The Environment and Sustainability Flashcards
7 cards from real BECE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 The Environment and Sustainability flashcards as text
What does 'sustainable development' mean?
Answer: Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Sustainable development balances economic, social, and environmental needs so that current generations can thrive without depleting resources for the future.
Which international agreement aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change?
Answer: The Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement
The Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015) are landmark international treaties aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions to limit global warming.
What is the main environmental benefit of composting organic waste?
Answer: It reduces landfill waste and creates nutrient-rich soil amendment
Composting diverts organic waste from landfills and produces humus-rich compost that improves soil health and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
How do mangrove forests benefit coastal ecosystems?
Answer: They protect coastlines from erosion and provide nursery habitat for marine species
Mangrove forests stabilize shorelines against erosion, buffer storm surges, and serve as critical nursery grounds for many fish and invertebrate species.
Which human action most directly contributes to soil erosion?
Answer: Removing vegetation through overgrazing and deforestation
Removing plant cover through overgrazing and deforestation exposes bare soil to wind and rain, causing rapid erosion and loss of fertile topsoil.
What is the significance of the water cycle (hydrological cycle) for ecosystems?
Answer: It continuously moves and recycles freshwater through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation
The water cycle continuously circulates freshwater through evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, making it available to all living organisms.
What is the concept of 'carrying capacity' in environmental science?
Answer: The maximum population size an environment can sustain given its available resources
Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals of a species that an environment can support indefinitely with its available food, water, and space.