All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify a benefit of energy efficiency.
Answer: Reduces energy costs and consumption. Using less energy saves money and reduces emissions.
Flashcard 2: Define 'carrying capacity' in ecological terms.
Answer: Maximum population size an environment can sustain. Population exceeding this limit leads to resource depletion.
Flashcard 3: What does the term 'resilience' refer to in sustainability?
Answer: Ability to recover from environmental disturbances. Systems maintain function despite shocks or stresses.
Flashcard 4: Identify an example of a renewable resource.
Answer: Solar energy. Naturally replenished and doesn't deplete with use.
Flashcard 5: What does 'sustainable yield' refer to?
Answer: Harvesting without depleting resources. Extraction rate matches natural regeneration capacity.
Flashcard 6: Identify a key principle of sustainable development.
Answer: Intergenerational equity. Ensures current actions don't harm future generations' rights.
Flashcard 7: Which material is commonly recycled to promote sustainability?
Answer: Aluminum. High recycling rate saves energy and reduces mining needs.
Flashcard 8: Identify a sustainable practice in forestry.
Answer: Selective logging. Harvests specific trees while maintaining forest structure.
Flashcard 9: Identify a sustainable energy source.
Answer: Wind energy. Harnesses natural forces without depleting resources.
Flashcard 10: Which factor is part of the triple bottom line in sustainability?
Answer: Economic, social, and environmental factors. The triple bottom line balances people, planet, and profit.
Flashcard 11: Which sector is a major contributor to carbon emissions?
Answer: Transportation. Moving people and goods produces significant greenhouse gases.
Flashcard 12: What is the impact of deforestation on sustainability?
Answer: Reduces biodiversity and increases carbon emissions. Removes carbon storage and habitat, disrupting ecosystems.
Flashcard 13: What does the term 'resilience' refer to in sustainability?
Answer: Ability to recover from environmental disturbances. Systems maintain function despite shocks or stresses.
Flashcard 14: What does the term 'environmental justice' mean?
Answer: Fair treatment of all people in environmental policies. Prevents disproportionate environmental burdens on communities.
Flashcard 15: Identify a strategy to achieve sustainable urban development.
Answer: Smart growth. Compact development reduces sprawl and infrastructure needs.
Flashcard 16: Name a non-renewable resource.
Answer: Fossil fuels. Formed over millions of years and consumed faster than replenished.
Flashcard 17: What does the term 'ecological footprint' refer to?
Answer: Measure of human demand on Earth's ecosystems. Compares resource use to Earth's regenerative capacity.
Flashcard 18: Identify a benefit of urban green spaces.
Answer: Improves air quality. Plants filter pollutants and produce oxygen naturally.
Flashcard 19: What is the role of biodiversity in sustainability?
Answer: Supports ecosystem services and resilience. Greater diversity increases ecosystem stability and function.
Flashcard 20: Which farming practice supports soil health and sustainability?
Answer: Crop rotation. Alternating crops prevents soil depletion and pest buildup.
Flashcard 21: What is the main objective of eco-labeling?
Answer: To inform consumers about the environmental impact. Labels help consumers make environmentally conscious purchases.
Flashcard 22: What is 'greenwashing'?
Answer: Misleading claims about environmental benefits. Companies falsely market products as environmentally friendly.
Flashcard 23: Identify a global challenge addressed by sustainability.
Answer: Climate change. Rising temperatures threaten ecosystems and human systems.
Flashcard 24: Which principle focuses on maintaining ecosystem services?
Answer: Ecosystem-based management. Considers whole ecosystems rather than individual components.
Flashcard 25: Which practice can reduce energy consumption in buildings?
Answer: Insulation. Reduces heat loss and lowers heating/cooling demands.
Flashcard 26: What is the role of education in sustainability?
Answer: Raises awareness and promotes sustainable practices. Knowledge empowers individuals to make sustainable choices.
Flashcard 27: What is 'biocapacity'?
Answer: Capacity of an area to generate renewable resources. Measures land's ability to support human consumption patterns.
Flashcard 28: What is the focus of the circular economy model?
Answer: Reusing and recycling materials. Keeps materials in use longer, reducing waste streams.
Flashcard 29: What is the significance of the Brundtland Report?
Answer: Defined sustainable development. 1987 report established the modern sustainability framework.
Flashcard 30: Identify a consequence of overfishing.
Answer: Depletion of fish stocks. Exceeds reproductive capacity, threatening marine ecosystems.