Untitled Flashcards Set

What is a linear materials economy?

A linear materials economy is a model that follows a sequence of extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal, in contrast to a circular economy which promotes reuse and recycling.

What are the five stages of the linear materials economy?

The five stages are extraction, production, distribution, consumption, and disposal.

How does extraction of natural resources contribute to environmental degradation?

Extraction leads to habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and pollution of air and water resources.

What are the environmental impacts of the production and distribution stages?

These stages contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, resource depletion, and pollution.

Why is disposal considered one of the most problematic stages in the linear economy?

Disposal is problematic because it often results in landfills, pollution, and the loss of valuable materials.

What is planned obsolescence?

Planned obsolescence is the practice of designing products to have a limited lifespan, leading to increased waste.

What are some alternatives to the linear economy?

Alternatives include recycling, upcycling, and circular economy models that focus on sustainability.

What is an ecological footprint?

An ecological footprint measures the demand on Earth's ecosystems and compares it to the planet's biocapacity.

What factors are considered in calculating an ecological footprint?

Factors include resource consumption, waste production, and land use.

How does the ecological footprint of an individual differ from that of a country?

An individual's footprint reflects personal consumption, while a country's footprint represents national resource use and environmental impact.

What is the global hectare?

A global hectare is a standardized measure that represents the biological productivity of one hectare of land globally.

What are ways to reduce your ecological footprint?

Ways include reducing energy consumption, choosing sustainable products, and minimizing waste.

What is carrying capacity?

Carrying capacity is the maximum population size of a species that an environment can sustain indefinitely.

How do human activities affect carrying capacity?

Human activities can deplete resources, pollute the environment, and reduce biodiversity, impacting carrying capacity.

What factors can limit the carrying capacity of an ecosystem?

Factors include resource availability, environmental conditions, and species interactions.

How can exceeding carrying capacity lead to resource depletion?

Exceeding carrying capacity results in overconsumption of resources, leading to degradation and eventual collapse of the ecosystem.

Can carrying capacity change over time?

Yes, carrying capacity can change due to environmental changes, resource management, and technological advances.

What is maximum sustainable yield (MSY)?

MSY is the largest yield or catch that can be taken from a specific fishery while maintaining the population's ability to replenish.

How does MSY help in resource management?

MSY helps ensure resources are used sustainably without compromising future stocks.

Why is MSY important for fisheries management?

MSY prevents overfishing and ensures fish populations remain healthy.

What is the difference between sustainable yield and overexploitation?

Sustainable yield allows for resource renewal, while overexploitation exceeds the natural replenishment rate.

What factors must be considered for calculating MSY?

Factors include reproduction rates, habitat conditions, and fishing technology.

What is downcycling?

Downcycling is the process of recycling materials into products of lesser quality.

Give an example of downcycling.

An example is turning old paper into recycled paper products, which are of lower quality than original paper.

How does downcycling contribute to the waste problem?

Downcycling often leads to more waste as lower-quality products have shorter lifespans.

What are alternatives to downcycling?

Alternatives include recycling to the same quality and reducing consumption.

What is the difference between renewable, non-renewable, and flow resources?

Renewable resources can replenish naturally, non-renewable resources cannot, and flow resources are constantly available.

Give examples of renewable resources.

Examples include solar energy, wind energy, and biomass.

Why is it important to manage non-renewable resources?

Careful management is essential to ensure long-term availability and prevent depletion.

How can flow resources be harnessed sustainably?

Flow resources can be harnessed by ensuring that their consumption does not exceed their natural influx.

Explain the concept of sustainability in resource management.

Sustainability involves using resources in a way that meets present needs while preserving them for future generations.

What are the four main sectors of the economy?

The four main sectors are primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.

What role does the primary sector play?

The primary sector involves extracting natural resources, such as agriculture and mining.

What does the secondary sector involve?

The secondary sector involves manufacturing and processing goods from raw materials.

What is the role of the tertiary sector?

The tertiary sector provides services rather than goods, such as healthcare and education.

What is the quaternary sector?

The quaternary sector involves knowledge-based services, including research and development.

What is the Tragedy of the Commons?

The Tragedy of the Commons refers to the depletion of a shared resource by individuals acting in their own interest.

How did the collapse of the cod fishery demonstrate the Tragedy of the Commons?

Overfishing by many individuals led to the depletion of cod stocks and eventual fishery collapse.

What role did overfishing play in the cod fishery collapse?

Unsustainable fishing practices resulted in the depletion of fish stocks.

How can sustainable quotas help prevent over-exploitation?

Sustainable quotas limit the amount that can be harvested, ensuring resource conservation.

What lessons can be learned from the cod moratorium?

The importance of sustainable management and cooperative resource use is critical to prevent depletion.

What percentage of the Earth’s surface is covered by water?

Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.

How much of Earth's water is freshwater?

About 2.5% of Earth's water is freshwater, while 97.5% is saltwater.

What are challenges in providing clean water worldwide?

Challenges include pollution, infrastructure issues, and unequal access.

Why is water considered limited despite its abundance?

Most of the Earth's water is saltwater, and freshwater is limited and unevenly distributed.

What is the difference between freshwater and bottled water?

Freshwater is natural water from sources like rivers and lakes, while bottled water is packaged for sale.

Why is bottled water an environmental issue?

Bottled water contributes to plastic pollution and has a significant environmental footprint.

What are the environmental impacts of producing plastic bottles?

The production process leads to pollution and resource depletion.

Why is the use of bottled water unsustainable?

Bottled water relies on finite resources and generates significant waste.

What are some reasons Indigenous communities lack clean water?

Factors include government neglect, pollution, and lack of infrastructure.

How does lack of clean water affect Indigenous health?

It leads to health issues such as waterborne diseases and worsens overall well-being.

What initiatives have been taken to improve water access for Indigenous communities?

Initiatives include government investment, advocacy, and community-led projects.

What are the key differences between renewable and non-renewable energy sources?

Renewable energy can be replenished naturally, while non-renewable energy comes from finite sources.

Give examples of renewable energy sources.

Examples include solar, wind, and geothermal energy.

What are flow resources?

Flow resources are constantly replenished resources, such as sunlight and wind.

What are non-renewable energy sources?

Non-renewable energy sources include fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

What are the advantages of solar energy?

Solar energy is sustainable, abundant, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions.

What challenges are associated with transitioning to renewable energy?

Challenges include technological limitations, economic costs, and infrastructure needs.

What is needed to produce hydroelectricity?

Hydroelectricity requires a water source, dam, and turbine to convert water flow into electricity.