ENSP 101

Tragedy of the Commons

A theory that describes the over-exploitation of shared resources due to individual self-interest.

Conscientious Users

Individuals who use shared resources responsibly, often at a cost to themselves compared to those who exploit the resource.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population size that an environment can sustain indefinitely without being degraded.

Max Sustainable Yield

The largest yield (catch) that can be taken from a specific fishery stock over an indefinite period under constant environmental conditions.

Ethical Approaches

Strategies to solve resource overuse that involve moral considerations, such as educating the public and enforcing social norms.

Non-Rival Resources

Resources where one person's use does not diminish another person's ability to use them, like clean air.

Point Source Pollution

Pollution that comes from a single, identifiable source, such as a factory or sewage treatment plant.

Eutrophication

The process whereby excess nutrients in water bodies lead to excessive plant growth and decay, often resulting in oxygen depletion.

Externalities

The costs or benefits that affect a party who did not choose to incur that cost or benefit, often seen in environmental impacts.

Command and Control Policies

Regulatory approach that sets specific limits on pollution and requires specific technologies to control emissions.

Market-Based Solutions

Economic approaches to managing resources and pollution that utilize market signals and incentives, like tradable pollution permits.

Social Conditions for Collective Action

Factors like stable environments and established norms that facilitate cooperation among individuals in resource management.

Freedom to Breed

A concept arguing that unchecked population growth can lead to environmental degradation and resource depletion.

Pollution Permits

Instruments issued by governments that allow the holder to emit a certain amount of pollution, which can be bought and sold.

Mutual Coercion

A concept where individuals agree to limit their behavior for the common good, often enforced through social or legal mechanisms.

Collective Action

Action taken by a group in pursuit of a common goal, often utilized to manage shared resources.

Acid Rain

Rainfall made acidic by atmospheric pollution, particularly sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, leading to environmental damage.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem, important for ecological balance.

Climate Change

Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns, primarily due to human activities and natural processes.