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97 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Agricultural land per capita is declining, leading to: |
more demand for animal feed, human food and biofuel |
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The "rise of the consumer class" |
25% of humanity now within this class- constant consumption of material goods the image of the house= bigger houses with more stuff and less people |
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Which MDG (Millennium development goals) have made progress? |
All: reduction of poverty, reduction of child mortality, increasing education, increasings women's rights
other MDG's: improved health care, environmental sustainability, partnership for development |
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Progress in implementing targets is currently... |
slow ex- Only 7% of fisheries are sustainable |
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Define: Human Development Index |
benefits of additional energy availability and income increase (more education, living longer, better quality of life)
Key: only to a certain point, past this is nearly overconsumption
Canada high on H.D.I.
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True or False: We need to raise consumption in needy countries while reducing it in wealthier nations |
True- for equity In the MDW, we need more emphasis on quality of life rather than quantity
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The Impacts of pollution on Health |
up to 2 million restricted days because of asthma
9 billion in extreme costs
therefore, pollution is having a huge affect on our health cause respiratory diseases, cancer etc. and is also impacting our economy |
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Does climate change have an impact on the Canadian economy |
YES: huge costly effects of pollution, expected to cost up to $43 billion per year in 2050 |
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Whose actions could yield the most important environmental changes, rapidly? |
Individual level (ex: we can buy smaller more fuel efficient cars/public transport, more sustainable purchasing decisions, local food)
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Biodiversity Crisis |
increasing endangered species
(ex: Blandings Turtle- being crushed by cars- we are seeing 100% loss, whereas naturally we should see 62-64% loss)
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Risk to Biodiversity in Canada |
the more habitat change=more risk for biodiversity
(70% of prairie wetlands drained, renaming one's affected by farming) |
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What do the Peregrine falcon and bald eagle tell us |
indicating species, their populations are declining. Even after PCB's are banned, we still find these compounds in high concentrations |
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Define: CITES |
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species this restricts trade of these species (ex: Orchid, parrots and rhinos= all exposed to poaching) Canada= weak support, failure to pay dues, often uninterested when species unrelevant |
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CBD: Convention on biological diversity |
Canada first to sign
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Species at Risk: Committee on the status of endangered wildlife In Canada |
determining the status of rare species does not guarantee its protection (ex: Grizzly bears only 300-650 breeding pairs left, decided they should not be listed) if less than 1,000 breeding pairs, species listed as threatened ex: Atlantic Cod (less than 1% left at one time), Nunavut not having resources to protect the polar bear
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Lack of species protecting progress in Canada |
436 species listed we have too little recovery strategies in place Overall low protection of ontario national parks |
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The problem with commercial development within parks |
ex: Banff- shopping space 3 times larger than TO, highways, gold courses, resorts This leads to the creation of islands problem=the smaller an island, the higher the rates of extinction
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What percentage of human population lives in urban areas |
more than half- the world's urban population is rising, urban population decreasing associated to a multiplying effect to environmental consequences we need to change city infrastructure to reduce footprint
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Urban Sprawl |
area's characterized by low population densities and significant travel costs causes loss of agricultural land harder for rapid transit- less effective public transit homes farther away from city centre |
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urban form |
type and distribution of infrastructure in cities a key factor influencing environmental quality (ex building designs affect energy efficiency, roads=interconnectivity) |
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Urban centres |
80% of Canadians live in urban centres- vast majority of Can. live in cities low rise and low density houses increasing # of people per house decreasing space and energy per person increasing the average home is farther away from city centres |
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Consequences of low density urban development |
core of automobile dependancy, greater travel distances decrease of public transit transportation= GHG emissions vehicles powered by fossil fuels |
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Waste Management |
Highest rate in Markham= 70%
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Environmental Issues in Cities |
increasing smog due to increased transportation- direct health correlation including cancer cost estimated $9 billion/year to our health care system (China- extreme smog) |
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Sustainable Urban Development |
enhanced well-being of cities or urban regions maintain quality of life for futur generations (ex: Rio de Janeiro trying to host Olympics, make more sustainable) |
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LULU |
Locally unwanted land use (Land fills and Incinerators) triggering a NIMBY attitude
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The whistler Challenge |
trying to reduce Whistler's ecological footprint high in tourism, a lot of energy consumption making the city more compact to reduce the use of transit goal= to reduce GHG emissions *first municipality in Canada to have complete all five milestones in the partners for Climate change protection program= 15% reduction (they defined emissions target, created local action plan and implement/monitors progress)
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Urban Heat Island Effect |
results in increased temperatures in core urban areas (common in city centres) 2 to 6 degrees celsius higher than that of rural area's consequence: generates smog and enhances ground level ozone
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urban affect on Hydrological cycle |
on both quantity and quality of water urban infrastructure creates an impervious surface which restricts infiltration and enhances run-off - resulting in surface flooding and reduced aquifer recharge (ex: pollutants from oil, gas and salt dissolved in water systems) |
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Brownfields |
abandoned or active industrial sites contaminated through previous disposal practices accepted in earlier times leaking underwater storage tanks, burning of waste |
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Best Practice for future |
= smart growth; includes land use and development practices; limit costly urban sprawl, use tax dollars efficiently, creates liveable communities; create compact, walkable centres t avoid sprawl |
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How can we improve air quality? (municipal governments) |
government needs to make incentives for walk/cycle and public transit and eating locally
energy efficient vehicles, develop renewable energy sources, improve building standards, constrain urban sprawl, reduce energy use |
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Chicago's role in LEED |
requires all new buildings to meet LEED silver requirements leading city in green roofs- encouraged through subsidies
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San Francisco's role |
banned plastic bags in supermarket and pharmacies in 2006 |
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4 key factors of urban sustainability |
urban form, transportation, energy and waste management |
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Energy use in residential buildings influenced by: |
construction materials, orientation, climate conditions and urban form
more advanced green designs can reduce energy use by 30-50% (some over 70% with solar panels) |
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Canada and Fossil fuels |
between 1990 and 2000, fossil fuel increase by 30%- energy use has been increasing we are the 6th largest energy user worldwide |
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passanger vehicles account for |
54 % of energy use fossil fuel needed for transportation- transportation by car increasing negative: as this maintains dependancy on fossil fuels heavy release of GHG |
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Offshore petroleum |
account for 3/5 of current world production- most production is offshore running out of land based deposits
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Offshore in Canada |
started in 1992: in Nova Scotia Canada currently does not have a plan if oil spills we will run out of resources by mid century in these deposits
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Athabasca Oil Sands |
worlds second largest world reserve of petroleum (1st Saudi Arabia)
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Extraction of oil |
needs a lot of stream and land disturbing migratory paths of species forests- cutting down tree's negative, trees important in carbon cycle 65% of water withdrawn from the river air quality, 1 billion kg of air pollutants emitted export through pipelines- could leak |
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Fracking |
hydro-fracking fracking fluid pumped into forms of sedimentary rocks- used to break up rocks material raise to surface and can extract natural gas from mixture con: not proven safe, esp. safety of water Fracking in Ontario |
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Constraints of energy sources |
many sources confined to specific environments and locations difficulty of transporting energy (ex. wind power wave energy=low solar energy Nuclear power- major accidents)
Future=renewable energy |
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Biomass energy |
non- renewable- cannot be replenished over a period short enough to support humans ex: coal, liquid fuels, natural gas used in rural areas (ex. burning of firewood or combustion of crop or animal waste, renewable as long as its use and capacity to produce it are balanced) |
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wind farms |
expanding globally US leaders in wind farms, followed by China/Germany
issues: noie and unknown health concerns (chronic fatigue syndrome- exposure to low frequency sound), wind not constant
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Potash |
Canada largest exporter and producer of potash found is Saskatchewan 90% used in fertilizers- good for plant growth *fertilizer will become important as nations struggle to feed growing populations
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Coal and Uranium |
1/3 of energy production in Canada uranium fuel or nuclear reactors |
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Nuclear Power |
12-15% of electricity low operating costs and relatively low emissions nuclear power plants key in Canada to meet electricity demands
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What is the least valuable service provided by Canada's forests? |
Timber products |
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The value of forests |
climate moderation and carbon storage, nutrient cycling and waste decomposition and water cycling, major carbon sinks |
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Harvesting processes |
clear-cutting=greatest nutrient loss
seed tree cutting shelter wood cutting selective cutting
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Reforestation |
until 1985, considered unnecessary now: still mismatch between trees removed and trees replanted all same tree's, all same age- this does not occur naturally |
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Biocides |
to reduce competition for seedlings- protect from insect damage effort to reduce the impact on ecosystems |
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Forest Fires |
pro's- forests need fires to release nutrients in soil and help with new growth recent fires-- insects are contributing |
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Invasive species: mountain pine beetle |
eggs laid underneath bark of trees Larva feeding on bark of tree very resilient insect cut off tree's nutrients, killing the tree
infestation signs: leaves start turning red, dry environment |
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the spotted Owl |
the most endangered species in Canada they prefer multi layered canopy habitats- different heights preferred food: bushy tailed wood rat (found in these forests)
therefore, forest are becoming more alike *barred owl attach spotted owl |
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Canada has 8 major eco- zones |
boreal cordillera, pacific maritime, montane cordillera, boreal plains, boreal shield, taiga plains, atlantic maritime, mixed wood plains |
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Largest eco-zone in Canada |
Boreal Shield Canada has 1/3 of world's boreal forest |
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Non timber products |
wild rice, mushrooms, berries, maple syrup, nuts, medicines |
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Rate of conversion |
old growth forests have high timber volumes, while second growth have lower volumes= fall down effect
*culmination age key |
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Disadvantages of clear cutting |
opening are regular in shape with no vegetation doesn't kill pathogens and removed nutrients compacts soil and leads to erosion |
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Land best suited for agriculture also best suited for expansion |
a lot of Canadian arable land has been used for urbanization much agriculture on poor quality soil |
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intensification of production |
a key strategy, putting more land into production, also increasing the yield |
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Trends of stocks |
Stocks are lowest in 30 years explanation: global demand in increase, as a result stocks are at its lowest levels *production of cereals does not match world demand |
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competition between human consumption vs feed |
use less grain as food source, more grain used on livestock as feed |
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trends in increased world demand for food |
increase in greater demands in cereals, meats and potatoes are at all time high in developing countries prices for cereals (rice) increasing problem: price are rising |
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soil erosion |
soil removed from place of formation by gravitational, water and ind processess |
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soil compaction |
compression of soil as a result of frequent machinery use on wet soils or the overstocking of cattle inhibits flow of water in poor spaces crop yields can be reduced by 60% |
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Salinization |
deposition of salt in irrigated soils, making them unfit for most crops; caused by rising water table due to inadequate draining of irrigated soils irrigated croplands worldwide less productive (soil un useable)
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summer fallow |
practice common on the prairies in which land is ploughed and kept bare to minimize moisture losses through evaporation-- lead to increased salinization result: crop yields reduced by 75% practice of summer fallow declining |
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Dominant crop in Canada |
Wheat although it is declining- replacing with soybeans (which are easier to grow and more tolerant to cold) prairies account for 81%
Canada= 85% of world's maple syrup Other: blueberries, potatoes |
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Canada's poultry Farms |
Canada produces approx. 50% of worlds poultry Quebec
(43% of world's beef)
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What are Biocides and what is the biocide treadmill? |
increased use on global scale used to produce and preserve food we eat control weeds, lawns, insects problem: need to continually produce new biocides because of resistant pests= biocide treadmill |
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Edrin (biocide) |
controls brown rat but kills minnow |
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bioaccumulation and biomaginfication= bioconcentartion |
Bioaccumulation: the storage of chemicals in organisms ex DDT, biocides being persistent
Biomagnification: build up of chemical elements in organisms of trophic levels (found in top predators) bioconcentration is the combined effect |
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Agriculture and global warming |
over 30 years, yields likely to decline by 10% for every 1 degree celsius increase 40% reduction in yield rice has no fertility at 40 degrees |
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The green revolution |
global production of wheat and rice dramatically increased selective breeding, intensive irrigation, fertilizer use 1st GR- developed countries; 2nd GR new farming practices in LDW ex Nerica rice- 50% more yield, more resistance to droughts and pests |
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Does more fertilizer= more yields? |
No deletion of nutrients use of fertilizers has reached its limits |
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GMO's |
Genetically modified "miracle seeds"= new strains resistance against pests and changing environmental conditions changing genetic codes, giving new characteristics increasing |
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Why use GMO's |
because yields achieved through conventional agricultural techniques will not increase significantly in the future
*long term consequences need to be addressed |
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Subsidence Farming |
production of food is intended to satisfy the needs of the farm household les energy intensive (10X less energy per unit of food) |
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Rise of chemicals in modern farming |
fertilizers and biocides chemicals having imperative consequences on eco systems ex: effect on bee farms *therefore, technocentric perspective of modern farming |
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Trends in Meat consumption |
globally we are increasing our consumption of meat- poultry dramatically increased eating at the highest level on the food chain problem: tremendous loss of energy if we look at the grains used to feed animals= not an effective energy transfer |
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The livestock revolution |
the shift from family farms to factory farms/feedlots problem: manure-nutrient management, also causing pollution, impact of having so many animals in one place |
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Ploughing
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used to destroy weeds, loosens top soil for water infiltration and development of crops |
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Crop rotation |
alternation of crops in fields to restore soil fertility and control pests |
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Strip cropping |
different crops planted in parallel to slope effective in reducing soil losses |
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No till farming |
on the rise least disturbance to soil refers to 0- minimum to protect biological function of soil while improving crop yields |
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How much fresh water reserve is in Canada? |
20% Canada has 7% of the worlds renewable fresh water |
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Water consumption |
united states- 400L/day/person North America- 343L/day/person we only actually need 3-5L/day *most household water is used for showers/baths
world- 2/3 people get by on less than 50L/person/day |
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Water quality |
In Canada, only 48% good/excellent quality this means some small cities don't have adequate water treatment (ex. Manitoba first nations- many first nations living under boil-water advisories-Neskantanga since 1995)
*2/5 of the world-no access to sanitary water |
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water contamination on fish |
drinking water contaminated with drugs Rainbow darter fish intersex |
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Alberta flood 2013 |
flood was predictable the lack of action of Alberta government- should have ensured this flooding (but did not follow recommendations) and instead used money for sports facilities
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Not so great lakes |
water levels lower (4-5L) than they were last year lack of precipitation, warmer than usual climate concern for coastal wetlands |
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Is water a human right? |
even in 2010, Canada still opposed to water as a human right, yet we cannot live without it
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non point source vs point source |
non point source: agricultural run-off point source: phosphorus |
