Exam 1: Environmental Problems, their Causes, and Sustainability

IPAT is a simple way of looking at how three factors influence the impact humans have on the environment.The formula is Impact = Population (P)x __________ x Technology (T).

Many scientists contend that the earth is the only real example of a sustainable system.What are the three major natural factors have played the key roles in the long-term sustainability of life on this planet? How can you apply each to your life?

What is the set of assumptions and values reflecting how you think the world works and what you think your role in the world should be?

Pollution cleanup is usually the best way of dealing with the release of a pollutant.

According to the World Bank,about how many people worldwide live in extreme poverty?

What is one of the root causes of environmental problems?

The Tragedy of the Commons refers to a lack of agricultural resources available for the common (poor)people in a country.

_____ growth starts off slowly,but after only a few doublings,grows at an enormous rate.

The U.N.Millennium Ecosystem Assessment reports that human activities have degraded ____ percent of the earth's natural services,and mostly since 1950.

Pollutants are all human-made;in other words,they cannot enter the environment naturally.

What is the best description of natural income?

Nature deficit disorder is most likely to cause _____.

While we are heavily dependent on the environment,we are not dependent on it for everything we need to stay alive and healthy.

The exhaust pipe of an automobile or the smokestack of a coal-burning powerplant are examples of ______________ sources.

Each of the three major cultural revolutions has allowed _____.

Environmental degradation,also known as __________ __________ __________ is the process of wasting,depleting,and degrading the earth's natural capital at an accelerating rate.

Using normally renewable resources faster than nature can renew them is called _____.

In the IPAT equation,the 'P' stands for _____.

Old drink bottles that are collected,washed,and refilled are an example of ____________________.

Consider the total and per capita ecological footprints of the selected countries below and then use the data to answer the accompanying question. Country Total Ecological Footprint (hectares/person) Share of Global Biological Capacity (\%) United States 2,810 (25\%) European Union 2,160 (19\%) China 2,050 (18\%) India 780 (7\%) Japan 540 (5\%) -What are two ways to deal with the degradation of a shared resource?