ESS Topic 1 • SL & HL

Anthropocentric

Regarding mankind as the central

Technocentric

Technology can provide solutions to environmental issues

Biocentric

All living things are equally important

Ecocentric

Nature is more important

Pluricentric

Multicentric

Instrumental values

The usefulness an entity has for humans (E.g Food and water)

Intrinsic values

内在价值 (E.g Mangroves, wolves)

3 Factors that influence ethics

• Culture,religion and values

• Influenced by family values or traditions

• Education, media, books

What is moral standing (HL)

Whether or not a living or nonliving entity should be taken into account by human beings, or has claim on human action or decision.

Moral standing case study (HL)

Octopus farming in Spain

What is environmental ethics (HL)

A branch of philosophy that extends the traditional boundaries of ethics beyond human interactions to include the natural world

What is the appeal to nature fallacy (HL)

A common argument that asserts that something is inherently good, correct or ethical simply because it is natural

What are the three main points of the appeal to nature fallacy (HL)

• assumption of superiority: natural things are just better

• misleading: oversimplifies the complex distinction between what is natural vs unnatural

• failure to consider nuances:does not define what is considered natural and overlooking potential benefits of synthetic or altered entities

State whats virtue ethics and is and its core principles + an example

Focuses on the character of the person doinf the action —> Assuming that good people will do good actions and bad people will do bad actions.

Core principles

• Character development

• Moral compass

Example

• An environmentally responsible person who recycles and reduces waste out of respect for nature

State whats consequentialist ethics is and its core principles + an example

Consequences of an action determine the morality of the action

Core principles

• Outcome based

• Maximizing ultility

Example

Implementing policies that reduce pollution because they improve public health and environmental quality for everyone

State whats rights-based ethics is and its core principles + an example

Focuses on the actions and whether they conflict with the rights of others.

Core princples

• Duty and obligation

Example

Protecting endangered animals because they have the right to exist

Strengths and weakness of virtue ethics

Strength: Encourages personal responsibility and moral behaviour

Weakness: Subjective and context dependent ig

Strengths and weakness of consequentialist ethics

Strength: Considers overall happiness and well being

Weakness: Overlooks the rights of minorities

Strengths and weakness of rights based ethics

Strengths: Protects individual rights and intrinsic values

Weakness: Can be flexible and conflict with other rights

What are the four world views?

• Imperialist

• Stewardship

• Romantic

• Utilitarian

Whats Imperialist world view

There is a sacred bond between human and god. Nature is seperated

Whats stewardship world view

Humans have responsibilities towards the envrionment on local and global scale

Whats Romantic world view

Nature is valuable to human bc it is a beautiful thing

Whats utilitarian world view

Nature is seen from a utilitarian viewpoint. As long as it can contribute then its good.

Whats the 3 process of the environmental value system? (give examples)

Inputs → process → outputs

EXAMPLE

1. Education → values → actions

2. Science → arguments → decisions

3. Experiences → inter-related premises → evaluations

What is a cultural theory (CT)

Individual env beliefs are deeply influenced by their preferences for group belonging and the way societies regulate behaviour

What was the env movement influenced by? (HL)

• Individuals

• Literature

• Major env disasters

• Scientific discoveries

these all leads to…

• Raised public awareness

• Media coverage

• Change in gov policies , reg and laws

Methods to illustrate systems

• Models

• Math equations

• Physical models

Pros and cons of a model

Pros

• Simplify complex systems

• Prediction

• Easier to share

• No need to wait , instant results

Cons

• Loss of accuracy

• Maybe even more complex if its oversimplified

• Too much assumptions

What is the Gaia hypothesis

A theory proposed by james lovelock

He proposed that Earth is a single living system and that the system has closely controlled self-regulatory negative feedback loops.

Instead of separating systems by system, everuthing is connected

What are the scales of an environmental system

1. Global system

2. Regional system

3. Small scale

4. Environmental system

5. Societal

Explain them all

1. Global system: Global circulation can be described as a global system of winds by which the necessary transport of heat from tropical to polar latitudes is accomplished.

2. Regional system: Networks of organisms and their env within specific areas; Diversity , ecological balance and human benefits

3. Small scale: Idk lol

4. Environmental system: Includes abiotic and biotic components

5. Societal: Value,Economic and social

What does system diagram consist?

• Storage

• Flows

• Processes

What is the input in the system diagram?

Energy or matter that enters the system

What is the output in the system diagram?

product

What is the storage in the system diagram?

Areas where energy or matter are accumulated inside a system (e.g. wood in a tree)

What is the flow in the system diagram?

movement of energy or matter within a system from one location to another

What is the boundaries in the system diagram?

outside/edge of a system

T/F

Sum of all INFLOW > OUTFLOW = level of storage will increase

True

T/F

Sum of all OUTFLOW > INFLOW = level of storage will decrease

True

T/F

Sum of all inflows = outflow → storage will decrease

False

Sum of all inflows = outflow → storage will not change

T/F

Flows can’t be adjusted more quickly than storages

False

Flows can be adjusted more quickly than storages

What is the storage represented by in a model

A box

What is the flow represented by in a model

Arrows

What is the Inputs represented by in a model

Arrow in

What is the outputs represented by in a model

Arrows out

What is the boundaries represented by in a model

Lines

Does energy enter ecosystem from the sun

Yes, it is converted and stored as a chemcial potential energy → Organic molecules pass thru down thru chains → respiration release this energy → all energy enters an ecosystem and is lost again

Whats transformations ?

It moves energy and matter but in the process of doing so there is a change of state or form.

Examples

• Water changes state from solid to liquid gas (matter)

• Light is transformed into heat (energy)

• Energy is converted into matter during photosynthesis

• Matter is converted into heat and light energy during combustion of matter

What is transfers?

Transfer simply move energy or matter from one plae to another without changing it anyway

What is an open system? Give an example

Both materials and energy are exchanged across the boundaries of the system

Its also the most common system

E.g Rainforest

Name three features the forest ecosystem in the open system

• Plants fix light via photosynthesis

• Water is lost in evaporation

• Minerals are leached by rain

What is a closed system? Give an example

Energy is exchanged across the boundaries but matter is not.

What is an isolated system?

• A hypothetical concept

• Neither energy nor matter is exchanged across

Name the two states of equilibrium in a balance in an ecosystem?

• Steady state

• Static

State 2 characteristics of the steady state equilibrium

• Maintains a stable system due to constant flow of inputs and outputs

• Ecological system requires inputs and outputs in order to function

State the three features of a static equilibrium

• Doesn’t apply to natural systems as there are no inputs or outputs so no change occurs

• Always in balance

• Inanimate objects

What is a feedback mechanism?

• Ecosystems are said to be “self-regulating”

• Contain feedback mechanisms which function to maintain the system in its equilibrium state

Describe a negative feedback mechanism and give an example

• Decreases effects and promotes return to stability

• good

Example

• Predator-prey relationship

Describe a positive feedback mechanism and give an example

• Destablizing → amplifies changes and drive system towards a tipping point where new equilibrium is adopted

• bad

Example

• Arctic sea ice melts → reflective ice disapears = darker ocean absords more heat → temperature rise

Is the albedo feedback loop a positive feedback mechanism or negative

Positive

Explain why the albedo feedback loop is poisitive

Explain what a tipping point is

A threshold at which a system undergoes a rapid and irreversible change.

It can exist within a system where a small alteration in one component can produce large overall changes → shift in equilibrium

An example of subjects that are at a “tipping point"“

• Arctic sea level

• Amazon rainforest

Case study for tipping point

Introducing wolves into the American national park. Re introducing species = TROPHIC CASCADES.

Positive for the stability and resilience of the system.

What is the word that you call when a system avoids tipping point and maintains stability?

Resilience

T/F

Resilient systems are dynamic, not static

T

While they adapt, resilient systems maintain long-term stability

What are disturbances, list 3 examples

• Fires

• Flooding

• Droughts

3 factors that affect resilience

• Biodiversity: Increases species interactions

• Climate change: Ecosystems are at risk from rising critical role diversity plays and risks associated with its loss

• Human intervention

Outline 2 possible reasons for the tipping point

1. Significant increase in water temperature → trigger coral bleaching by causing stress to the coral reef

2. The positive feedback loop

Identify the mitigation strategies used to reduce the tipping point

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions → no fucked up water temperature

• Implementing sustainable fishing practices → preserving the food sources and habitats that support coral reefs

• Establishing marine protected areas

Outline how the mitigation strategies contributed to the resilience of the ecosystem represented in the diagram

Just yap doe

• Helps regulate a negative feedback loop idk??

HL - EL

What is environmental law ?

Specifically refers to the rules about how human beings use and impact natural resources with the aim of improving social and ecological sustainability

HL

Whats the issue with political lobbying in this case

• It promotes the interests of bigger countries

• Impacts the efficency in which the government enforce these laws

• Allows the rich to exploit more

HL

Why would environmental law’s success vary from country to country?

• Economic issues

• Acceptance by society

HL

What is env constitutionalism

Refers to the introduction of environmental rights and obligations into the constitution

HL

Environmental laws can’t be drafted at the local, national or international level

False, it can

HL

Example of a national , int and local level law

Local: Ban on single use plastic

National: USA Endangered animals act

Int: Montreal protocal

HL

T/F

The UN creates int conventions that are legally binding

T

HL

What bodies are involved in int env law

• ICJ

• International tribunal for the law of the sea

HL

Explain legal strategies in maintaining sustainability

• Laws

• Subsidies

• Penalties

HL

Explain economic strategies in maintaining sustainability

Europe → carbon emission credits

Its an entire market

What is the donut economics model

A conceptual framework that envisions an economy designed to meet the needs of all people within the ecological limits of the planet. It combines social foundations.

Pros

• Popular

• Incorporates social issues

Cons

A developing model = data and stats arent accurate

What is circular economy

Takes from nature, produces, exports and gives back

Pros

Regen of natural systems of reduction of greenhouses gases

Cons

Lack of regulations and env awareness to implement

What is SDGs

17 GOALS: A guide to sustainable development

Pros

Universial language and agreement

Cons

• Too specific 

• Does not apply to all countries

What is Planetary boundary

Identified nine earth systems with limits that humanity should not cross to avoid a tipping point

Pros

Has specific targets for people to follow

Cons

Does not consider human/social factors