© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. This lecture will help you understand: The meaning of the term environment The field and interdisciplinary nature of environmental

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

This lecture will help you understand:

• The meaning of the term environment

• The field and interdisciplinary nature of environmental science

• The importance of natural resources and ecosystem services

• Some pressures on the global environment

• Concepts of sustainability and sustainable development


Our island: Earth• Earth may seem enormous

- But it and its systems are finite and limited

- We can change the Earth and damage its systems

• Environment: all the living and non-living things around us

- Animals, plants, forests, farms, etc.

– Continents, oceans, clouds, ice caps

– Structures, urban centers, living spaces

– Social relationships and institutions


Humans are part of nature

• Humans depend on a healthy, functioning planet

• The fundamental insight of environmental science:

- We are part of the natural world, but we can also change it

- Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal

• We depend completely on the environment for survival

- Increased health, longer lives, wealth, mobility, leisure

- But natural systems have been degraded by pollution, soil erosion, species extinction, etc.

- Environmental changes threaten long-term health and survival


Environmental science

• Environmental science is the study of:

- How the natural world works

- How the environment affects humans and vice versa

• We need to understand our interactions with the environment

- To creatively solve environmental problems

• Global conditions are rapidly changing

- We are also rapidly gaining knowledge

- The opportunity to solve problems is still available


We rely on natural resources

• Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed for survival

• Renewable natural resources: can be replenished- Perpetually renewed: sunlight, wind, wave energy- Renew themselves over short periods: timber, water, soil

- These can be destroyed• Nonrenewable natural resources: unavailable after depletion

- Oil, coal, minerals


We rely on ecosystem services

• Natural resources are “goods” produced by nature- Earth’s natural resources provide “services” to us

• Ecosystem services: arise from the normal functioning of natural services- Purify air and water, cycle nutrients, regulate climate- Pollinate plants, receive and recycle wastes

• We degrade ecosystem services- By depleting resources, destroying habitat, generating

pollution- Increased human affluence has intensified degradation


Human population growth amplifies impacts

• There are over 6.9 billion humans

• Agricultural revolution

- Crops, livestock

- Stable food supplies

• Industrial revolution

- Urbanized society powered by fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal)

- Sanitation and medicines

- Pesticides and fertilizers


Resource consumption exerts pressures

• Exploitation and consumption of resources is also a problem

• Garret Hardin’s tragedy of the commons: unregulated exploitation of public resources leads to depletion and damage

– Soil, air, water

• Resource users are motivated by self interest

– They increase use until the resource is gone

• Solutions to the tragedy of the commons?

– Private ownership?

– Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use?

– Governmental regulations?


Our “ecological footprint”

• Affluence increases consumption• Ecological footprint: the

environmental impact of a person or population- The area of biologically

productive land + water - To supply raw resources and

dispose/recycle waste• People in rich nations have much

larger ecological footprints

If everyone consumed the amount of resources the U.S. does, we would need 4.5 Earths!


Overshoot

We are using renewable resources 30% faster than they are being replenished

Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earth’s capacity to support us


Environmental science

• How will resource consumption and population growth impact today’s global society?

• Civilizations have fallen after degrading the environment- Easter Island, Greek and Roman empires- Once lush regions (i.e. Iraq) are now barren deserts

• Civilizations succeed or fail according to how they interact with the environment- Along with how they respond to problems

• Environmental science can help build a better world


The nature of environmental science

Environment impacts Humans

• Its applied goal: solving environmental problems

• Solutions are applications of science

• An interdisciplinary field- Natural sciences: examines the

natural world- Environmental science programs

- Social sciences: examines values and human behavior

- Environmental studies programs


What is an “environmental problem”?

• Whether an environmental condition is seen as a problem

- Depends on the individual and situation

• Ex.: the pesticide DDT

- In malaria-infested Africa: welcome because it kills malaria-carrying mosquitoes

- In America: not welcome, due to health risks

People also differ in their awareness of problems, depending on who they are, where they live, what they do


Environmental science is not environmentalism

• Environmental science

– Pursues knowledge about the environment and our interactions with it

– Scientists try to remain objective and free from bias

• Environmentalism

– A social movement

– Tries to protect the natural world from human-caused changes


Sustainability and the future of our world

• Sustainability: we must live within our planet’s means- So the Earth and its resources can sustain us and all life

for the future• Sustainability involves conserving resources

- Developing long-term solutions- Keeping fully functioning ecosystems

• Natural capital: Earth’s total wealth of resources- We are withdrawing it faster that it’s being replenished- We must live off Earth’s natural interest (replenishable

resources), not its natural capital


Population & consumption

• Population growth amplifies all human impacts

- The growth rate has slowed, but we still add more than 200,000 people to the planet each day

• Resource consumption has risen faster than population

- Life has become more pleasant

- Rising consumption also amplifies our demands on the environment

• The 20 wealthiest nations have 55 times the income of the 20 poorest nations

- Three times the gap that existed 40 years ago


Ecological footprints are not all equal

• Not everyone benefits equally from rising affluence

• The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly

- The U.S. footprint is much greater than the world’s average

• In the U.S. the richest 1%

- Have 25% of all income


We face challenges in agriculture

• Technology expanded food production – Leading to increased population and consumption

• It’s one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but it comes at an enormous environmental cost– Nearly half of the land surface is used for agriculture– Chemical fertilizers and pesticides poison and change

natural systems– Erosion, climate change and poor management

destroy millions of acres each year


Humans have changed the Earth’s landscape

Agriculture, urban sprawl, and other land uses have substantially affected most of the landscape of all nations


We face challenges in pollution• Waste products and artificial chemicals

– Are used in farms, industries, and households– Contaminate land, water and air– Kill millions of people

• Humans are affecting the Earth’s climate– Melting glaciers– Rising sea levels– Impacted wildlife, forests, health and crops– Changed rainfall and increased storms

Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 39%, to the highest level in 800,000 years


We face challenges in biodiversity

• Biodiversity: the cumulative number and diversity of living things

• Human actions have driven many species extinct– Biodiversity is declining

dramatically– We are setting in motion a

mass extinction event

Biodiversity loss may be our biggest problem; once a species is extinct, it is gone forever


The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

• The most comprehensive scientific assessment of the condition of the world’s ecological systems

• In 2005, 2000 of the world’s leading scientists from 100 nations reported :

– Humans have drastically altered ecosystems

– These changes have contributed to human well-being and economic development, but at a cost

– Environmental degradation could get much worse

– Degradation can be reversed, but it requires work


Our energy choices will affect our future

• The lives we live today are due to fossil fuels– Machines – Chemicals – Transportation – Products

• Fossil fuels are a one-time bonanza– Supplies will certainly decline

We have used up ½ of the world’s oil supplies; how will we handle this imminent fossil fuel shortage?


Sustainable solutions abound

• Renewable energy and efficiency• Organic agriculture• Legislation and technology to reduce pollution• Protect species and their habitat• Recycling, decreasing waste• Decrease greenhouse gas emissions

We must develop solutions that protect both our quality of life and the environment


Are things getting better or worse?

• Many people think environmental conditions are better– Cornucopians: human ingenuity will solve any

problem

• Some think things are much worse– Cassandras: predict doom and disaster

• How can you decide who is correct?– Are the impacts limited to humans, or are other

organisms or systems involved?– Are the proponents thinking in the long or short term?– Are they considering all costs and benefits?


Sustainable development

• Involves environmental protection, economic well-being and social equity

• It does not threaten economic and social needs- Humans cannot exist without an intact, functioning

ecosystem

• Sustainable development: the use of resources to satisfy current needs - Without compromising future availability of resources


Sustainable development

• The poor suffer the most from environmental degradation• Development: purposeful changes to improve the quality

of life• Sustainable development: resources satisfy current

needs - Without compromising future availability of resources- It is not ever increasing economic gain- It values and prioritizes environmental protection- Human-made capital cannot substitute for natural

capital


Will we develop in a sustainable way?

• The triple bottom line: sustainable solutions that meet- Environmental protection- Economic goals- Social equity

• Humans must apply knowledge from the sciences to- Limit environmental impacts - Maintain functioning

environmental systems

We must make an ethical commitment to current and future generations


Conclusion

• Environmental science helps us understand our relationship with the environment

- It informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems

• Identifying a problem is the first step in solving it

• Solving environmental problems can move us towards health, longevity, peace and prosperity

- Environmental science can help us find balanced solutions to environmental challenges


QUESTION: Review

The term “environment” does NOT include:

a) Animals and plants

b) Oceans and rivers

c) Structures and urban centers

d) All of the above are included in this term.


QUESTION: Review

Which of the following is correct about the term “environmental science”?

a) It is a social movement to protect the environment.

b) It studies how the natural world works.

c) It usually does not include human activities.

d) It is a declining science.


QUESTION: Review

If you add various amounts of fertilizer to plants in a laboratory, the fertilizer would be a ______ variable.

a) Correlative

b) Natural

c) Independent

d) Rare


QUESTION: Review

What is the definition of “sustainable development”?

a) Using resources to benefit future generations, even if it means lower availability now.

b) Letting future generations figure out their own problems.

c) Using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability.

d) Letting each country decide what is its best interest.


QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

What do you think of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment?

a) It is a well-supported report on the Earth’s ecological systems.

b) It abuses science to draw special conclusions.

c) It suggests much more study is needed on environmental problems.

d) It concludes that humans really aren’t causing many environmental problems.


QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

Do you think it is ethical for the United States to have the largest ecological footprint in the world?

a) Yes, because we find the most new technologies and resources.

b) Yes, because the footprint of the United States is not really that large.

c) Definitely not; people in the United States need to reduce their footprint.

d) It does not matter; it’s not that important.


QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data

According to this graph, what was responsible for population growth over the last 500 years?

a) Fossil fuels

b) Increased food

c) The Black plague

d) Education


QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data

What happens if test results can not reject a hypothesis?

a) The scientist formulates a new hypothesis.

b) It shows the test failed.

c) The hypothesis was supported

d) The predictions may not have been correct.

Documents

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. This lecture will help you understand: The meaning of the term environment The field and interdisciplinary nature of environmental