven IUCN categories and their definitions provided in the text.

Extinct, Extinct in the wild, Critically endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, Near threatened, and Least concern.

Which policy is cited as an example of a circular economy legislative framework in $2020$?

Recycling Victoria: a new economy.