Environment and Nature Practice Flashcards

A set of vocabulary-style flashcards covering global environmental problems, resource management, and sustainable living practices based on the lecture notes.

Climate change

The rapid warming of the Earth's climate caused by human activity, which leads to outcomes such as sea-level rise, droughts, and increased storms.

Overconsumption of natural resources

A situation where uusiutuvat (renewable) resources do not renew fast enough and uusiutumattomat (non-renewable) resources are threatened with exhaustion due to human activity.

Biodiversity

The variety of different animal, fungi, and plant species in nature, which is currently decreasing due to the destruction of habitats.

Eutrophication

A process where the amount of nutrients in a body of water increases, often due to fertilizers from fields or wastewater, affecting fish and water birds.

Erosion

The wearing away of the ground caused by wind and water, which can be accelerated by human activities like deforestation and livestock farming.

Environmental toxins

Harmful substances, such as mercury, cadmium, lead, oil, and organic compounds like PCB, that affect the survival and reproduction of organisms and human health.

Water shortage

A phenomenon caused by the uneven distribution of water, pollution, and water waste, leading to drought and disease.

Fresh water

The type of water important for drinking and irrigation, which makes up only $3\, \%$ of all water on Earth.

Methane

A greenhouse gas produced by poor waste management that increases global warming.

Sustainable lifestyle

A way of living that aims to protect the environment through actions like reducing waste, using cloth bags, planning meals, and choosing durable goods.

Paper recycling

The collection of materials like newspapers, magazines, and envelopes to be used in manufacturing products such as toilet paper and newsprint.

Cardboard collection

The sorting of items like milk cartons, pizza boxes, and egg cartons to be manufactured into new packaging and paper roll cores.

Bio-waste

Organic waste such as food scraps, coffee grounds, and plant waste that can be processed into soil, biogas, or fertilizer.

Hazardous waste

Dangerous waste items like batteries, car batteries, medicines, and fluorescent lamps that require specialized collection.

Non-renewable fuels

Energy sources that do not replenish, such as oil and kivihiili (coal), whose use contributes to climate change.

Industrial and traffic emissions

Major sources of air pollution that negatively affect human health, soil quality, and water systems.

Littering

The accumulation of waste, particularly plastic in oceans, which harms marine animals, ecosystems, and human health.

Waste sorting

The process of separating different types of waste, such as metal, glass, and plastic, to allow them to be reused or recycled into new objects.

Ecological

A term synonymous with environment-friendly ($\text{ympäristöystävällinen}$), describing things that are not harmful to the environment.

Energy consumption

The amount of electricity ($\text{sähkö}$) or energy used by a consumer, which can be reduced by turning off lights or adjusting room temperature.