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Provisioning Ecosystem Services The products obtained from ecosystems, including, for example, genetic resources, food and fiber, and freshwater.
Public Goods A good that an individual will generally not produce since they do not
gain the full benefits of production and rather is something that needs a public role
in the production. Technically, economists define this as a good that is both nonexcludable and non-rivalrous in that individuals cannot be effectively excluded
from use and where use by one individual does not reduce availability to others.
Public International Law International laws governing the relationships between
states as opposed to their private citizens and private organizations (e.g., nongovernmental organizations and corporations).
Public Sector The portion of the economy under direct governmental control,
including public services, public enterprises, and public policy.
Pulse Events Events that occur suddenly and are likely to affect people and communities over a short period of time and are more difficult to predict (e.g., sudden
weather events or economic shocks). (In contrast, see press events.)
Race to the Bottom A theory that unregulated economic competition results in a
focus of cost-reduction at the expense of all other factors such as environmental
protection, and worker pay and safety.
Rationality assumption Agents are often assumed to behave rationally, such that
their decisions are always those that maximize a particular objective (usually
profit or utility). This assumption is often violated in human decision-making.
Rebound Effect An unintended response to changes in the social system, such
as the introduction of new technology or a policy, that results in a reduction in
benefits from that technology of policy.
Redundancy A design strategy that provides reliability, robustness, or resilience
using multiple and backup systems. See Reliability, Robustness, and Resilience.
Reforestation Planting of native trees in an area with decreased density/numbers
of trees. Compare to Afforestation.
Region An area of land that has some common features, which could be natural,
such as climate or landscape, or social, such as language or religion.
Regulating Ecosystem Services The benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, including, for example, the regulation of climate, water, and
some human diseases.
Relative Metrics Metrics that take account of context concerning budget, constraint, peer, or history, (e.g., a power plant may consume water at 90% of its
operational capacity).
Reliability The percentage of time a system is free from failure.
Renewable Fuel Standards (US) A US federal program originating in the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 and expanded under the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 that requires transportation fuel sold in the USA to contain minimum volumes of renewable fuels.
Replacement Cost The costs incurred by replacing ecosystem services with artificial technologies.
Replacement Value The value obtained by replacing ecosystem services with artificial technologies.
Glossary
Provisioning Ecosystem Services The products obtained from ecosystems, including, for example, genetic resources, food and fiber, and freshwater.
Public Goods A good that an individual will generally not produce since they do not
gain the full benefits of production and rather is something that needs a public role
in the production. Technically, economists define this as a good that is both nonexcludable and non-rivalrous in that individuals cannot be effectively excluded
from use and where use by one individual does not reduce availability to others.
Public International Law International laws governing the relationships between
states as opposed to their private citizens and private organizations (e.g., nongovernmental organizations and corporations).
Public Sector The portion of the economy under direct governmental control,
including public services, public enterprises, and public policy.
Pulse Events Events that occur suddenly and are likely to affect people and communities over a short period of time and are more difficult to predict (e.g., sudden
weather events or economic shocks). (In contrast, see press events.)
Race to the Bottom A theory that unregulated economic competition results in a
focus of cost-reduction at the expense of all other factors such as environmental
protection, and worker pay and safety.
Rationality assumption Agents are often assumed to behave rationally, such that
their decisions are always those that maximize a particular objective (usually
profit or utility). This assumption is often violated in human decision-making.
Rebound Effect An unintended response to changes in the social system, such
as the introduction of new technology or a policy, that results in a reduction in
benefits from that technology of policy.
Redundancy A design strategy that provides reliability, robustness, or resilience
using multiple and backup systems. See Reliability, Robustness, and Resilience.
Reforestation Planting of native trees in an area with decreased density/numbers
of trees. Compare to Afforestation.
Region An area of land that has some common features, which could be natural,
such as climate or landscape, or social, such as language or religion.
Regulating Ecosystem Services The benefits obtained from the regulation of ecosystem processes, including, for example, the regulation of climate, water, and
some human diseases.
Relative Metrics Metrics that take account of context concerning budget, constraint, peer, or history, (e.g., a power plant may consume water at 90% of its
operational capacity).
Reliability The percentage of time a system is free from failure.
Renewable Fuel Standards (US) A US federal program originating in the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 and expanded under the Energy Independence and Security
Act of 2007 that requires transportation fuel sold in the USA to contain minimum volumes of renewable fuels.
Replacement Cost The costs incurred by replacing ecosystem services with artificial technologies.
Replacement Value The value obtained by replacing ecosystem services with artificial technologies.
Glossary