Sustainable development

Living in the Environment 16th Ed. Chapter 1 :Key Terms biodegradable pollutants harmful materials that can be broken down by natural processes. conservation the management of natural resources with the goal of minimizing resource waste and sustaining resource supplies for current and future generations. culture the whole of a society?s knowledge, beliefs, technology, and practices, and human cultural changes have had profound effects on the earth. developed countries (with 1.2 billion people) include the United States, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and most countries of Europe. developing countries All other nations (with 5.5 billion people) are classified as developing countries, most of them in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. ecological footprint