Section Summary and Glossary

Section 1 Summary

This section introduced you to concepts of stewardship and environmental sustainability. For many, economic globalization is an inevitable part of contemporary life and a necessity for prosperity. A growing awareness of the legacies of economic globalization on the environment and the prosperity of future generations has created a call for action to prevent further environmental damage to the planet. There are diverse perspectives on whether globalization is the tool for creating change.

Section 1 Glossary

deforestation: the loss of areas of trees because of clear-cutting or urbanization

desertification: the transition of a viable and vibrant area of land into a desert-like condition due to overexploitation or climate change

environmental sustainability: the condition of maintaining the current state of the environment without further damage in the future

genuine progress index: an indicator of the sustainable prosperity of a country through the measure of the value of positive non-economic factors, such as volunteerism and education, against negative factors, such as pollution and crime

green space: a section of land preserved in its natural state, usually within an urban setting

implication: potential connection or result

urban development: the process of a community or land transitioning from rural to urban