Environmental Science Assignment

1. Why do capitalistic and centrally planned economic societies tend to have a greater effect on the environment then subsistence economies?

2. How can consumer choices of more environmentally responsible products make companies change their practices?

3. Name three options that you have when you grocery shop that would encourage more environmentally responsible actions on the part of companies.

4. Do you opt for the choices that you outlined in question six? Why or why not? Be specific.

5. What two factors greatly affect the overall resource use by humans?

6. How might developed countries decrease per capita resource use?

7. Name and describe three things that you can do today to decrease your personal resource use.
8. How did the industrial revolution enable humans to increase their carrying capacity?

9. The preservation of the planet is a universal problem that affects all citizens of the earth. Do you think that more wealthy nations have a responsibility to offset issues of environmental degradation at a higher rate than non-wealthy nations? Why or why not? Be specific.

10. Describe the ecological footprint of a person? What does population growth and population density tell you about the overall affect that a population will have on the planet once you know their average ecological footprint?

11. What is genetic engineering? Name one way in which it increases crop yield. Why are some scientists concerned about its application in human food production?

12. What are the possible effects of nutrients leaching into water systems?

13. Why is it important to manage soils in agricultural systems?

14. Why does it take so much more energy to raise meat than it does to raise plants for food?

15. Why does buying organic and local produce move agriculture towards sustainability?