Exam 17: Sociology and the Environment

Which hypothesis predicts that the broadening of environmental concerns depends on the prevailing economic conditions?

What is meant by the assertion that environmental concern appears to follow an economic contingency logic? Why might this be?

In April 1998,Canada was one of the first countries to sign the Kyoto Protocol.According to the agreement,Canada committed itself to reach greenhouse gas emission levels six percent lower than its 1990 level by 2012.What result has Canada achieved?

According to the risk society thesis of Ulrich Beck,what were the developing welfare states of the Western world preoccupied with prior to World War II?

Explain the resource curse and the negative outcomes that might be experienced by a country rich in natural resources.

David insists that the only way the human race will survive is by stopping the "buzz-saw of progress" in Northern industrial nations and by halting its advance in less-developed countries.Which of the following would David see as being unrealistic?

What characterizes the second wave of environmentalism?

The psychological tendency known as future discounting means that many people are not inclined to change their environmentally dangerous behaviour since present reality is more important than future possibilities.

Elizabeth drove a clunker of a car with terrible gas mileage,so she used public transit as often as she could and drove the car only when public transit wasn't an option.After winning a fuel-efficient car in a sweepstakes draw,she stopped purchasing bus passes and drove everywhere she needed and wanted to go.What explains Elizabeth's change of behaviour?

Industrialized monoculture is large scale cultivation of a diverse array of organic foods.

Extracting oil from the Alberta tar sands is a very difficult technical process.What is a consequence of this reality?

After watching a pre-election political debate,Wayne commented to Wendy that he was amazed at the amount of time used by the major parties to discuss their position on environmental issues.Wendy said there was a really good explanation for that.Which of the following would she offer?

What term is used to describe when a company is presenting an environmentally responsible public image that is unfounded or intentionally misleading?

Alberta collects more revenue from oil than it does from the province's taxpayers,despite the fact that it has one of the lowest royalty rates for oil extraction in the world.

In what ways can citizens,businesses,and government interact,so we can all contribute to protecting the environment?

Countries such as India,China,and other developing nations want to share the affluence that is enjoyed by wealthier countries,and many developing countries are experiencing rapid industrial growth.But as was demonstrated by developed nations,industrial growth has serious consequences for the environment.Should developing nations be subjected to strict regulations on their greenhouse gas emissions? Why and/or why not?

Disadvantaged people are the primary victims of pollution.

The concept of sustainable development is central to much economic planning,but critics argue it is being used mainly as a rationale to allow more economic growth at the expense of the environment.What do you think: can economic growth and environmental quality coexist? Why and/or why not?

Coal,a polluting fossil fuel,has been rebranded as "clean coal," with controlled emissions and open-pit mines reclaimed for green space.Advocates claim coal is necessary for economic growth,while being environmentally friendly.What term identifies this approach?

According to the text,which of the following ushered in the third wave of environmentalism?