| A | B |
|---|
| Scientific Method | The way a scientist approaches a problem by formulatimg a hypothesis and then testing it by means of an experiment |
| Ecological Footprint | The average amount of land and ocean needed to supply an individual with food, energy, water, housing, transportation, and waste disposal. |
| Environmental Sustainability | The ability to meet humanity's current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs |
| Renewable Resources | Resources that are replaced by natural processes and can be used forever, provided they are not exploited in the short term. Examples include fresh water in lakes and rivers, fertile soil, and trees in forests. |
| Nonrenewable Resources | Natural resources that are present in limited supplies and are delpeted by use; including minerals and fossil fuels. |
| Invasive Species | Foreign species whose introduction causes economic or environmental harm. |
| Moderately developed country | Developing countries with a medium level of industrialization and average per capita incomes lower than those of highly developed countries |
| Less developed country | Developing countries with a low level of industrialization, a very high fertility rate, a very high infant mortality rate, and a very low per capita income (relative to highly developed countries). |
| Highly Developed Country | Countries with complex industrialized bases, low rates of population growth, and high per capita incomes |
| Poverty | Condition in which people cannot meet basic needs for adequate food, health, and shelter |
| People Overpopulation | A situation in which there are too many people in a given geographical area. Results in pollution, environmental degredation, and resource depletion. |
| Consumption Overpopulation | A situation in which each individual in a population consumes too large a share of resources, more than needed to survive. Results in pollution, environmental degredation, and resource depletion. |
| IPAT Model | A model that shows the mathmatecal relationship between environmental impacts and the forces that drive them (number of people, affluence per person, and the environmental effects of technologies used to obtain and consume resources). |
| Ecology | A discipline of biology that studies the interrelationships between organisms and among organisms and their environment |
| Consumption | The human use of materials and energy |
| Global Commons | The earth's areas where resources common to all nations may be found. |
| Theory | An integrated explanation of numerous hypotheses, each supported by a large body of observations and experiments |
| Inductive reasoning | By carefully examining specific cases, general principles are discovered |
| Deductive reasoning | Gneralities are used to discover specifics without adding new knowledge |
| Scientific Assessment | The first stage of addressing any environmental problem, gathering information. |
