Sociology 2155 Ai

Question 1

What are the three parts of environmental issues as discussed?

Answer 1

• Material part
• Ideal (ideological) part
• Practical part

These parts encompass consumption, economy, culture, ideology, and mobilization.

Question 2

What does environmental justice identify?

Answer 2

Inequalities, unfairness, and gaps in mutual aid within and across community members

It includes aspects across time, social space, and species.

Question 3

What are the implications of global climate change?

Answer 3

• Ocean acidification
• Drought
• Flooding
• Rising sea levels
• Implications for infectious diseases

Warmer temperatures facilitate the survival and spread of ticks and mosquitoes.

Question 4

What is the primary source of the world’s carbon energy economy?

Answer 4

81% oil, coal, natural gas + 9% other biofuels and waste

This accounts for 90% of the carbon energy economy.

Question 5

Which fossil fuel is considered the most polluting?

Answer 5

Coal

Coal contains more carbon than other fossil fuels.

Question 6

What is fracking and why is it controversial?

Answer 6

Fracking is the extraction process of oil and gas using high-pressure fluids, controversial due to:
* Methane’s potency as a warming agent
* Concerns over water contamination
* High water usage

Methane is more potent than carbon and has a much longer degradation time.

Question 7

What percentage of the world’s electricity is generated from nuclear energy?

Answer 7

10%

This is from 440 reactors worldwide.

Question 8

What are some challenges associated with renewable energy sources?

Answer 8

• Hydro disrupts water flow
• Wind turbines produce noise pollution
• Biofuels can compete with land for food and habitat

These trade-offs highlight the complexities of transitioning to renewable energy.

Question 9

What does the Gini coefficient measure?

Answer 9

The gap between rich and poor

A higher Gini indicates greater inequality.

Question 10

What is environmental racism?

Answer 10

Targeting groups based on prescribed biological characteristics, leading to higher exposure to industrial hazards in racialized spaces

It involves placing polluting industries near communities of color.

Question 11

What is the ‘One Health, One Future’ concept?

Answer 11

The interconnectedness of the natural world and human health

It emphasizes that all creatures suffer when one falls, promoting a holistic approach to health.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: The precautionary principle is preferred over _______ in environmental regulation.

Answer 12

Cost-benefit analysis

The precautionary principle focuses on preventing problems rather than just evaluating outcomes.

Question 13

What is the main concern with corporate responsibility after environmental disasters?

Answer 13

Corporations often prioritize profit over genuine environmental sustainability

They may change marketing without implementing real changes.

Question 14

What does the theory of leisure class suggest about consumption?

Answer 14

Consumption is motivated by competition and emulation

People signal status through conspicuous consumption.

Question 15

True or False: The average person in wealthier countries consumes significantly less water than those in poorer countries.

Answer 15

False

Wealthier individuals consume 3x more water, 6x more meat, and 10x more energy than those in poorer nations.

Question 16

What are some impacts of climate change on agriculture and food prices?

Answer 16

Affects agricultural yields and increases food prices

This leads to food security challenges, especially in vulnerable regions.

Question 17

What does ND-Gain measure?

Answer 17

A country’s vulnerability to climate change based on income and readiness

A lower score indicates better readiness and lower vulnerability.

Question 18

What are the material needs easily satisfied according to Marshall Sahlins?

Answer 18

Eat well, work less, more time for leisure

Question 19

According to Veblen’s theory of leisure class, what motivates consumption?

Answer 19

Competition and emulation

Question 20

Define conspicuous consumption.

Answer 20

Buying expensive cars/homes/etc. to show off

Question 21

What is conspicuous leisure?

Answer 21

Vacation travel, especially long distances

Question 22

What does conspicuous waste refer to?

Answer 22

Throwing out old things and replacing them instead of trying to fix them

Question 23

What are positional goods?

Answer 23

Goods that are in short supply and demonstrate power

Question 24

How do goods help maintain social relationships?

Answer 24

They carry sentiments and meanings cultivated in objects

Question 25

What is green consumerism?

Answer 25

Consumers feeling environmentally conscious, often exploited by companies

Question 26

What is the Easterlin paradox?

Answer 26

Weak relationship between wealth and happiness

Question 27

What is the hedonic treadmill?

Answer 27

Growing affluence and goods without gain in satisfaction

Question 28

What significant trend occurred from the late 1800s to the mid-20th century?

Answer 28

Long work hours

Question 29

What is mass consumption?

Answer 29

Increasing consumption of commoditized goods and services

Question 30

What is the impact of online shopping on consumer behavior?

Answer 30

Shopping is much easier and more enjoyable, leading to overconsumption

Question 31

How much clothing does the average American throw away annually?

Answer 31

81 pounds

Question 32

What percentage of global emissions comes from tourism?

Answer 32

10%

Question 33

What has happened to the size of North American homes since 1910?

Answer 33

Homes built today are 75% larger

Question 34

What is the relationship between caloric intake and wealth?

Answer 34

Wealthier countries have much higher calorie levels

Question 35

What is the Ontario housing crisis characterized by?

Answer 35

New homes being double the size of those in the 70s, leading to environmental degradation

Question 36

What is the cultural idea regarding economic growth?

Answer 36

Economic growth is key to meeting human needs

Question 37

What is the wage-price gap?

Answer 37

Hard for workers to buy products they make because they are too expensive

Question 38

What does the 'invisible hand' refer to in economic theory?

Answer 38

Competition leading to productivity and efficiency

Question 39

What is the 'invisible elbow' in economic terms?

Answer 39

Negative externalities that harm workers and the environment

Question 40

What does Wallerstein's World Systems theory discuss?

Answer 40

Core, periphery, and semi-periphery countries

Question 41

What is commodity fetishism?

Answer 41

Lack of recognition that every product has a human and environmental story

Question 42

What is the crisis of overproduction?

Answer 42

An economic situation where supply exceeds demand

Question 43

What does neoliberalism emphasize?

Answer 43

Individual freedoms and property rights, reduction in the influence of government

Question 44

What is green technology?

Answer 44

Application of environmental science to conserve resources and minimize human impact

Question 45

What is sustainable development?

Answer 45

Meeting human needs without undermining natural resources and ecosystems

Question 46

What is Jevons Paradox?

Answer 46

Technological innovations lead to increased overall consumption despite greater efficiency

Question 47

What are rebound effects in technology?

Answer 47

Unexpected increases in consumption due to greater efficiency

Question 48

What is the impact of SUVs on the environment?

Answer 48

Worse gas mileage and higher carbon dioxide emissions compared to medium-sized cars

Question 49

What is the role of information technology in consumption?

Answer 49

Can facilitate telecommuting but also worsen urban sprawl

Question 50

What are the costs of technological innovation?

Answer 50

Resource acquisition, hazardous by-products, and technology disposal

Question 51

What is e-waste?

Answer 51

Disposal of electronic products that often contains hazardous chemicals

Question 52

What are the costs of technological innovation?

Answer 52

* Resource acquisition - batteries * Hazardous by-products - microplastics * Technology disposal - e-waste * Lightbulbs contain mercury and leak it into the earth from landfills ## Footnote E-waste often contains hazardous chemicals and is frequently dumped in periphery countries, such as Ghana, leading to significant environmental harm.

Question 53

What is an example of a negative externality in technological innovation?

Answer 53

Microplastics ## Footnote Microplastics are a hazardous by-product of various technologies that can harm the environment.

Question 54

How can economic incentives influence technological innovation?

Answer 54

* Make negative externalities visible * Regulations (e.g., setting car prices based on environmental impact) * Incentive-based approaches * Extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies * Policies regarding disposal and pollution permits ## Footnote These strategies can promote more responsible technology use and reduce harmful impacts.

Question 55

Who discussed the social organization of comfort and convenience in technology usage?

Answer 55

Elizabeth Shove ## Footnote Shove's work emphasizes that consumption is driven not only by status but also by a pursuit of comfort and convenience.

Question 56

What percentage of domestic water use is accounted for by cleaning?

Answer 56

70% ## Footnote This statistic highlights the resource intensity of modern cleaning practices.

Question 57

Fill in the blank: The concept that we drive because the 'how-to' has become a 'have-to' is described by _______.

Answer 57

Elizabeth Shove

Question 58

What term describes the routine consumption controlled by conceptions of normality?

Answer 58

Cultural forces ## Footnote Cultural forces shape our habits and consumption patterns, often escalating resource use.

Question 59

What is the theory that focuses on the mutual consequences of humans and technology?

Answer 59

Actor-Network Theory (ANT) ## Footnote Developed by Bruno Latour, ANT considers both human and nonhuman actors and their complex interactions.

Question 60

True or False: Natural disasters are purely natural events and not influenced by human actions.

Answer 60

False ## Footnote A systems approach indicates that many disasters are partly the result of human actions, such as flooding and deforestation.

Question 61

What does Ulrich Beck's 'The Risk Society' suggest about modern risks?

Answer 61

* Transition to more technological hazards * Risks typically result from science and technology * Growing uncertainty and loss of faith in experts ## Footnote This theory highlights the increasing scale and potential for catastrophe in contemporary society.

Question 62

What are the two types of systems discussed by Perrow regarding technological disasters?

Answer 62

* Linear systems * Complex systems ## Footnote Linear systems are spread out (e.g., assembly lines), while complex systems are tightly coupled (e.g., nuclear power).

Question 63

What is a characteristic of tightly coupled systems?

Answer 63

Stress on the whole system ## Footnote Tightly coupled systems, like nuclear plants, have interdependencies that can lead to catastrophic failures.

Question 64

What influences knowledge about technology and the environment according to the text?

Answer 64

Power and control over messaging ## Footnote This dynamic can lead to distrust in science along political lines, hindering dialogue about change and solutions.