Sustainability Quiz Review

Topics to Know

·       Tragedy of the Commons

·       Environmental science – definition, problems that ES is concerned with, causes of those problems

·       Environmentalism vs. ecology

·       Sustainability – definition, ways of measuring sustainability (using the IPAT equation), 4 principles of sustainable environments/sustainability

·       Ecological footprint

Practice Questions

Answer all of the following questions to the best of your ability in complete sentences wherever possible.

1. Define sustainability.

2a. Suppose new technologies allow cars to become more efficient and produce half the amount of polluting emissions. Using the IPAT equation, which of the following is the most likely outcome?

A. The impact on sustainability will be doubled.

B. The impact on sustainability will increase.

C. The impact on sustainability will not change.

D. The impact on sustainability will decrease.

E. The impact on sustainability will be halved.

2b. Explain your answer to question 2a.

3. Define ecological footprint. Be specific.

4. Suppose the world’s population stopped growing today. Answer each of the following and support your answer.

a. What (if any) environmental problems might this help?

b. What (if any) environmental problems would remain?

c. What (if any) environmental problems might population stabilization make worse?

5. In regards to the principles of sustainability, to what does nutrient cycling refer?

6. Thinking about the principles of sustainability, identify three ways that individuals can live more sustainably. Support each method you develop (by explaining how the method will make you or groups of people or all of humanity).

7. Define and describe environmental science.

8. Contrast environmentalism and ecology.