Urban Sustainability
What is the stereotypical image of sustainable living in the 21st century?
High-density modern cities
Definition of Anthropocene
The current geological age
What does the VERTICAL axis represent on the graph?
The potential of human power
What is San Francisco's highest "outside of city" carbon footprint?
Food & Beverages (4 Million Tonnes CO2)
How does the Anthropocene view the relationship between humans and nature?
Humans and nature are linked together
What does the HORIZONTAL axis represent on the graph?
The active/passive role of our planet
What is the issue with past/current awards for low carbon footprint cities such as Seattle and San Francisco?
Studies don't count the full life cycle of emissions of all goods & services in the city
"Nothing more than accounting tricks"
List 3 ways humans have had a measurable influence on the environment.
Ocean acidification
Erosion of Biodiversity
Reduction of sediment flows
Most geochemical cycles
Large-scale land use changes (Reclamation for agriculture & Urbanization)
What are the 4 ways the site matters
Denialism, Anthropocentrism 2.0, posthumanism, eco-modernism
What is the leading problem with neighborhood-specific greening?
Social displacement occurs and resources often concentrate in wealthy neighborhoods
What makes the Anthropocene different than the previous era?
It is viewed as the period during which human activity has been the dominant influence on climate and the environment
What is the major flaw or weakness of the Denialist position?
"The weakness is that real facts will emerge, as people will learn the hard way" -Sijmons
What are the next 3 recommended steps of Urban Sustainability?
Step 1) Focus less on individual neighborhoods and more on city-wide efforts
Step 2) Implement low-carbon policy networks
Step 3) social equality is just as important as urban sustainability
Which year is NOT regarded as a start date of the Anthropocene:
A) 10,000 years ago (Man left Africa)
B) 1769 (Steam Engine was Invented)
C) 1879 (Lightbulb was Invented)
D) Mid 20th Century (Atomic bomb was Invented)
C) (lightbulb was Invented)
What is the founding principle behind the Posthumanism/Ontological Pluralism position?
"Humans are but a small cog in the web of life spanning the whole living planet" -Sijmons