AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH.

MASTER OF URBAN PLANNING PROGRAM

UPL 621- Environmental and Land Use Planning

Final Examination- Spring 2023

Submitted by:

Sania Shanavaz

@g00095704

21/05/2023
1. The world's net zero emission NZE commitment is yet in its early stages of implementation.

(a) Briefly explain the NZE concept and origin/history.

a) NZE concept and origin/history: The concept of Net Zero Emission means cutting down on the amount
of Green House Gases emissions released into the environment to as low as zero on an annual basis,
and any residual amount will be encouraged to be reabsorbed from the atmosphere with the help of
forests & oceans. The goal is to achieve net zero emissions by around mid-century (2050). The concept
of Net Zero gained popularity through the Paris Agreement during COP21 in 2015.

Although there are various Conferences of Parties, or COPs, for various issues, the one that addresses
climate change is founded on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
It is a Convention, which is a treaty or agreement that is signed by Parties (the nations) who consent to
help improve our climate system. The UNFCCC's implementation is overseen and evaluated by the COP,
the body with final decision-making authority. Parties are the 198 nations that are participating in this
conference. Since 1995, they have gathered yearly.
192 of the 198 Parties to the UNFCCC are also Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, developed by COP in 1997.
While the UNFCCC outlines how nations can cut their GHG emissions, the Kyoto Protocol ensures that
we follow through on our commitment. It urges all countries to reduce their GHG emissions, but it binds
and places a heavier burden on the developed nations because they are largely to blame for the high
levels of GHGs currently present in our atmosphere. It went into effect in February 2005.

The COP 21 conference 2015 was a turning point in the fight against climate change. At COP 21, the
Parties kept their word and signed a historic agreement known as the Paris Agreement, which finally
united all countries in the fight against climate change and the need to adapt to its effects. It established
two incredibly significant long-term goals for all participating countries in 2016 and came into force
officially.

• To reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide and keep the world's temperature rise below 2
degrees Celsius, ideally to 1.5 degrees Celsius this century.

• To provide financial support for developing nations, reduce climate change-related problems, and
increase their resilience to the effects of climate change.

There are 196 parties to the Paris Agreement out of 198 to the UNFCCC. For the world to avoid the
disastrous effects of exceeding the 1.5°C threshold, the U.N. climate science panel stated that global
carbon dioxide emissions must fall by about 45% by 2030 and net zero by 2050. They will meet again in
November 2023 at Expo City Dubai, UAE.

(b) State if you agree or disagree with or are neutral (unsure) about the argument that the world cannot
achieve NZE as targeted.

b) The chances of achieving the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target by 2050 look bleak, and I am in favor of
the argument that although the rigorous efforts of the world nations would bring about some positive
changes, the Net Zero Emission target would be hard to achieve. Although policies and laws relating to
climate mitigation have advanced since the publication of the previous climate change report in 2014,
according to the AR6 Synthesis Report: Climate Change 2023, it is "likely that warming will exceed 1.5°C
during the 21st century."
 (c) Provide three specific reasons for your position.

c) The reasons, according to my observations, are as stated below:

1. The impracticality of a 100% shift to green energy by 2050:

2. Lack of Technology:

3. Inequity in the economic growth

(d) For each reason, cite at least one practical example (real-world and verifiable).

d) Examples are explained below:

1. The impracticality of a 100% shift to green energy by 2050:The NZE target is a great challenge and
will require nothing less than a total transformation of our energy systems. One of the visions of the
NZE target is that, by 2050, we will not need any oil fields or coal mines by then. Many of our
developed nations depend on fossil fuels, and such a shift will undermine our economies. The
diversification of the economy is a time-consuming process at various strata. The assumption is that
technologies and mitigation options that require collaboration to achieve scale and prevent
duplication are highly exposed to international trade and competitiveness. This depends on
expensive demonstration programs or needs assistance to generate market pull and standardization
to ensure interoperability will be implemented more slowly[1].

2. Lack of Technology: As we get closer to 2050, the importance of innovation grows because existing
technologies will not be able to get us all the way to net zero emissions. Almost half of the emissions
reduction required in the NZE by 2050 depends on technologies still on the drawing board or in
laboratories [2]. Twenty years is a good rule of thumb for any innovation to become a mature
technology. Compared to the NZE, these technologies are deployed 5-10 years later in advanced
economies and 10-15 years later in emerging and developing economies. There will be a positive
change indeed, but the process might spill beyond 2050.

3. Inequity in the world economy: By using a country's resources to compensate outside its borders
rather than for economic development, net zero may unintentionally impede economic development
in poorer countries. This can cripple their consistent contribution towards the NZE target. Although
the heavier burden is on developed countries, there is a chance of slowing down the process.
2. Your city faces perennial water supply problems because you are located in a semi-arid region; the few
aquifers in your region are not adequately naturally recharged; your urban growth rate is hyper-high;
and the local government is unable to keep up with the need for water infrastructure expansion.
Suddenly, businesses and residents are digging their own boreholes, and several unscrupulous borehole
drilling firms are popping up in your city. There is an urgent need to regulate the firms because of their
impacts. There are arguments for (due to benefits) and against (due to problems) borehole drilling. Local
policymakers have tasked you as the environmental planning director to develop a checklist that probes
the social, economic, and environmental impacts of borehole drilling that firms must address in order to
secure a permit for each project.
(a) List two benefits OR problems for each of the three elements (social, economic, environmental).

a) The benefits or problems of borehole drilling are:

a. Social
1. Benefit: Borehole water is an uninterrupted supply of water generally considered of superior quality
and rich in natural minerals, compared to chemically treated/desalinated pipe-supplied water,
unless the borehole is dug next to a dumping site, sewage lines, or septic tanks.
2. Problem: Strategic positioning of certain boreholes with respect to the location of the aquifers could
harvest more water for the house owner compared to the neighbor, which could potentially
instigate disputes between them over social inequity which would not be brought under control as
the boreholes belong to private property. In such cases, the authorities might have to strategically
take a decision in favor of both parties.

b. Economic
1. Benefit: Although borehole drilling can seem to be a huge upfront cost due to its low running and
maintenance cost, it can be beneficial as a long-term investment.
2. Benefit: Particularly in a semi-arid region where drought is looming over people's heads, a borehole,
especially a residential water borehole, can increase the property's value.

c. Environmental
1. Problem: Especially in a semi-arid region, consuming water from boreholes can deplete
groundwater levels, especially that of shallow aquifers
2. Problem: Boreholes require deep excavations, and differential settlements of soil structures could
happen in the surrounding ground, and this will immediately affect the structural stability of
buildings leading to distortion not only of buildings but of roads too.

(b) Using the table below, list not more than ten specific (examples) of criteria or impacts that you would
require firms to address.

Criteria/Impacts Yes No Unsure

1. Are you registered with the Environmental Department of the concerned state?

2. Is your drilling methodology approved by the authorizing department of the state

where the construction is going to be executed?
3. Does the water table level in the region fall between the range of 30m to 60m?

4. Is there a septic tank, wasteland, or sewage line within a 30m radius of the
borehole location?

5. Are there any other boreholes within a 10m radius of the borehole location?

6. Are there any concrete structures within the 10m radius of the borehole?

7. If yes, is the building constructed with a beam and column structure?

8. Have you obtained a NOC from the electricity and water authority of the state for
the specific location?

9. Does the borehole location fall in any groundwater-protected basins?

10. Has the water quality test been conducted in test boreholes?
3. The latest IPCC report in August 2022 identified three critical issues that the world must address in an
effort to combat climate change.

(a) List the three issues.

1. Methane emissions:
2. Cities or Urbanization
3. Consumerism or Anthropogenic factors:

(b) For each one, describe any two dilemmas you think the world faces in addressing the issue.
1. Methane emissions: Methane makes up about 20% of global emissions and is the second most
common anthropogenic GHG after carbon dioxide (CO2). Methane traps heat in the atmosphere
more than 25 times more effectively than carbon dioxide. Methane concentrations in the
atmosphere have more than doubled over the past two centuries, largely due to human-related
activities. Since methane is a potent greenhouse gas and has a shorter lifetime than carbon dioxide,
achieving significant reductions would quickly and significantly reduce the potential for atmospheric
warming. However, few efforts are being made to reduce emissions or profitably repurpose them in
order to taper the same. There are two primary causes for that:
a. The concerned parties do not have the technology to make methane into a resourceful by-
product. Oil and gas production facilities will soon be subject to fines for methane emissions.
However, the technologies to capture the highly potent greenhouse gas are still in their early
developmental stage.
b. Methane is released from livestock, oil and gas operations, even landfills as waste decomposes,
and certain natural resources. The concerned parties do not know about methane as a
combustible material that can be effectively reused. Even if they did, the technology comes at a
high price, especially for farmers to curb agricultural emissions. It can be tackled by providing
incentives to cooperating parties.
2. Cities: Cities are considered one of the major sources or contributors to climate change with respect
to the greenhouse effect, heat island effect, etc. It is identified that cities should be at the forefront
of this war against climate change. The major dilemma that would hinder the efforts would be:
a. The rising population in the cities. At present, 56% of the world's population lives in cities, ie.
4.5 billion. This is going to rise by another 2.5 billion by 2050. This will increase anthropogenic
activities, which in turn would contribute to climate change.
b. Lack of awareness: The vast majority of city dwellers, although they go through the adversities
of climate change, may not be well educated about the causes that led to the current situation
and the long-term repercussions of their one act of negligence today. There is an insufficient
sense of urgency in the city dwellers.
3. Consumerism as an anthropogenic factor: Consumerism causes 60% of all greenhouse gas (GHG)
emissions worldwide. The issue arises when we consume too much and unnecessarily. These issues
can be curbed only through adopting a sustainable way of living. The basic mottos of such a lifestyle
should be Recycle, Reuse, Reduce & Refuse. However, the two prominent challenges to tackling
the issue would be:
a. Inequality among the consumers: Responsible consumers usually take on the responsibility
for a system of numerous, intricately linked components that reinforce one another to create
a pattern of unsustainable behavior. They take the pain to segregate waste material and
dispose of plastics, glass, paper, etc., at home, while the irresponsible ones neglect. What
would it take for a consumer to overcome the abovementioned difficulties regarding time,
effort, and inconvenience? Add to this the intense competition in the workplace, where the
responsible consumer competes against those who are perfectly content with being
irresponsible. This leaves them with no motivation to pursue their sustainability goals.
b. High cost of living: According to studies, people's intentions to live healthily and sustainably
contradict what they do. Cost is one major obstacle keeping people from living more
sustainably. The affordable ways of living do not go hand in hand with sustainable ways of
living, and not everyone is affluent enough to have a choice to pick the sustainability path with
that extra dollar that they can dispose of.
4. People from all works of life have made significant contributions to environmental thought and practice,
qualifying them as environmental pioneers. Complete the table below for ten pioneers (add any four of
your choice).

Pioneer Contribution(s) to the environmental field (what they are credited for)
1. Ian McHarg A Scottish landscape architect who was one of the most influential
people in regional planning & environmental planning. He is also famous
as the father of GIS in planning. He pioneered the idea of ecological
planning in his 1969 book Design with Nature. One of the most well-
known books on landscape architecture and land use planning, it is still
in print today. He laid out the foundational ideas for geographic
information systems in this book, which later underwent development.
2. Rachel Carson American Biologist. The founder of the modern environmental
movement, Author of the controversial & prophetic book 'Silent
Spring.'Her contributions enabled the National Environmental Policy Act
to be passed in 1969.
3. Thimmakka Saalumarada An environmentalist from Karnataka, India, popularly known as 'Vriksha
Mathe (mother of trees)' for planting more than 8000 trees, including
400 banyan trees along a 4km stretch in a highway connecting Hulikal
and Kudur. She was honored with Padma Shri in 2019 by Indian
Government for her environmental services.
4. Svante Arrhenius Swedish physicist, chemist & Nobel laureate, popularly known as the
father of climate change in 1896. His work incorporates the greenhouse
effect into climate models of the Earth and, as a result, sparked an
investigation into what many consider to be the biggest existential
threat faced by modern humans; climate change.
5. Joan Bavaria A pioneer of socially responsible investments and founder of the concept
of Corporate Social Responsibilities that helps a company be socially
accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public even during rapid
economic growth.
6. Edward O. Wilson An American myrmecologist and socio-biologist from Harvard, who
advanced research on the topic of Biophilia and expanded and
popularized the idea, which was explained as ‘the innate affinity of
human beings with all forms of life and their inherent tendency to focus
on lifelike processes’ [1]. The same is studied in depth in his seminal
book 'Biophilia' published in, and further in his book 'The Biophilia
Hypothesis’ published in 1993.
7. John Muir Scottish-born American naturalist & writer popularly known as John of
the Mountain. He is known to be the father of national parks because
he was largely responsible for establishing Sequoia National Park and
Yosemite National Park, California. He founded the Sierra Club
promoting environmental conservation & he urged the U.S. government
to adopt the U.S. forest conservation policy in 1892.
8. Garett Hardin
9. Marjory Stoneman Douglas
10. Paul Elrich
An American ecologist and microbiologist best known for his
groundbreaking essay "The Tragedy of the Commons" in 1968, which is
regarded as a key contribution to ecology, population theory,
economics, and political science today. He warned about the effects of
overpopulation and taught us 'Lifeboat Ethics.'
Popularly known as “The woman who saved the Everglades" and one of
the most influential conservationists in 20th-century America. Through
the publication of her environmental classic, The Everglades: River of
Grass, in 1947, Douglas succeeded in preserving the ecological area and
her subsequent grassroots campaign to stop land-use practices that
threatened the Everglades.
An American entomologist, ecologist, and conservation biologist. With
the publication of The Population Bomb in 1968 and its sequel in 1990,
he made his mark on the global stage by announcing that the planet's
resources could not sustain its expanding population indefinitely.
5. (a) Describe Aldo Leopold’s land ethic. (b) List and briefly describe each of the other four philosophies of
managing the LSS. (c). Which ONE of the philosophies are you most opposed to and, briefly, why?

ANS:

a) The Land Ethics by Aldo Leopold: The land ethic by Aldo Leopold is an eccentric philosophy with a
central guiding principle that states that: "A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity,
stability, and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong if it tends otherwise!" [1]The basis of this
principle is that: "Morality functions to make us cooperate" Morality is about how we should act as
members of a biotic community which should be regarded as a "Moral community." The Land Ethic
of Aldo Leopold was published in 1949 in a collection of his essays, namely 'A Sand County Almanac
.'According to Leopold's conception of a land ethic, care for people and care for the land are
intertwined and cannot be done separately.

b) The other four philosophies or land ethics for managing Life Support System(LSS) are as stated
below:
1. Economic land ethics: The ethics completely based on economic self-interest. According to
Leopold, it has two flaws: 1) Most member of the biotic community has no economic worth, due to
which they could be neglected or eliminated, although they are vital for the ecosystem. 2) It tends
to relegate the duty of conservation to governing bodies. The dispersed and vast nature of the task
can result in inadequate attention by them to address the task.
2. Utilitarian ethics.- Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill, British philosophers from the 18th and
19th centuries, respectively, were the flag bearer of utilitarianism. It is simply depicting the idea of
how to use the land and is closely connected to Economic based land use ethics. However, it is
independent of the fact that the land owner makes a profit or not. In fact, these ethics can be used
to justify the limiting of a person's right to make a profit. It supports the claim that an action is
morally right if it benefits as many people as possible.
3. Libertarian land ethics – John Hospers promoted the philosophy. In simple words, this
philosophy implies that each individual has a right to a maximum amount of freedom or liberty to
the extent that it does not impede the freedom of other people; In short, 'Don't get in anyone's
way.' For their own defense, libertarians frequently turn to utilitarian justifications.
4. Egalitarian land ethics: This land ethic is often developed as a response to libertarianism, as it
ensures the maximum amount of human liberty but does not require people to help each other.
While libertarianism leads to uneven distribution of wealth, the egalitarian approach favors equality
which is Rooted in John Rawl’s ideologies. For example, Suppose it is acknowledged that a person
has a right to something. In that case, it is the duty of someone—whether it be a private individual
or a governmental body—to provide that opportunity or item to that person.

c) I strongly oppose Economic land ethics because as this generation is becoming more and more
environmentally conscious and cautious, this land ethic appears ethically wrong from its base. I
stand by Aldo Leopold's argument to promote a more ecological approach to land ethics which also
considers Conservationism and Environmentalism as critical evaluating factors.
6. (a) Critical to the planning and management of the LSS is the issue of rights (ownership). Identify and
briefly describe the three pertinent rights that any land use plan should address.

ANS: a) The three pertinent rights that any land use plan should address are:
1. Air rights- Air rights determine how much of the 'air' above the land is owned and
potentially could develop by the owner. Air rights give developers the freedom to build
upward. In order to avoid affecting navigable airspace, you must take certain aviation rights
into consideration when choosing the height of the building. In large cities like New York
City, Property developers can sell their air rights to adjacent plots if their property has
already run out due to density restrictions to continue building.
2. Surface rights- The ability to manage the surface of the land is referred to as having surface
rights. A person with surface rights to a piece of land can construct structures, cultivate and
sell crops and timber there, use the surface water, lease the land, or sell it.
3. Mineral rights-Minerals are defined as substances naturally occurring in the soil or as a
component of the geological formations or beneath the land. They include things like oil and
gas, coal, sulfur, underground water, and underground gas. Mineral rights are property
rights that give the owner the authority to extract the minerals found beneath a piece of
land. Surface rights can be distinct from mineral rights, which the property owner does not
always hold.

(b) Conflicts over the LSS, especially land, are resolvable at three distinct levels. (a) List the three levels.
(b) For each level, list two 'tools' or mechanisms for resolving disputes.

b) a. Conflicts over the LSS, especially land, are resolvable at three distinct levels, namely:

1. Personal or Individual level

2. Local Government level
3. Judiciary level

b. Two prominent tools used at each level for dispute resolution would be:

1. Personal or Individual level-

a. Negotiation- Negotiation is defined as any type of direct or indirect communication in
which parties with conflicting interests discuss potential joint actions to manage and
ultimately settle their dispute.
b. Adaptation- An adaptation is a change in the behavior of the opposing parties to meet
the new challenges related to the LSS, in this case, following an unsuccessful conflict,
without seriously redefining their basic objectives. It might happen due to repeatedly
failing to reach one's objectives or due to new external or internal restrictions that
restrict each party's ability to choose their course of action and make the accumulation
of costs and risks obvious.
2. Local Government level -
 a. Arbitration- In arbitration, the dispute is decided by a judge who is an impartial third
party. The arbitrator hears both sides' arguments and pertinent evidence before making a
binding decision. At this level, it is an out-of-court quasi-judicial method of dispute
resolution.
b. Mitigation- In mediation, an unbiased third party facilitates the disputants' making an
independent agreement. Unlike arbitration, a trained mediator works with disputing
parties to uncover the motivations behind their positions rather than imposing a
resolution. Parties may be able to fully explore their grievances and express their
emotions during mediation.

3. Judiciary level
a. ADR – Alternate Dispute resolution methods such as mitigation, arbitration, negotiation,
etc., also happen in this level. But when the quasi-judicial attempts for conflict resolution
fail, the matter comes to the court under legislative control.
b. Litigation – Litigation is the process of taking legal action for dispute resolution. There are
two kinds of laws that are enforced, Policie De jure which are statutory laws that are
written and passed by a body of legislation, and Policie De Facto, which are customary
laws consisting of regulations derived from a general practice accepted as law" and
existing separately from written law.
7. List and briefly describe the typologies of resiliency concepts. State which one of the types applies
most appropriately to urban and environmental planning.

Ans: The seminal work by C.S. Holling (1973) introduced the idea of resilience in the context of
system ecology. In his definition of resilience, he defined it as "a measure of the persistence of
systems and of their ability to absorb change and disturbance and still maintain the same
relationships between populations or state variables" [4,p. 14). To describe many facets of
resilience, multiple definitions have been developed over the years [5].The typologies of Resiliency
concepts are:

1. Ecological resilience: The ability of an ecosystem to react to a disturbance by resisting damage and
quickly recovering without changing state, losing functionality, or providing less of its services.
Because all communities and ecosystems are susceptible to risks like drought and flooding, which
are made worse by our changing climate, resilience is crucial everywhere. A system's vulnerability
can be viewed as a component of adaptive capacity, which is influenced by resilience. E.g., In the
case of a resilience ecosystem, it might undergo small to large damages in the case of a minor fire
incident. However, it will have the capacity to revive its functionality within a short period.
2. Socio-ecological resilience: Socio-ecology is the study of how humans interact with the surrounding
environment and how these interactions affect the environment. The ability of a socio-ecological
system "to absorb disturbance and reorganize while changing so as to still retain essentially the
same function, structure, identity, and feedback" is referred to as socio-ecological resilience.
Planning professionals can use socio-ecological resilience as a helpful framework for problem-setting
and problem-solving when dealing with non-linear and relational urban dynamics, claims Wilkinson
[6]. The interactions between ecological and societal communities are crucial for social-ecological
systems to be resilient. Due to the feedback between human behavior, environmental factors,
ecosystem services, and human well-being, an integrated analysis that considers nature and people
is necessary to comprehend the resilience of social-ecological systems. E.g., For instance, sea level
rise may necessitate relocation of coastal marshes and human infrastructure like concrete barriers
to preserve desired ecosystem services and prevent further flooding-related harm.
3. Engineering resilience: The ability of a system to return to a stable equilibrium following a shock is
referred to as engineering resilience. It refers to the speed at which it attains its original state of
equilibrium [7]. When we compare engineering resilience and ecological or socio-ecological
resilience, the one that focuses on maintaining the efficiency of a system function is engineering
resilience, and the one that focuses on maintaining the existence of a system function is ecological
resilience. E.g., An oil spillage in the ocean and the fastest pace at which the system gets back to
normal with appropriate rectification for the damage that occurred due to the incident.

Of the three resiliency concepts above, the most relevant typology to urban and environmental planning
is Socio-Ecological Resilience. Socio-ecological resilience is very important for adaptation for both
humans and ecosystem services. But we humans have to be mindful of being within a critical threshold,
if not, which might result in a detrimental regime shift and, in turn, affect the resilience of the
ecosystem.
 8. Two of the main steps in a typical environmental impact assessment (EIA) process are screening and
scoping.
(a) Briefly describe each of these steps.
Screening: It is the process of deciding whether or not a proposal should be subject to an EIA and, if
so, how in-depth it should be.
Scoping: It is the process of determining the issues and impacts that are likely to be significant, as
well as the parameters for an EIA. This help to determine the subject matter of the assessment and
the methodologies for undertaking the assessment

(b) Sketch and briefly explain or describe the funnel analogy of environmental planning to a
grassroots group
The Funnel Analogy of Environmental
Planning has three parts:
1. The top of the funnel is the Parameters
which is more of a wishlist for what you
would like to have as part of your plan,
e.g., an ecological park in the middle of
residential development.
2. The criteria cover the scientific Data or
technology supporting the plan or would
be required for the practical implementation of the plan, e.g., Data about the Ecosystems which
need to be supported in the upcoming Ecological park project.
3. The Standards are the set of policies or regulations that are brought about in place to support the
establishment of an environmental planning project. They are the specifics that the planners bring
into their plan and implement and are based on the scientific data available. E.g., The Urban growth
Boundary that is decided to protect the ecological park.

(c) Name the omnibus environmental act of the USA and that of the E.U. (d) How would you explain
the fundamental difference between the U.S. and E.U. acts to a layperson?

The environmental act of the USA is called the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 or NEPA,
and that of the E.U. is the Strategic Environmental Assessment(SEA) Directive of 1985. NEPA
requires that federal agencies evaluate the environmental effects of their proposed actions before
making decisions. In contrast, SEA defines a process that must be followed when evaluating a plan
or program that the procedure applies to. In short, NEPA is 'Project oriented,' and SEA is 'Process
Oriented.'

9. (a) List the four EIA techniques or methods commonly used by municipalities
The four EIA techniques or methods commonly used by municipalities
1. Checklist Method
2. Network Method
3. Overlay Method
 4. Matrix method.

(b) Describe how technically unique each is (what differentiates each one from the others).

1. Checklist Method: In the checklist method, the types of impacts connected to a specific project are
listed in checklists in a standard manner. Checklists are frequently used as organizational tools to
organize information or ensure no potential impact is missed. The EIA team sits down and creates a
list of the relationships between the activity and all the aspects it will affect. In most cases, it
requires less money and doesn't take long. This is the most commonly used method in
municipalities. Checklists may be:
a. Simple Checklist - a List of parameters without instructions on how to interpret or measure
environmental parameters, what kind of data is needed, or how to predict and evaluate
the effects.
b. Descriptive Checklist – Lists of environmental factors with data on measurement, impact
forecasting, and assessment are included.
c. Scaling or Weighting type - These checklists are effective at identifying impacts. They
perform not only the function of impact identification but also involve some level of
interpretation and assessment. These elements make these techniques appealing to
decision-making analysis. They quantify impacts reasonably well, although they use
subjective estimates.
2. Network Method: This method is primarily
used to illustrate the linkages between
different environmental aspects, thus
understanding the primary, secondary, and
tertiary impacts of developmental activity.
Flow charts or radiation diagrams are
typically used for illustration purposes.
Following the identification of
developmental activity, all potential initial
impacts are noted. Secondary and tertiary
impacts are identified and connected to the
network based on these primary impacts. This was first introduced by Sorenson in 1971

3. Overlay Method- This approach is based on a set of maps that depict the physical, social, ecological,
and aesthetic aspects of an area where a project is being undertaken. It allows for the distinct
mapping of important environmental features at the same scale as the project's site plan (such as
wetlands, steep slopes, soils, floodplains, bedrock outcrops, wildlife habitats, vegetative
communities, cultural resources, etc.). In olden times environmental features were traced in
different colors onto a transparent medium. The same activity is carried out in modern times using
computer software, hardware, data, and skilled labor. Geographic Information Systems, or GIS, is
what it is called.
4. Matrix method- This method offers a framework for how various project activities interact with
potential environmental effects. A straightforward interaction matrix is created when project
actions are listed along one axis (typically vertical), and environmental impacts are listed along the
other axis. For the USGS in 1971, Luna Leopold and associates developed this method. It lists about
88 environmental characteristics and conditions in addition to about 100 project actions. Below is a
sample of this matrix:
10. Briefly define, describe, or explain the following terms to a layperson. Be brief and succinct.

(a) Sustainability Triple Bottom Line - The term "triple bottom line"
(TBL), which is a sustainability-related construct, was coined by John
Elkington in 1997. TBL, which is driven by sustainability, offers a
framework for evaluating an organization's performance along three
lines: economic, social, and environmental. Elkington used the words
profit, people, and the planet as the three lines in his definition of
TBL, denoting the economic, social, and environmental lines,
respectively.
(b) Eminent domain - Eminent Domain is the power that the government possesses to take over private
properties to be utilized for public use with or without giving just compensation to the property owner.
Just compensation sums up the current market value of the property and the cost of the inconvenience
caused due to the allocation of property to the government.
(c) Exaction - An exaction is something that a property owner must provide to the community in order to
get permission to develop land, according to the local zoning authority. The "something" can be almost
anything, including money (a mitigation fee), land, a portion of the land's value, or other property types.
(d) Acute pollution- Pollution happens when a foreign body enters an entity and causes contamination.
When this happens suddenly in a significant quantity, it is called Acute Pollution. An oil spillage in the
ocean due to a pipe rupture can be an example of acute pollution.
(e) Dominion theory- According to this theory, both living and non-living things on Earth can be subjugated
by humans. The concept of dominion encapsulates the idea that humans occupy a special position in
God's created order. They are the only ones with authority over the physical world and the duty to use it
in a way that furthers the original Creative Act.
(f) Stochastic events – The events that happen randomly in an unprecedented manner due to a superior or
irresistible power with mostly adverse outcomes. It can also be called an Act of God or Force Majeure.
Examples include earthquakes, floods, landslides, a pandemic, etc.
(g) Concurrency growth management principle - One of the objectives of the Growth Management Act is
concurrency, which is the timely provision of public amenities and services in response to demand.
Maintaining concurrency refers to having sufficient public facilities available to serve new development
either immediately upon its occurrence or within a predetermined time frame.
(h) Usufruct - Usufruct is the right to use and profit from a property while another person is still owning it.
Usufructuary refers to the party who benefits from the usufruct. Usufruct is more restrictive in nature,
allowing ownership for a limited time with some restrictions. The agreement can end for several
reasons. For example, it could lapse with the death of the usufructuary, the end of the prescribed
period, or if the recipient is no longer eligible for the rights.
(i) Doctrine of a nuisance- The doctrine of nuisance is the principle that implies that a landowner cannot
use his property in a way that unreasonably impedes another landowner's use and enjoyment of his
property. Junk buildup, animals, noise, hazardous structures, filthy conditions, and encroachments on
the public right-of-way obstructing pedestrian movement are common nuisances.
(j) Free rider syndrome - The free rider syndrome is an economic theory of a market failure that happens
when people take advantage of resources, products, or services without paying for them. The
availability of resources, goods, or services may be excessive if there are too many free riders. The
problem occurs when some community members fail to contribute their fair share to the costs of a
shared resource.
(k) Malthusian theory - The Malthusian Theory of Population describes the exponential population growth
and arithmetic increase in the food supply. According to the Malthusian theory, the number of people
continues to increase faster than the amount of food available until famines, war, or disease cause the
 population to decline. Thomas Robert Malthus put forth the theory. He thought that preventive and
positive checks could create a balance between population growth and food availability.
(l) Brownfield- Brownfield is the land that is contaminated or suspected to be contaminated, which results
in the abandonment of the land for further development. The contamination can be due to hazardous
material or any pollutant.
(m) Trophic level - The term "trophic level" refers to an organism's place in the food chain. It scales from 1
for primary producers to 5 for humans and marine mammals. A consumer's trophic level is calculated by
adding one level to the mean trophic level of its prey.
(n) Anthropogenic events - Anthropogenic events occur as a result of human activity, usually in an adverse
manner. Such events can impact other humans, animals, plants, biomes, and ecosystems. They are
regarded as intentional, non-harmful human activities. Examples include groundwater extraction,
underground mining, vegetation clearing, chemical explosions, and infrastructure building.
(o) LULU- Locally Unwanted Land Uses or LULU are constructions or institutions that are required, but that
no one wants close by to their neighborhoods. Examples such as power plants or shelters for the
homeless are found unattractive within a neighborhood. Hence some people reject such proposals.
(p) Police power– The inherent power of the government or authority to put reasonable control over the
people and their private property within the jurisdiction to act in defense of public interest, which
protects general security, health, safety, morals, and welfare is called Police Power It is also called
Power of Sovereignty. E.g., The Government can impose a ban on certain fruit being imported to the
country if it proves to be harmful to the public due to the use of unapproved pesticides or can prevent a
person who has not done immunization against COVID from entering the country.
(q) UGB- Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) are geographical limitations or boundaries set around an urban
area to contain urban sprawl mandating that the area within the boundary can only be used for
development and anything beyond that should be maintained in its natural form or used for agriculture.
This helps the government to tackle the challenges posed by unplanned urbanization and encroachment
of cities into rural or farming land.
(r) Doctrine of waste- Waste is an unreasonable or improper use of land by an individual in rightful
possession of the land. The four common types of waste are:
a) Voluntary waste: The willful destruction or carrying away of something attached to the
property.

b) Permissive waste: Damage caused by an omission rather than an affirmative act

c) Ameliorating waste: An alteration in the physical characteristics of the premises by an

unauthorized act that increases the property's value.

d) Equitable waste: Harming the reversionary interest in property in a way inconsistent with
productive use. This cause of action is not treated as legal waste in courts of law but only by
courts of equity.

(s) NIMBY –NIMBY is the abbreviation for Not In My Back Yard. It is a pejorative term used to address
people or organization which opposes a development or proposal happening in their locality which they
consider undesirable or even hazardous. These people frequently have no issues if these things are put
in other neighborhoods.
(t) Cradle-to-cradle resource use concept- Cradle-to-cradle resource use is an all-encompassing strategy for
developing circular, regenerative, and environmentally friendly systems. It means planning sustainably,
keeping the end in mind, and ensuring that every material and component can be recycled, reused, or
returned to the environment without creating waste or pollution.
(u) Chronic pollution - Chronic pollution is long-term pollution that gradually worsens over time due to the
repeated or continuous emission of relatively persistent pollutants. Most pollution is predictable or
known, though it can change over time.
(v) Condemnation- A government or private organization may legally acquire property through
condemnation. For abandoned or unsafe properties, condemnation may be used to enforce housing and
safety regulations. Eminent domain is a legal tool that allows government agencies to condemn property
from its owners.
(w) Development moratorium - A construction or land development moratorium refers to a pattern or
practice of postponing or stopping the issuance of licenses, permits, approvals, or other authorizations
required for the division and construction of any land. It excludes the denial or delay of permits or
authorizations because they are inconsistent with applicable laws, regulations, zoning ordinances, etc.
(x) Grandfather (granny) clause - A grandfather clause is an exception that permits individuals or entities to
continue with practices that were authorized before implementing new rules, laws, or regulations. It is
also known as a legacy clause. Such exemptions may be established with restrictions or may be made
permanent. It is often applied to zoning laws when the purpose of a development changes.
(y) Biophilia - In 1973, German psychoanalyst Erich Fromm coined the term "biophilia," which he defined as
"love of life." E.O. Wilson, an American myrmecologist and socio-biologist from Harvard, advanced
research on this topic and expanded and popularized the idea of Biophilia as 'the innate affinity of
human beings with all forms of life and their inherent tendency to focus on lifelike processes’ [1] in his
seminal book ‘Biophilia published in the year 1984.
(z) Sunset Clause A law, regulation, or statute specifying that it will no longer be in force after a certain date
unless it is extended by legislation. It is said to contain a sunset clause or provision. Most laws do not
contain this provision, so they are in effect forever. ‘Periodic review' of the law or statute is another
name for it. The sunset clause was added primarily to avoid the onset of legislative inertia. Unwanted
laws won't build up in this way.
(aa) Inverse condemnation - Property owners are entitled to just compensation under the legal theory of
inverse condemnation if their property is harmed by public use. Both utilities and all governmental
entities are subject to this liability rule. In the case of inverse condemnation, the property owner may go
to court and argue that the alleged condemning authority's actions amounted to a taking of property.
The property owner will then be able to proceed to the damages phase of their case and pursue a claim
for just compensation after the court rules that a taking of property has taken place.
(bb) Highest and best use philosophy- This philosophy or doctrine is defined as the reasonably probable use
that would yield the highest value for an asset, empty land, or property, regardless of its actual current
use. This doctrine runs on four basic principles so that the attempt to use is:

e) Legally permissible- Legally permitted uses are more probably, ie. Permitted by zoning and land
use planning, not forbidden by government regulations & prohibited by deed restrictions or
covenants. This could get tricky sometimes because certain uses imposed with restricted can be
fulfilled with we seek permission.

f) Physically possible - Any conceivable use must be physically feasible. But one must consider the
size, shape, topography, and accessibility of the site when determining if it is physically possible.

g) Financially feasible. - This specifically relates to the question of whether a financial investment
would be higher than the prospective financial return or, in simple words, if the money spent is
worth it.
 h) Maximally productive – Maximum productivity can be linked to maximum profit or highest
return most of the time. The term "highest return" can refer to several concepts, including
internal rate of return, net present value, development profit, and residual land value.

(cc) Impact fees - Impact fees are levied against new development projects by local governments in an effort
to reimburse the expense of building the public facilities needed to serve the development. Impact fees
are only applied to infrastructure projects directly related to the new development, such as roads,
schools, and parks. Impact fees may be used to cover a proportionate portion of the cost of public
amenities that will benefit the new development. However, they cannot be used to make good on public
amenities that already exist.
(dd) Inclusionary zoning - Developers are required or encouraged by inclusionary zoning to incorporate
affordable housing units within brand-new developments priced at market rate. When the provision of
affordable housing is voluntary, this practice is also known as incentive zoning. Though typically on-site,
there are some instances where affordable housing has been constructed off-site. The advantages of
this zoning are that it decreases economic and racial segregation while increasing the number of
affordable housing.
(ee) Greenwashing - Greenwashing happens when a private organization or public entity makes an
environmental claim about something the organization is doing that is intended to promote a sense of
the environmental impact that doesn't exist in reality. The green claim is typically about some form of
positive effect on the environment.
(ff) Subsidiarity spatial planning principle - Local needs should, when appropriate, be the primary
determinant in decision-making. The principle of subsidiarity recognizes that, in some cases, higher
levels may be required to decide because the issue or goal is too large to be effectively addressed
locally. For decisions regarding significant upgrades to the transportation infrastructure, as an example,
this would be the case. Alternatively, one could claim that making decisions at a higher level will have
net benefits.

YourName_ Sania Shanavaz_______________ ID#_______g00095704_____________

Please submit by 2300hrs (11 pm) on May 21, 2023. All submissions after this time will be rejected.
References

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