Fossil Fuel Combustion as a Driver of Modern Global Warming

Parallel 'Hockey Stick' Trends: Income, Carbon Emissions, and Poverty Reduction

The Economy as a Subsystem of Society and the Biosphere

Environmental Resources as Primary Inputs for Production

Environmental Consequences of Economic Activity

Pre-Industrial Human Impact on the Biosphere

GDP's Neglect of Environmental Wellbeing

The Environment as a Source of Life Essentials

The Environment as a Source of Raw Materials for Production

Decline in Global Wildlife Populations (1970-2016)

Humanity's Ecological Footprint Exceeding Planetary Boundaries

Analyzing Economic and Environmental Interdependence

A company that manufactures and sells wooden furniture is an example of economic activity. Which of the following statements best analyzes the complete, two-way relationship between this company's operations and the natural environment?

Match each economic activity with the statement that best analyzes its two-way relationship with the natural environment, identifying both what it draws from the environment and its impact upon it.

Evaluating Sustainable Coffee Production

The primary relationship between human economic systems and the natural world is that the environment provides the raw materials necessary for production.

Applying the Economy-Environment Relationship

Evaluating a Community Incentive Plan

A government official proposes a plan to rapidly expand industrial manufacturing to boost economic growth. The plan focuses exclusively on maximizing the production of goods and creating jobs. Which of the following statements best analyzes a critical oversight in this plan, based on the fundamental interaction between economic systems and the natural world?

Arrange the following stages in the life cycle of a typical manufactured good to correctly illustrate the flow from its origin in the natural world, through the economic system, and back to the environment as waste.

World Wildlife Fund

A prominent economist argues, 'The economy is a self-contained system. As long as we manage our factories and financial markets efficiently, prosperity is guaranteed.' Which of the following statements provides the most robust evaluation of this argument?

Decline in Global Wildlife Populations (1970-2016)

Humanity's Ecological Footprint Exceeding Planetary Boundaries

Figure 1.22: Scenarios for Global Biodiversity Loss

Interpreting Environmental Data

A 2020 report on the state of the global environment found two key trends: 1) The population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles fell by an average of 68% between 1970 and 2016. 2) Humanity's consumption of natural resources is 56% greater than the planet's ability to regenerate them. Based on these two findings, what is the most logical conclusion about their relationship?

Evaluating Economic Policy with Environmental Data

Evaluating Global Environmental Trends

A major 2020 report on the state of the global environment concluded that, on average, the population sizes of vertebrate species (mammals, birds, fish, amphibians, and reptiles) saw a net growth of 68% between 1970 and 2016.

A 2020 report on the global environment presented several key findings. Match each key finding to its correct description.

A major 2020 report on the global environment stated that humanity's consumption of natural resources is overusing the Earth's capacity to regenerate them by at least ____%.

A 2020 report on the global environment detailed historical trends and projected future outcomes for biodiversity. Based on the report's findings, arrange the following events in the correct chronological and logical order, from the earliest historical period to the potential future recovery.

Evaluating Global Environmental Trends