World Issues Unit 2 Review

Sustainability and Stewardship

Carrying Capacity

Maximum population an environment can sustain given the available resources

Malthusian Theory

Population growth occurs at exponential rate while agricultural productivity remains constant

Thomas Malthus

Predicted exponential growth with outpace agricultural growth leading to disaster

Neo-Malthusian Theory

Population control programs will enable the population to have enough resources for future populations (Birth Control)

Cornucopian Theory

Population growth will occur but won’t be an issue, mankind can exceed the carrying capacity through technology advancements

Pro-Natalist Policies

Pro baby policies (South Korea), tax breaks, extended maternity leave

Anti-Natalist Policies

Encouraging fewer births (China), family planning, birth control

Population Bomb Theory

Hundreds of millions of people would starve to death in the 1970’s due to over population, main issue is resources not being properly distributed

Phantom Carrying Capacity

Idea that we’ve already surpassed carrying capacity and are stealing resources required for future generations

Green Revolution

Increasing food production through high-yielding varieties of wheat/rice, led to mono culture, loss of ecological diversity, and climate change

Ray Anderson

Believed businesses have the responsibility to make sustainable choices for the world, and are responsible for negative impacts on earth

Environmental Stewardship

Responsible use and protection of the environment through conservation of natural resources, and reducing environmental change

Ecological Footprint

Your personal impact on the environment expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources

Pillars of Sustainable Development

Economic, Environment, Social

Sustainability

Being able to sustain the population through basic resources and meeting our own needs without compromising needs of future generations

Fast Fashion

Cheap Labour, cycles of poverty, over consumption, buying something cheap at the expense of someone else

Caring for the commons

Preservation of shared resources, promoting responsible consumption, and sustainable practices

Common Pool Resources

Resources shared and used by everyone, but can be overused and depleted if not properly managed

Carbon Tax

Fee imposed on emission of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels, created to discourage these activities