Environmental Systems and Societies

• Ecocentric


  Prioritizes the well-being of the biosphere over human interests or needs
• Anthropocentrism

  The perspective that humanity is the central concern, prioritizing human advancement over ecosystem health
• Technocentrism


  The perspective that technology and scientific advancement are superior to changes in human behavior in solving environmental problems
• Define System


  A set of interacting components that work together to achieve a common goal or maintain a specific condition.
• Tipping Point


  A critical point in a natural system where a small change or disturbance triggers a significant and often irreversible shift, such as a phase transition.
• The Anthroposphere


  The biosphere influenced by human activities
• Transfers in a system


  The movement of energy and/or matter between components or subsystems
• Transformations in a system


  Changes resulting from energy transfer and/or matter transfer
• Stable Equilibrium


  A state where the balance of forces/processes is maintained, with no net change or distortion
• Negative Feedback Loops


  Self-regulating processes that dampen or reverse changes, restoring stability
• Positive Feedback Loops


  Self-reinforcing processes that amplify changes, often leading to dramatic outcomes
• Resilience of a System


  The ability to withstand and recover from disturbances, perturbations, or shocks
• Sustainability


  The ability of a system to maintain operations and natural resources over time, without compromising long-term capacity
• Sustainable Development


  The optimal use of resources to satisfy present and future needs, without compromising the planet's ability to meet its own needs
• Social Sustainability


  The ability of a system to maintain itself over time by addressing social and human aspects of sustainability
• Economic Stability


  The ability of an economy to withstand and recover from economic shocks, maintain low inflation and unemployment, and ensure sustainable and equitable economic growth
• Gross Domestic Product (GDP)


  The total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific time period
• Green GDP


  A modified calculation of GDP that accounts for environmental and social costs, valuing ecosystem services and adjusting for environmental degradation and social costs
• Ecological Footprint


  A measure of human consumption and waste, calculating the amount of land and resources required to support our daily lives, taking into account biocapacity, consumption, waste, and carbon footprint
• Regenerative Economy


  A economic system that focuses on restoring and regenerating natural systems, social structures, and human well-being, by promoting circular economy, bioregionalism, ecological restoration, social equity, investment in human capital, and effective governance
• Distributive Economy


  An economic system that prioritizes the distribution of wealth and resources to ensure everyone has access to a decent standard of living, by implementing income redistribution, social welfare programs, worker-owned cooperatives, progressive taxation, and public ownership
• What is storage in a system?


  The accumulation or holding of resources, materials, or information within the system.
• What is the Gaia Hypothesis?


  A theory proposing that the Earth's physical and biological systems are interconnected and interact to form a self-regulating system.
• What is a Regime Shift?


  A sudden, large-scale transition to a new state or regime in a system, often triggered by a small change in conditions.
• What is an Alternative Stable State?


  A multiple stable state or regime that a system can exist in, maintained by feedback loops and self-regulating processes.
• What is an Emergent Property?


  A characteristic or behavior that arises from the interactions and organization of individual components within a system.
• What is a Water Footprint?


  The amount of water used to produce a product, service, or activity, including direct and indirect water use.
• What is Biocapacity?


  The amount of productive natural habitat available to produce resources needed to support human life.