Environmental Sustainability Flashcards

A city council is debating whether to adopt a single-use plastic bag ban. Which argument BEST supports this policy from a sustainability standpoint?

Answer: It reduces persistent plastic pollution that clogs waterways and harms wildlife

Single-use plastic bags persist in the environment for hundreds of years, harming aquatic ecosystems and wildlife that ingest or become entangled in them.

Which of the following is an example of a Nature-Based Solution (NbS) for flood risk management?

Answer: Restoring floodplain wetlands to absorb and slow floodwaters

Restoring wetlands provides natural flood attenuation by storing and slowly releasing floodwater, reducing peak flows and downstream flood damage.

A municipality wants to reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT) as part of its air quality strategy. Which approach would be MOST effective?

Answer: Investing in mixed-use, transit-oriented development near transit hubs

Transit-oriented development places housing, jobs, and services near transit, reducing the need for car trips by making walking, cycling, and transit viable.

What is the Precautionary Principle as applied to environmental management?

Answer: Taking preventive action to avoid environmental harm even when scientific certainty is lacking

The Precautionary Principle holds that when an activity raises threats to human health or the environment, precautionary measures should be taken even without full scientific proof.

A city manager is reviewing proposals for a new municipal building. Which certification system is most widely used to evaluate green building performance in the US?

Answer: LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)

LEED is the most widely recognized green building certification system in the US, evaluating buildings across categories including energy, water, materials, and indoor environment.

Which of the following best describes the concept of a 'circular economy' in municipal solid waste management?

Answer: An economic model that keeps materials in use as long as possible through reuse, repair, and recycling

The circular economy aims to eliminate waste by keeping products and materials in use through continuous cycles of reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling.

A municipality's Environmental Review process finds that a proposed development will have a significant adverse impact on a protected wetland. What is the MOST appropriate next step?

Answer: Explore project modifications, mitigation measures, or wetland permitting under Section 404

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act provides a permitting process for wetland impacts, and mitigation measures or project modifications may allow the project to proceed responsibly.