engr 202 ch 1

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts from the lecture on sustainable development and environmental stewardship.

Environment

The air we breathe, water we drink, land, oceans, rivers, forests, buildings, highways, and modern infrastructure.

Sustainable Development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)

A decision-support tool that identifies and analyzes the environmental impacts associated with a product, process, or service across its entire life cycle.

Triple Bottom Line

The three dimensions of sustainability: environment, economy, and equity, often referred to as 'people, planet, profit'.

Ecological Footprint

The stress placed on the ecosystem by an individual or group.

Carrying Capacity

The number of individuals that can be supported by a system without environmental degradation.

Resilience

The ability of a system to adapt to new circumstances without collapsing.

Tipping Point

A critical threshold beyond which irreversible change occurs and establishes a new 'normal'.

Human Activities

Actions such as food supply, energy supply, and land use that significantly impact the environment.

Environmental Legislation in Canada

Laws such as the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the Fisheries Act that aim to protect human health and the environment.