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Study Notes

Definition: Environmental policy refers to the principles and guidelines that guide human behavior and decision-making to minimize harm to the environment.
Goals:
- Protect and preserve natural resources
- Promote sustainable development
- Ensure environmental justice and equity
Tools:
- Regulations and laws
- Economic incentives and disincentives
- Education and awareness
- International agreements and treaties
Key policy areas:
- Air and water pollution control
- Waste management and disposal
- Conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems
- Climate change mitigation and adaptation

Definition: Sustainability refers to the ability of a system to maintain its own viability and productivity over time, without depleting natural resources or causing harm to the environment.
Dimensions:
- Environmental sustainability
- Economic sustainability
- Social sustainability
Principles:
- Intergenerational equity
- Intragenerational equity
- Environmental integrity
- Social justice
Strategies:
- Resource efficiency and conservation
- Renewable energy and technology
- Sustainable consumption and production
- Education and community engagement

Definition: Climate change refers to the long-term warming of the planet due to an increase in the average global temperature, primarily caused by human activities that release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Causes:
- Burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas)
- Deforestation and land-use changes
- Agriculture and livestock production
Consequences:
- Rising sea levels and coastal erosion
- More frequent and severe weather events
- Changes in precipitation patterns and water scarcity
- Loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption
Mitigation strategies:
- Transition to renewable energy sources
- Increase energy efficiency and reduce consumption
- Electrify transportation and industry
- Carbon capture and storage
Adaptation strategies:
- Climate-resilient infrastructure and urban planning
- Early warning systems and emergency preparedness
- Climate-smart agriculture and water management
- Human migration and displacement planning

Environmental policy aims to minimize harm to the environment and promote sustainable development.
Goals include protecting and preserving natural resources, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring environmental justice and equity.
Regulations and laws, economic incentives and disincentives, education and awareness, and international agreements and treaties are used to implement environmental policy.
Key policy areas focus on air and water pollution control, waste management and disposal, conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Sustainability refers to the ability of a system to maintain its own viability and productivity over time without depleting natural resources or causing harm to the environment.
Sustainability encompasses three dimensions: environmental, economic, and social.
Principles of sustainability include intergenerational equity, intragenerational equity, environmental integrity, and social justice.
Strategies for achieving sustainability include resource efficiency and conservation, renewable energy and technology, sustainable consumption and production, and education and community engagement.

Climate change is the long-term warming of the planet due to an increase in the average global temperature, primarily caused by human activities releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and land-use changes, and agriculture and livestock production are the main causes of climate change.
Consequences of climate change include rising sea levels and coastal erosion, more frequent and severe weather events, changes in precipitation patterns and water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity and ecosystem disruption.
Mitigation strategies include transitioning to renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency and reducing consumption, electrifying transportation and industry, and carbon capture and storage.
Adaptation strategies include climate-resilient infrastructure and urban planning, early warning systems and emergency preparedness, climate-smart agriculture and water management, and human migration and displacement planning.