SCIENCE AND THE ENVIRONMENTChapter 1

SECTION 1: UNDERSTANDING OUR ENVIRONMENT Environment

Everything around us Includes the natural world as well as things

produced by humans

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE The study of the impact of humans on the

environment

THE GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE To understand and solve environmental

problems Accomplished by studying 2 main types of

interactions between humans and the environment How we use natural resources How our actions alter our environment

ECOLOGY VS. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The study of how things interact with each other & their nonliving environment

The study of the impact of humans on the environment

Ecology Environmental Science

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE IS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY SCIENCE. Involves many fields of study

Biology: the study of living organisms Earth Science: the study of the Earth’s nonliving

systems and the planet as a whole Physics: the study of matter and energy Chemistry: the study of chemicals and their

interactions Social Science: the study of human populations

WHAT ARE OUR MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS? Can be grouped into 3 categories

Resource depletion Pollution Loss of biodiversity

RESOURCE DEPLETION Natural resource

Any natural material that is used by humans Renewable

Can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes Fresh water, air, soil, trees, crops, energy from the sun

Nonrenewable Forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is

consumed Minerals and fossil fuels

POLLUTION An undesired change in air, water, or soil that

adversely affects the health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms

Biodegradable Pollutants that can be broken down by natural

processes Human sewage, food wastes

Nondegradable Cannot be broken down by natural processes Mercury, lead, some plastics

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity

The number & variety of species that live in an area

The organisms we share the world with can be considered natural resources. An extinct species: a nonrenewable resource

If current rates of extinction continue, it may cause problems for human populations in the future

All species have potential economic, ecological, scientific, aesthetic, and recreational value

SECTION 1-2The Environment and Society

TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS

“THE TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS” 1968, ecologist Garrett Hardin:

The main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society.

Someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource.

If no one takes that responsibility, the resource can be overused and become depleted.

ECONOMICS AND THE ENVIRONMENT Economic forces influence how we use

resources Supply and Demand

The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth

Costs and Benefits Cost of environmental solutions can be high A cost-benefit analysis balances the cost of the action

against the benefits one expects from it Risk Assessment

Helps us create cost-effective ways to protect our health and the environment

DEVELOPED & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Developed

Higher average incomes

Slower population growth

Diverse industrial economies

Stronger social support systems

Ex: US, Japan, Canada, countries of Western Europe

Developing Lower average

incomes Simple &

agricultural-based economies

Rapid population growth

Ex: Indonesia, Ethiopia

Developed nations use about 75% of the world’s resources, even though they make up only about 20% of the world’s population.

One way to express the differences in consumption between nations:Ecological footprint

Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country.

A KEY GOAL OFENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely

Sustainability