Population Growth and Sustainable Cities
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Questions and Answers

When birth rates equal death rates, what numerical value represents the amount of population growth?

1.06%

How is population growth rate defined?

The change in population size over time

What event 10,000 years ago resulted in a dramatic growth spurt in global human population size?

Agricultural revolution

Can you give some examples of negative outcomes that result from increases in human population?

<p>Land degradation, water supply depletion, water pollution, and an impoverished environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does overconsumption in developed countries, such as the United States, affect countries in other regions, such as Asia?

<p>Whatever is on the ground will end up in the water, making the water supply undrinkable in less developed countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain at least three ways to create a sustainable city.

<p>Redirecting storm water to plants, rooftop gardens, creating walkable cities, offering public transportation options</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors lead to urban areas being environmentally unfriendly?

<p>Sewage overflow, traffic congestion, and importation of food and exportation of waste</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between bioaccumulation and biomagnification?

<p>Bioaccumulation is the buildup of substances within one organism, while biomagnification involves those substances moving up the food chain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term sustainable?

<p>Capable of being continued indefinitely</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are ecosystem services?

<p>An essential ecological process that makes life on Earth possible</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why would nutrient cycling be considered such a valuable ecosystem service to humans?

<p>To reduce the amount of waste produced and to save energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

What purpose does an ecological footprint serve?

<p>It quantifies the impact humans have on the environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the IPAT equation estimate?

<p>Impact = population + technology + affluence</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is cradle-to-cradle management?

<p>Considering the entire life cycle of a product from raw materials to final disposal or recycling</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the chemical formula for ozone?

<p>O3</p> Signup and view all the answers

What part of the atmosphere is the majority of ozone found?

<p>The stratosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why should we care about ozone?

<p>Ozone protects Earth's surface from UV radiation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What was the major cause of the depletion of the ozone layer?

<p>CFCs</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of policy is needed when an environmental problem extends across national boundaries?

<p>International</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define the term 'transboundary problem' and give an example.

<p>Transboundary problems are ones that affect everyone regardless of country lines and borders, e.g., acid rain.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define 'environmental policy'.

<p>Provides guidelines meant to restore or protect the natural environment.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does an environmental impact statement (EIS) accomplish?

<p>It outlines the positive and negative impacts of a proposed action.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the order of the policy decision-making process?

<p>Identify a problem — consider options — formulation — adoption — implementation — evaluation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor(s) influence U.S. environmental policy decision making?

<p>Industry lobbyists, science, and congressional committees</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is political lobbying?

<p>Any attempt by groups or individuals to influence decisions of government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the term 'waste' defined?

<p>A human term used to describe things we throw away.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the law of conservation of matter state?

<p>Matter can be neither created nor destroyed; it only changes form.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the majority of municipal solid waste produced in the United States?

<p>Landfill</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the cheapest and most common method of handling solid waste in developing countries?

<p>Open dumps</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is hazardous waste?

<p>Waste that is toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive, or radioactive.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How would you classify choosing to buy goods with minimal packaging?

<p>Reducing</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the four Rs to help an individual limit waste production?

<p>Reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Population Growth

  • When birth rates equal death rates, the global growth rate is 1.06%.
  • The agricultural revolution, starting approximately 10,000 years ago, caused a dramatic increase in global human population size.
  • The Industrial Revolution, a more recent event, also significantly impacted human population growth.
  • Negative consequences of human population growth include land degradation, water supply depletion, water pollution, and environmental degradation.
  • Overconsumption in developed nations, such as the United States, affects water supply in less developed countries. This is because pollutants end up in water sources making the water undrinkable.
  • We currently use water at 38% of the rate it is replenished.

Sustainable Cities

  • To create sustainable cities, we can implement strategies like:
    • Redirecting storm water to plants
    • Creating rooftop gardens
    • Developing walkable cities
    • Offering public transportation options
  • Urban areas are often environmentally unfriendly due to factors like sewage overflow, traffic congestion, food importation, and waste exportation.

Bioaccumulation and Biomagnification

  • Bioaccumulation is the buildup of substances within a single organism.
  • Biomagnification occurs when these substances move up the food chain as one organism consumes another.

Sustainability

  • Sustainability refers to the ability to continue a process indefinitely.

Ecosystem Services

  • Ecosystem services are essential ecological processes that enable life on Earth.
  • Nutrient cycling is a valuable ecosystem service because it reduces waste and conserves energy.

Ecological Footprint

  • The ecological footprint quantifies the impact humans have on the environment.
  • The IPAT equation, which estimates a population's ecological footprint, considers impact as a product of:
    • Population
    • Technology
    • Affluence

Cradle-to-Cradle Management

  • Cradle-to-cradle management involves considering the entire life cycle of a product, from raw materials to final disposal or recycling.

Ozone

  • The chemical formula for ozone is O3.
  • Ozone is primarily found in the stratosphere.
  • Ozone shields Earth's surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation.
  • The major cause of ozone layer depletion is the release of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Environmental Policy

  • Environmental policy provides guidelines to protect and restore the natural environment.
  • Transboundary problems affect everyone regardless of national boundaries. Examples include acid rain.
  • An Environmental Impact statement (EIS) outlines the positive and negative effects of a proposed action.

Policy Decision-Making Process

  • The policy decision-making process follows these steps:
    • Identify a problem
    • Consider options
    • Formulate a policy
    • Adopt the policy
    • Implement the policy
    • Evaluate the policy

Factors Influencing US Environmental Policy

  • US environmental policy decisions are influenced by various factors:
    • Industry lobbyists
    • Scientific research
    • Congressional committees

Lobbying and Environmental Policy

  • Lobbying involves attempts by groups or individuals to influence government decisions.
  • Lobbying can impact policy decisions by giving power to individual interests and providing education.

Waste and Waste Management

  • "Waste" is a human term used to describe discarded items.
  • The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it simply changes form.
  • In the United States, the majority of municipal solid waste is disposed of in landfills.
  • Open dumps are the cheapest and most common method of handling solid waste in less developed countries.
  • Hazardous waste is classified as toxic, flammable, corrosive, explosive, or radioactive.

The Four Rs

  • To limit waste production, individuals can practice the "Four Rs":

    • Reduce
    • Reuse
    • Recycle
    • Rethink (or Refuse)

  • Choosing to buy goods with minimal packaging is an example of reducing waste.

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Environmental Biology Test #2 Study Guide PDF

Description

Explore the relationship between population growth and sustainable urban development. This quiz covers historical impacts on human population size, environmental challenges, and innovative strategies for creating sustainable cities. Test your knowledge on these critical modern issues.

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