Appellate: a court that will hear cases on appeal from lower courts

Biodiversity“the variability among living organisms for all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part.”: “the variability among living organisms for all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part.”

Biomassliving organisms that be used for fuel or for industrial purposes: living organisms that be used for fuel or for industrial purposes

Desertification: land degradation in an arid area

Ecosystemthe whole web of relationships among a particular environmental habitat and the plants, animals, and human beings who depend on it.: the whole web of relationships among a particular environmental habitat and the plants, animals, and human beings who depend on it.

General Agreement on Tariffs and TradeAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. (GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990.): At the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. in order to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATTAt the Bretton Woods conference following World War II, representatives of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, and 40 other countries created GATT to reduce barriers to international trade. It was an agreement not an organization. The functions of GATT were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. were taken over by the World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations when it was established in 1990. 

Gross Domestic Product (GDP): A statistical measure of “the total value of the goods and servicesA good is a tangible item that someone has made, mined, or grown. A service is a form of work, assistance, or advice that provides something of value to someone else but does not produce a tangible item. produced by the residents of a nation” less the “value of net income earned abroad.” This is usually the measurement cited to describe the size of a nation’s economy.

Global Warmingthe worldwide rise in temperatures that has been blamed for severe weather in many parts of the world.: also called climate changethe worldwide rise in temperatures that has been blamed for severe weather in many parts of the world.—refers to the worldwide rise in temperatures that has been blamed for severe weather in many parts of the world.

Hydrological cycle: the movement of water in the atmosphere through 5 steps in a cycle: condensation, infiltration, run-off, evaporation, and precipitation.

Invasive species: infiltrators that invade ecosystems beyond their historic range.

Irradiationprocess in which something is exposed to radiation.: process in which something is exposed to radiation.

Jurisprudence: theory and philosophy of law

Marine Mammal Protection Actenacted in the U.S. 1972 to protect all marine mammals. It was based on the following principles: some marine mammals and fish stock could become extinct due to human activities; these stocks should not fall below sustainable levels; measures need to be taken to replenish stock; there is inadequate knowledge of ecology and population dynamics; and, marine mammals are a resource of great significance. (MMPA): enacted in the U.S. 1972 to protect all marine mammals. It was based on the following principles:  some marine mammals and fish stock could become extinct due to human activities; these stocks should not fall below sustainable levels; measures need to be taken to replenish stock; there is inadequate knowledge of ecology and population dynamics; and, marine mammals are a resource of great significance. 

Multilateralmultiple countries working together to on a specific issue: multiple countries working together to on a specific issue

Multilateralmultiple countries working together to on a specific issue environmental agreements (MEAs): agreements between states that set out binding or non-binding legal principles concerning that parties need to consider before doing something that might affect the environment

North American Free Trade Area (NAFTAa treaty between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which eliminated tariffs on many products traded between the three countries. It also protects intellectual propertyIntellectual property refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary or artistic works, and the symbols, names, and designs used in commerce. and outlines the removal of investment restriction amongst the three countries.): a treaty between the U.S., Canada and Mexico, which eliminated tariffs on many products traded between the three countries. It also protects intellectual propertyIntellectual property refers to the creations of the mind, such as inventions, literary or artistic works, and the symbols, names, and designs used in commerce. and outlines the removal of investment restriction amongst the three countries.

Organization for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentA group of the world’s most advanced and wealthiest economies that is both a forum for and an active participant in debates about international economic policies. It was established in 1961 and now has 34 members, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and most members of the European Union. (OECDA group of the world’s most advanced and wealthiest economies that is both a forum for and an active participant in debates about international economic policies. It was established in 1961 and now has 34 members, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and most members of the European Union.): A group of the world’s most advanced and wealthiest economies that is both a forum for and an active participant in debates about international economic policies. It was established in 1961 and now has 34 members, including the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, and most members of the European Union.

Ozone depletiona decline of ozone in the atmosphere: a decline of ozone in the atmosphere

Ozone holesdecrease in ozone over the Earth’s polar regions: decrease in ozone over the Earth’s polar regions

Sovereigntycomplete and exclusive control of all the people and property within a territory: complete and exclusive control of all the people and property within a territory

Subsistence farminga system of farming that provides just enough for the family, without a significant surplus available to be sold.: a system of farming that provides just enough for the family, without a significant surplus available to be sold.

Sustainable Developmentdevelopment that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Uruguay RoundA World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations round of trade negotiations, which took place between September 1986 and April 1994.: A World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations round of trade negotiations, which took place between September 1986 and April 1994.

Watersheds: a place where water gathers from falling rain, melting snow, and flowing water

World Commission on Environment and Development: It was convened by the United Nations in 1983 to address accelerating deterioration of the environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration on economic and social development.

World Trade Organizationan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations (WTOan international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations): an international body dealing with the rules of trade between participating nations

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