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Shohail ChoudhuryShohail Choudhury
Introduction toIntroduction to
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEIntroduction toIntroduction to
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCEENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Living in the Environment
14th Edition
Chapter 1
Environmental Problems, Their Causes,
and Sustainability
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Environmentalists think that, we are living unsustainably by wasting, depleting, and degrading the earth’s natural capital at an accelerating rate.
Oppositions argue that, environmentalists have exaggerated the seriousness of population, resource, and environmental problems.
To understand this debate, we need to understand:
Population growth
Resource use and waste,
Poverty
Loss of Biological diversity and
Global climate change
Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability
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Living in an Exponential AgeLiving in an Exponential AgeLiving in an Exponential AgeLiving in an Exponential Age
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Hunting and gathering
Black Death–the Plague
Time
Industrialrevolution
Agricultural revolution
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Two Ancient Kings and Chess
Exponential Growth
A quantity increases at a constant rate per unit of time such as 2% a year.
1950: 2.5
2000: 6.4
2100: 8-12 Each doubling is more than the total of all earlier growth.
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Hunting and gathering
Black Death–the Plague
Time
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Agricultural revolution
B.C. A.D.
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of p
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02-5 million
years8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100
Hunting and gathering
Black Death–the Plague
Time
Industrialrevolution
Agricultural revolution
B.C. A.D.
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11 Billio
ns
of p
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ple
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02-5 million
years8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100
Hunting and gathering
Black Death–the Plague
Time
Industrialrevolution
Agricultural revolution
B.C. A.D.
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Living More SustainablyLiving More SustainablyLiving More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably
Environmental Science is how the earth works, how we interact with the earth, and how to deal with environmental problems.
Environment is everything that affects a living organism.
Ecology is a biological science that studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment.
Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to protecting the earth’s life support systems for us and other species.
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Natural CapitalNatural CapitalNatural CapitalNatural Capital
What Keeps Us Alive?
Energy from the sun (Solar Capital)
Earth’s resources (Natural Capital) Solar Energy
Air Water Soil Energy MineralsAir Water Soil Energy Minerals
Natural Capital
Population Control
Nutrient Cycling Climate
Control Pollution Control
Waste Treatment
BiodiversityPest Control
Services
Resources
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Population GrowthPopulation GrowthPopulation GrowthPopulation Growth
World’s Population is growing exponentially @ 1.25% a year
About 211,000 people a day.
77Fig. 1.1, p. 6
Economic GrowthEconomic GrowthEconomic GrowthEconomic Growth
Economic Growth: Increase in capacity to provide people with goods and services.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the annual market value of all goods and services produced in a country by all firms, foreign and domestic.
Economic growth is measured by GDP.
Per Capita GDP: GDP divided by the total population at midyear.
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Economic DevelopmentEconomic DevelopmentEconomic DevelopmentEconomic Development
Improvement of living standards by economic growth.
UN classifies countries in two categories based on their degree of industrialisation and per capita GDP
1. Developed Countries (1.2 billion people)
2. Developing Countries (5.2 billion people)
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Developed CountriesDeveloped CountriesDeveloped CountriesDeveloped Countries
• U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and all of Europe Zealand, and all of Europe
• High per capita GDPHigh per capita GDP
• 1.2 billion people/19% of world’s 1.2 billion people/19% of world’s population population
• Command 85% of world’s wealthCommand 85% of world’s wealth
• Use 88% of the world’s natural resourcesUse 88% of the world’s natural resources
• Generate about 75% of world’s pollution & Generate about 75% of world’s pollution & wasteswastes
• Highly industrializedHighly industrialized
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Developing CountriesDeveloping CountriesDeveloping CountriesDeveloping Countries
•Low-to-moderate industrialization & per Low-to-moderate industrialization & per capita GDPcapita GDP
•Most are in Africa, Asia, & Latin AmericaMost are in Africa, Asia, & Latin America
•4.9 billion people/81% of world’s 4.9 billion people/81% of world’s population/large % under 15 years of agepopulation/large % under 15 years of age
•Command 15% of world’s wealthCommand 15% of world’s wealth
•Use 12% of world’s natural resourcesUse 12% of world’s natural resources
•Add 1 million people to world population Add 1 million people to world population every 5 daysevery 5 days
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•Increased life expectancy
•Decreased mortality
•Increased food production
•Access to safe drinking water
•More goods with less raw materials
•Since 1970 reduced air and water pollution
Aspects of Economic Development
•Infant mortality 8 times higher
•Life expectancy 11 years less
•Population may outpace food production
•Air and water pollution high
•Unsustainable use of resources
•Environmental degradation
•Acute poverty
Positive Negative
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GlobalisationGlobalisationGlobalisationGlobalisation
Interconnection through economic, cultural and environmental interdependence.
Increasing exchange of
•people,
•products,
•services,
•capital and
•ideas
across international borders.
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ResourcesResourcesResourcesResources
Anything obtained from the environment to meet our needs and wants.
RenewableRenewable: Can be replenished : Can be replenished rapidly (hours to several decades) rapidly (hours to several decades) through natural processesthrough natural processes
Perpetual:Perpetual: Renewed continuously. Renewed continuously. Sun will exist at least 6 billion years. Sun will exist at least 6 billion years.
Sustainable Yield:Sustainable Yield: Highest rate at which Highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used a renewable resource can be used indefinitely without reducing its supply.indefinitely without reducing its supply.
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Environmental DegradationEnvironmental DegradationEnvironmental DegradationEnvironmental Degradation
Caused by exceeding a resource’s Caused by exceeding a resource’s natural replacement ratenatural replacement rate
Examples:Urbanization of productive landSoil water logging and salt build-upTopsoil erosionDeforestationGroundwater depletionOvergrazingLoss of earth’s biodiversity
The Tragedy of Commons: The Tragedy of Commons: The degradation of The degradation of renewable free-access resources. renewable free-access resources.
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Ecological FootprintEcological FootprintEcological FootprintEcological Footprint
Amount of land and water needed for individuals.Amount of land and water needed for individuals.
4 more planet earths 4 more planet earths required @ USA required @ USA levels of levels of consumption.consumption.
Currently, each Currently, each person’s ecological person’s ecological footprint is 20% footprint is 20% greater. greater.
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Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable Resources
Resources that exist in a fixed quantity.Resources that exist in a fixed quantity.
Energy resources:Energy resources:Coal, oil, natural gasCoal, oil, natural gasCannot be recycledCannot be recycled
Metallic mineral resources:Metallic mineral resources:Iron, copper, aluminum, etc.Iron, copper, aluminum, etc.Can be recycledCan be recycled
Nonmetallic mineral resources:Nonmetallic mineral resources:Salt, sand, clay, phosphates, etc.Salt, sand, clay, phosphates, etc.Too costly or difficult to recycleToo costly or difficult to recycle
Choices: Choices: •Find moreFind more•Use lessUse less•Develop substitutesDevelop substitutes•Recycle or reuse Recycle or reuse •Waste lessWaste less•Waiting million years to Waiting million years to
be reproduced.be reproduced.
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PollutionPollutionPollutionPollution
Anything added to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the Anything added to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the health, survival, or activities of living organisms.health, survival, or activities of living organisms.
Most pollutants result from the extraction, processing, Most pollutants result from the extraction, processing, manufacture, or use of resources.manufacture, or use of resources.
Pollutants are chemicals or forms of energy in the wrong place in Pollutants are chemicals or forms of energy in the wrong place in the wrong concentration.the wrong concentration.
Point sources : Point sources : those from single, identifiable sources.those from single, identifiable sources.Example: Drain pipe of a factory.Example: Drain pipe of a factory.
Non-point sources Non-point sources dispersed and hard to identify sources.dispersed and hard to identify sources.Example: Pesticide in streams. Example: Pesticide in streams.
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Dealing with PollutionDealing with PollutionDealing with PollutionDealing with Pollution
Two ways of dealing with pollutionTwo ways of dealing with pollution
1.1. Pollution PreventionPollution Prevention or input pollution control: Reduces or Reduces or eliminates production of pollutants. eliminates production of pollutants. Example: Adding catalytic converter to car exhausts. Example: Adding catalytic converter to car exhausts.
2. 2. Pollution CleanupPollution Cleanup or output pollution control: Cleaning up or diluting pollutants after being produced. Example: Garbage dumped or buried. Example: Garbage dumped or buried.
Both are needed but prevention is cheaper then clean up.Both are needed but prevention is cheaper then clean up.
Unwanted effects of Pollutants: Unwanted effects of Pollutants: 1) disruption of life-support systems for living organisms1) disruption of life-support systems for living organisms2) damage to wildlife, human health, and property2) damage to wildlife, human health, and property5) nuisances such as noise or unpleasant odors, tastes, & sights5) nuisances such as noise or unpleasant odors, tastes, & sights
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Environmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource Problems
Major problemsMajor problems
Major Major Environmental Environmental
ProblemsProblems
Biodiversity Biodiversity DepletionDepletion
Air PollutionAir Pollution
Water Water PollutionPollution
Waste Waste ProductionProduction
Food Supply Food Supply ProblemsProblems
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Environmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource ProblemsEnvironmental and Resource Problems
Root Causes: The big fiveRoot Causes: The big five
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Environment, Poverty and ConsumptionEnvironment, Poverty and ConsumptionEnvironment, Poverty and ConsumptionEnvironment, Poverty and Consumption
PovertyPoverty is a major threat to human health and environment. is a major threat to human health and environment.
Poor people deplete and degrade forests, soil, grasslands, Poor people deplete and degrade forests, soil, grasslands, and wildlife for short-term survival. and wildlife for short-term survival.
Don’t have the luxury of long-term sustainability. Don’t have the luxury of long-term sustainability.
AffluenzaAffluenza denotes unsustainable addiction to denotes unsustainable addiction to consumption.consumption.
Many consumers of developed countries have become Many consumers of developed countries have become addicted to buying more in their search for fulfilment and addicted to buying more in their search for fulfilment and happiness. happiness.
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Environmental Problems and CausesEnvironmental Problems and CausesEnvironmental Problems and CausesEnvironmental Problems and Causes
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Environmental InteractionsEnvironmental InteractionsEnvironmental InteractionsEnvironmental Interactions
Our goal is to learn about these complex interactions. Our goal is to learn about these complex interactions.
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Is our present course Sustainable?Is our present course Sustainable?Is our present course Sustainable?Is our present course Sustainable?
Are things getting better or worse?Are things getting better or worse?
Experts disagree. (Slide 2)
A Clash of Environmental WorldviewsA Clash of Environmental Worldviews
• Planetary Management Worldview
• Stewardship Worldview
• Environmental Wisdom Worldview
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Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental WorldviewsEnvironmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews
Planetary Management Worldview: Planetary Management Worldview: view of industrial consumer societyview of industrial consumer society
• We are most important species & we are in charge of the nature.We are most important species & we are in charge of the nature.• We will not run out of resources and develop new ones.We will not run out of resources and develop new ones.• The potential for economic growth is limitless.The potential for economic growth is limitless.• Our success depends on how well we manage earth’s life-support Our success depends on how well we manage earth’s life-support systems mostly for our benefit. systems mostly for our benefit.
Stewardship Worldview:Stewardship Worldview:
• We are most important species but we should care rest of nature.We are most important species but we should care rest of nature.• We will not probably run out but should not waste resources.We will not probably run out but should not waste resources.• We should encourage environmentally beneficial growth. We should encourage environmentally beneficial growth. • Our success depends on how well we manage earth’s life-support Our success depends on how well we manage earth’s life-support systems for our benefit and the rest of nature. systems for our benefit and the rest of nature.
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Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental WorldviewsEnvironmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews
Environmental Wisdom Worldview: Environmental Wisdom Worldview:
opposite view of planetary management view. opposite view of planetary management view.
Nature exists for all earth’s species, not just usNature exists for all earth’s species, not just us
The earth’s resources are limitedThe earth’s resources are limited
We should encourage earth-sustaining forms of We should encourage earth-sustaining forms of economic growth and discourage others. economic growth and discourage others.
Our success depends on learning how the earth Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains and integrating such lessons from nature sustains and integrating such lessons from nature (environmental wisdom)(environmental wisdom)
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Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental ProblemsEnvironmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems
1.1. Poverty and malnutrition-biggest threatsPoverty and malnutrition-biggest threats
2.2. Smoking and Air PollutionSmoking and Air Pollution
3.3. AIDSAIDS
4.4. Climate change and water shortagesClimate change and water shortages
5.5. Decrease in BiodiversityDecrease in Biodiversity
6.6. Degradation of earth’s natural capitalDegradation of earth’s natural capital
To live sustainably, we must:To live sustainably, we must:
1.1. Identify how the earth has sustained itself.Identify how the earth has sustained itself.
2.2. Apply this information to our lifestyles and economies.Apply this information to our lifestyles and economies.
3.3. Practice sustainable economic growth. Practice sustainable economic growth.
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Guidelines for Working With the EarthGuidelines for Working With the Earth
1.1. Never leave the earth worse than you found it.Never leave the earth worse than you found it.
2.2. Take only what you need.Take only what you need.
3.3. Do no harm.Do no harm.
4.4. Sustain diverse living organisms.Sustain diverse living organisms.
5.5. Maintain earth’s capacity for self-repair and Maintain earth’s capacity for self-repair and adaptation.adaptation.
6.6. Do not waste; do not pollute.Do not waste; do not pollute.
7.7. Decrease population; reduce poverty. Decrease population; reduce poverty.
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Chapter 3Chapter 3
Science, Systems, Matter and EnergyScience, Systems, Matter and Energy
