Chapter 1. Chapter 1: Environmental Literacy
What does it mean to be sustainable
Guiding Question 1.4
What does it mean to be sustainable, and what are the characteristics of a sustainable ecosystem?
Why You Should Care
The enormous scale of many of the environmental problems facing us is overwhelming. But we humans do not have to rely solely on our own inventiveness: Nature gives many examples of existing biological solutions to problems faced by humans. Looking to ecosystems for solutions is the heart of biomimicry. If we examine how these ecosystems get energy, manage population size, and recycle matter, then we will find solutions that we can implement today.
Question Test Your Vocabulary
Choose the correct term for each of the following definitions:
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| YDBRzZP4w84Vibae4dgijffMTDPLEKFVdMV7dvmvFSNRm4Y8UqrqHjS5lVwXBN7r3A2Q4Ykr1NoIrWCw | Energy that comes from finite sources or sources that are used faster than they are replenished. |
| XW49MZR4Dfh4lavijG3uOBOYbzN6cLf7bI72oqcuhZnomyt5AngiR0We6lS3JGBNebnc4LHX7R7XGAUv | Energy that comes from an infinitely available or easily replenished source. |
| N4/AJ+DhCrPrfuepo0YNzDTyZdgro78voIEIdaTqGR0oKLZouJ0ao5TlwKf2k/CuJxWfyzTk+w1blODY | The variety of species on Earth. |
| Sustainability Links | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rely on Renewable Energy | Video: "Planning for the End of Oil" | Website: "The Great Energy Challenge" |
| Use Matter Sustainably | Video: "Seeing a Sustainable Future" | Video: "Retrofitting Suburbia" |
| Have Population Control | Video: "How Mr. Condom Made Thailand a Better Place" | Video: "History of Human Population Growth" |
| Depend on Local Biodiversity to Meet the First Three Requirements | Video: "Let the Environment Guide Our Development" | Video: "Biomimicry in Action" |
Question Sequence
Question 1.1
In Iceland, the Viking citizens chose very different practices compared to the residents of Greenland. Those choices lead to hard times for centuries, as forests were logged too extensively, thin farm soils eroded, and overfishing depleted the nearby ocean. Today, Iceland has cooperative soil management to graze horses, goats, and cows; widespread geothermal renewable energy; and a desire to be the first country to use 100% renewable energy (using geothermal and hydrogen fuel from its volcanoes and hot springs).
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