DE Environmental Science - Understanding Our Environment - Mr. Knowles

biocentric preservation

a philosophy that emphasizes the fundamental right of living organisms to exist and to pursue their own goods

ecological footprint

A measure that computes the demands placed on nature by individuals and nations

Ecosystem Services

resources provided by nature, such as food, water, energy, fiber, waste disposal, and other conditions on which life depends

Environment

the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms, as well as the complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

Environmental justice

a recognition that access to a clean, healthy environment is a fundamental right of all human beings

environmental racism

decisions that restrict certain people or groups of people to polluted or degraded environments on the basis of race

environmental science

the systematic, scientific study of our environment, as well as our role in it

ethics

a branch of philosophy concerned with right and wrong

global environmentalism

a concern for, and action to help solve, global environmental problems

inherent value

ethical values or rights that exist as an intrinsic or essential characteristic of a particular thing or class of things simply by the fact of their existence

instrumental value

the value or worth of objects that satisfy the needs and wants of moral agents. Objects that can be used as a means to some desirable end

LULUs

Locally Unwanted Land Uses, such as toxic waste dumps, incinerators, smelters, airports, freeways, and other sources of environmental, economic, or social degradation

managing the commons

systems for managing common resources

Millennium Development Goals

A set of goals established in 2000 by the United Nations that include ending poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equity, child health, maternal health, combating HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and global cooperation in development efforts.

modern environmentalism

attention to environmental issues that includes concern for environmental resources and pollution

moral extensionism

Expansion of our understanding of inherent value or rights to persons, organisms, or things that might not be considered worthy of value or rights under some ethical philosophies.

moral value

the value or worth of something based on moral principles

quality of life indicators

factors, such as infant mortality, life expectancy, income, sanitation, and education, that indicate quality of life in a country

stewardship

Stewardship

a philosophy that holds that humans have a unique responsibility to manage, care for, and improve nature

sustainable development goals

improving well-being and the standard of life over the long-term; that is, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

throughput

the flow of energy and matter into, through, and out of a system

tragedy of the commons

An inexorable process of degradation of communal resources due to the selfishness of "free riders" who use or destroy more than their fair share of common property.

toxic colonialism

shipping toxic wastes to a weaker or poorer nation

utilitarian conservation

a philosophy that resources should be used for the greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time