Chapter Summary: Chapter 14
Economics, Politics, Worldviews, and Sustainability
14-1 How are economic systems related to the biosphere?
Economic resources and systems have a direct impact on the creation of environmental problems and their eventual solutions. Natural capital, human capital, and manufactured capital all comprise economic resources, which must be managed to sustain the world’s environmental health. CONCEPT 14-1 Ecological economists and mostsustainability experts regard human economic systems assubsystems of the biosphere.
1.Distinguish between the following: natural capital, manufactured capital, and human capital. Distinguish between the neoclassical economist view and the ecological economists view on the importance of natural capital.
14-2 How can we use economic tools to deal with environmental problems?
Economic methods—such as full-cost pricing and green taxes—must be implemented in order to improve and maintain appropriate environmental quality. CONCEPT 14-2 We can using resources more sustainably by including their harmful environmental and health costs in the market prices of goods and services(full-cost pricing); by subsidizingenvironmentally beneficial goods and services; and by taxing pollutionand waste instead of wages and profits.
2.Define gross domestic product (GDP). Evaluate the commonly held belief that GDP is an indicator of a country’s wellbeing. Describe alternative indicators that take social and environmental factors into account. Evaluate the accuracy of these indicators.
3.Define external costs. Give examples of external costs and external benefits that might be involved in purchasing a car. Define full-cost pricing.
4.List six political tools that can be used to improve environmental quality and reduce resource waste. List advantages and disadvantages of each tool. Evaluate which tool you think is best. Be prepared to defend your choice.
5.Predict likely consequences for a society whose goal is zero pollution.
14-3 How can reducing poverty help us to deal with environmental problems?
CONCEPT 14-3 Reducing poverty can help us to reducepopulation growth, resource use, and environmentaldegradation.
6.Define poverty. Describe the trickle-down theory. Evaluate its effectiveness in decreasing poverty levels. Describe several strategies that can help to reduce poverty.
14-4 How can we make the transition to more environmentally sustainable economies?
The environmental revolution is an economic revolution, which must develop a sustainable society for the earth’s people in long-term ways. CONCEPT 14-4 We can use the three principles of sustainability as well as various economic and environmental strategies to develop more environmentally sustainable economies.
7.List five ways to move toward a more ecologically sustainable economy
14-5 What is environmental policy and how is it made?
Environmental policies can be slow to create and enact in a democratic society. CONCEPT 14-5 Through its policies, a government can help to protectenvironmental and public interests, and encourage moreenvironmentally sustainable economic development. Individuals play an important role in the environmental movement.
8.List three types of environmental leadership. Compare mainstream and grassroots environmental groups.
9.Summarize the goals and tactics of the anti-environmental movement.
14-6 How can we improve global environmental security?
National and global securities are intrinsically bound with the earth’s environmental security. CONCEPT 14-6 Global environmental security is necessaryfor economic security and is at least as important as nationalsecurity.
10.Discuss how environmental security is linked to military and environmental security.
11.List three problems with and solutions for dealing with international environmental treaties.
14-7 What are some major environmental worldviews?
Today’s environmental compromise and degradation have been directly influenced by major human-centered environmental worldviews, all of which posit that earth exists for man. The environmental wisdom worldview believes that man is not in charge, should not waste the earth’s resources, and should live sustainably by mimicking the ways the earth has sustained itself. To accomplish this, each person must be environmentally literate. CONCEPT 14-7 Major environmental worldviews differover which is more important—human needs and wants,or the overall health of ecosystems and the biosphere.
12.List four basic beliefs common to planetary management worldviews. List and contrast four schools of thought within the planetary management worldview.
13.Distinguish human-centered worldviews and earth-centered worldviews. List the beliefs of one earth-centered worldview. Summarize environmental ethical guidelines regarding the relationship of humans to ecosystems, species, human cultures, and individual responsibility.
14-8 How can we live more sustainably?
The fundamentals of environmental literacy include: natural capital matters, our ecological footprints are immense and expanding, ecological and climate-change tipping points are irreversible. Learning to live more simply and renewing our connection with nature are important components to changing our destructive habits. CONCEPT 14-8 We can live more sustainably by becoming environmentally literate, learning from nature, living more simply and lightly on the earth, and becoming active environmental citizens.
14.Summarize the goals of environmental literacy. Discuss strategies for bring about a sustainable revolution during your lifetime.