Environmental Justice and Livelihood Quiz

The idea that addressing the ecological crisis requires widespread societal transformation, focusing on changing the fundamental systems and structures that drive environmental degradation.

The period of stable climate conditions that allowed human civilization to develop over the last 12,000 years. This period is rapidly ending due to climate change.

The amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, measured in parts per million (ppm). This is a critical indicator of the planet's warming trend.

The level of warming above pre-industrial levels that scientists believe will trigger catastrophic climate impacts. Reaching this level will lead to increased extreme weather events and instability.

The concept that solving environmental problems requires mobilizing the working class, whose interests are directly impacted by environmental degradation and who have the potential for large-scale collective action.

An organization focused on international cooperation and research on climate change, providing scientific reports and warnings about the dangers of climate change.

The rapid and significant changes necessary to address the climate crisis, involving transitions in energy systems, infrastructure, and economic models, along with shifts in cultural norms and individual behaviors.

A broad movement that aims to transform the dominant economic and political systems—capitalism—to address the climate crisis, recognizing that the current system is a major barrier to effective action.

A school of thought that emphasizes the direct lived experience of the environment as the foundation for environmental activism. It often focuses on the struggles of marginalized communities who rely on land and resources for subsistence.

The study of how organisms interact with their environment, including both living and non-living elements.

A form of environmentalism that focuses on individual choices and lifestyle changes to reduce environmental impact. Often criticized for placing the burden on individuals rather than addressing systemic issues.

A field of study that examines the relationship between power, politics, and environmental issues, particularly focusing on the struggles of marginalized communities over access to resources.

A form of environmentalism that focuses on the disproportionate environmental burdens faced by racialized and marginalized communities, often due to pollution and toxic waste.

The direct value derived from utilizing natural resources for survival, such as farming or fishing.

A form of environmentalism that emphasizes the protection of natural areas for their intrinsic value, rather than solely for human use. Often criticized for overlooking the needs of marginalized communities.

The systemic process of exploitation and inequality that favors wealthy nations and corporations at the expense of marginalized communities and the environment.

Every organism, including humans, has a measurable impact on the environment. This impact is linked to how much of the Earth's resources they use to sustain their consumption patterns.

The concept that every organism, including humans, relies on natural resources for survival and waste disposal.

The approach of measuring the ecological space required to support a particular consumption pattern.

The total amount of biologically productive land and water an individual, a population, or an activity requires to produce the resources they consume and absorb their waste.

Producers are organisms, like plants, that harness solar energy to create organic matter. Consumers are organisms, like animals, that obtain energy by consuming other organisms.

The levels of consumers in an ecosystem, starting with primary consumers that eat plants and continuing with secondary consumers that eat other animals.

Ecological consumers are the drivers of change in an ecosystem because they eat and interact with other organisms.

The ability to convert economic consumption into an equivalent amount of biologically productive area needed to support that consumption.

A movement that emphasizes the disproportionate impact of environmental hazards on marginalized communities, particularly racial minorities and low-income populations.

The idea that individuals are responsible for the ecological crisis through excessive consumption, reflecting a consumerist mindset.

The political strategy of emphasizing the direct experiences of marginalized communities with environmental degradation, granting them a leading role in environmental activism.

The assertion that environmental justice struggles have influenced climate change activism, highlighting the vulnerability of marginalized communities to climate impacts.

The challenge of uniting people in the broader society who may not directly experience pollution, but share an ecological interest in combating environmental damage.

The historical context of the environmental movement's emergence following a period of setbacks for the Left, creating a need to re-examine its political underpinnings.

The criticism that the environmental movement's focus on individual responsibility overlooks the systemic factors driving environmental degradation, such as capitalist production and consumption.

The need to critically analyze the effectiveness of the environmental movement in achieving meaningful change, especially in the face of ongoing ecological degradation.

The idea that workers' struggles against exploitative management are linked to environmental degradation, forming a shared cause for action.

Highlighting the historic connection between worker safety and environmental protection, recognizing the overlapping impact of industrial practices.

The tendency for labor unions in certain sectors to prioritize short-term economic benefits, even if they contribute to environmental damage.

Challenging the notion that environmental activism should solely focus on rural areas, presenting a case for engaging workers in industries with minimal environmental impact.

The idea that sectors like healthcare and education, vital for social well-being, should be the focus of a new union movement for a more sustainable future.

A movement where workers, particularly those in industries with minimal environmental impact, take action to protect the environment, joining forces with existing environmental activism.

The tendency to concentrate environmental activism on resource extraction sites, potentially neglecting other areas where environmental challenges exist.

The argument that unions can be a force for environmental protection, particularly by promoting worker safety and advocating for environmentally responsible practices.

Decarbonizing the electricity sector by shifting to renewable sources of energy and expanding generation capacity to meet increased demand from electric vehicles and other uses.

A strategy for achieving climate change mitigation by transitioning to a society powered primarily by electricity generated from renewable sources, instead of fossil fuels.

Investor-owned utility companies that hold a significant share of the electricity market, serving a large number of consumers.

The situation where a single company efficiently provides electricity for an entire region, as it's more cost-effective and practical than multiple companies operating on the same network.

The process of moving resources and services from the private sector to public ownership. This can be applied to utilities, transportation, healthcare, and other sectors.

A strategy for addressing climate change that promotes the development of a public sector-led system for providing low-cost or free electricity to households, potentially financed through taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals.

Popular support for taxing the wealthy to fund public programs, highlighting the responsibility of high-income earners for both the climate crisis and its solutions.

A political strategy that addresses climate change by focusing on the role of powerful corporations and wealthy individuals in perpetuating the crisis, seeking to mobilize working-class anger and collective action.