What are Global Risks?
A problem or threat that can affect many countries or the entire world, making them difficult for one country to solve, requiring international cooperation.
What categories can we sort global risks into?
economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, technological
Cause and effects of pollution
causes emission of black carbon- release of black carbon into the atmosphere-more absorption of sunlight in atmosphere-increased temperature of the earth
what is the geographical risk of biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse?
biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse-rapid decline in species, habitats and food-rapid decline in necessary natural resources-economy decline in countries that benefit from these natural resources
When does species extinction occur?
when the last individual of a species dies, ending its existence permanently
How many MEEs( mass extinction events have occurred so far, and what were the main causes?
Five, caused by climate change, reduced ocean oxygen levels, ocean acidification, and more rarely asteroids
What are causes of Species extinction in TRFs(tropical rainforests)?
Deforestation, fragmentation, population sizes are lower in TRFs, bushmeat hunting
What effect does forest fragmentation have on species extinction?
Increases rates;
1- increases isolation for species, limiting reproductive gene pools, leading to greater disease spread
2- affects species requiring large territories to prey, losing considerable coverage
What effect does deforestation have on species extinction?
removing tree coverage reduces the ability of forests to provide shelter, food and water
Why is the fact that population sizes are smaller in TRFs important to species extinction?
A small change can therefore have a large effect on a single species
What effect does bushmeat hunting have on species extinction?
Bushmeat hunting leads to significant declines in wildlife populations, often resulting in species unable to recover due to overexploitation.
This practice can disrupt ecosystems and threaten biodiversity, particularly in regions where hunting pressure is high.
What three services do forests provide species?
sufficient area to prey, species interaction, shelter
How is climate change increasing the risk of species extinction?
Affects breeding patterns, increases the risk of forest fires, makes it difficult for species to survive
Define the Butterfly effect
a tiny change in the system can cause large and unpredictable effects later on
What are the global risks?
wildfires, species extinction, disease outbreaks
Define wildfires
Large, uncontrolled infernos that quickly spread through wild landscapes
Define controlled burns
small, planned fires set by experts to reduce fuel for wildfires (dry vegetations), and maintain healthy ecosystems
What are international connections?
International connections are the links between countries (through trade, travel, environment) that mitigate global risks
What are some patterns of species extinction?
Where, when, why species are becoming extinct- most extinctions happen in biodiversity hotspots- linked to human activity- therefore extinction is increasing, happens most in sensitive areas, mainly caused by human actions.
Impacts of bird populations declining
less pollination- decrease in plant reproduction- decrease in agriculture (food products)- countries that rely on/benefit from agriculture are at risk
Patterns of wilfires
occur because of heat, fuel and oxygen, most common in US
Impacts of wildfires
Destroyed around 13,000 football fields of land, 16k homes and businesses destroyed, habitat destruction
types of disease outbreaks
pandemic, endemic, epidemic
define epidemic
A widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
