ENGR 413 STUDY GUIDE WITH
COMPLETE SOLUTION
Environmental Ethics - ANSWER Studies the moral relationship of human
beings to, and the value and moral status of, the environment and its
non-human contents
Instrumental Value - ANSWER The value of a thing as a means to further
some end (ie fruit from an apple tree has value for making juice)
Intrinsic Value - ANSWER The value of a thing in and of itself regardless of
whether they are useful as a means to another end. If something has intrinsic
value, then moral agents have an obligation to protect (or try not to damage)
that object.
P.Eng duty with respect to environmental ethics (3) - ANSWER Must exercise
reasonable care, prudence and current scientific knowledge in understanding
of environmental laws, regulations and bylaws, technical knowledge of the
substances being used, detailed analysis regarding potential impacts and
plans for handling, decommissioning, accidents, etc.
Canadian environmental law regulates on which levels? - ANSWER Federal,
provincial, territorial and municipal
Canadian environmental law on the Federal level covers... (7) - ANSWER
CEPA, CEAA, Pest control products act, Canada shipping act, arctic waters
pollution act, fisheries act, transportation of dangerous goods act.
Provincial provisions for exploitation of resources include... - ANSWER Water
pollution, air pollution, wildlife conservation/management regulations
,Who owns most natural resources in Canada? - ANSWER The provinces own
most natural resources (forestry, non-renewable resources, energy)
What are the 9 environmental professional guidelines in Canada - ANSWER
Develop/maintain awareness + understanding of environment related to
your field, use appropriate specialists where your competence is lacking,
apply professional + responsible judgement in your env. consideration,
ensure env. planning + mgmt. is part of your practice when adverse impacts
are possible, consider full LCA, include cost of env protection into economic
viability studies, promote transparency with stakeholders, comply with
regulatory requirements and aim to exceed them, work to improve practices
and environmental understanding
What is the idea behind Adam Smith's 'Invisible Hand"? - ANSWER Describes
how individuals maximize their good through trade and entrepreneurship,
and that businesses only think of their self-interest. Competition pressures
corporations to continually improve the quality of products and lower prices,
which benefits consumers and environment
Tragedy of the Commons - ANSWER Overuse of a shared natural resource
that will harm everyone, where the impact of the devastation of the resource
is shared by all.
Short summary of Newfoundland Cod Fishery collapse? - ANSWER In 1992
Cod population fell dramatically due to new tech that increased the volume
of fish caught beyond sustainable levels, led to fish population collapse and
moratorium on cod fishery and ~35,000 lost jobs with significant
environmental and economic impact
Globalization - ANSWER Describes how trade and tech have made the world
into a more connected and interdependent system, as well as the resulting
, economic and social changes.
Sustainable development can be described as economic growth that... -
ANSWER Does not deplete irreplaceable resources, does not destroy
ecological systems, and helps reduce gross social inequalities.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) - ANSWER An organizations'
demonstration of social and ethical performance and accountability to its
stakeholders
What is accountability? - ANSWER To explain/justify acts, omissions, risks,
and dependencies for which you are responsible
What drives CSR? - ANSWER Response to increased pressure on
organizations to demonstrate social and ethical performance and
accountability beyond just generating returns for shareholders
Principles of social responsibility (7) - ANSWER Accountability, transparency,
ethical behaviour, respect for stakeholder interests, respect for the rule of
law, respect for international norms of behaviour, respect for human rights.
Why do we need a management system for CSR and sustainable
development? - ANSWER To have confidence that everyone understands who
is responsible for doing what, when, where, why, and how, to demonstrate
the ability to meet customer, stakeholder and regulatory requirements, to
address customer and stakeholder satisfaction, to identify opportunities for
improvement, and to continuously improve.
CSR Accountability - ANSWER Answers impacts of decisions and activities to
those affected, accept responsibility for wrongdoing, remedy and prevent
wrongdoing, accept appropriate scrutiny, etc. Degree of accountability
related to the extent of authority.