Environmental Science Why Environmental Science 1 Environmental Science

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Environmental Science Why ______ Environmental Science? 1

Environmental Science Why ______ Environmental Science? 1

Environmental Science l _____ l An _____is… interdisciplinary study of how the earth works

Environmental Science l _____ l An _____is… interdisciplinary study of how the earth works l How we interact with the planet l How to deal with environmental problems l It affects _____ aspects of your life 2

Interdisciplinary Ethics Philosophy Biology Political science Ecology Economics Chemistry Demography Physics Anthropology Geography 3

Interdisciplinary Ethics Philosophy Biology Political science Ecology Economics Chemistry Demography Physics Anthropology Geography 3 Fig. 1 -2, p. 7

Humans exist within the environment l Humans exist within the environment and are part

Humans exist within the environment l Humans exist within the environment and are part of _____. l Our survival depends on a _____, functioning _____. l We l are part of the natural world. Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal. l This idea is fundamental to environmental science and conservation biology 4

Causes of Environmental Problems • Major ______of environmental problems: population growth, unsustainable resource use,

Causes of Environmental Problems • Major ______of environmental problems: population growth, unsustainable resource use, poverty, avoidance of full-cost pricing, and increasing isolation from nature Causes of Environmental Problems Population growth Unsustainable resource use Poverty Excluding Increasing environmental costs isolation from market prices from nature

______ Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects l _____environmental impact due to: High levels

______ Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects l _____environmental impact due to: High levels of consumption l High levels of pollution l Unnecessary waste of resources l l Affluence can provide ______ for developing technologies to reduce: Pollution l Environmental degradation l Resource waste l

Prices of Goods and Services Do Not Include the Harmful Environmental Costs l Companies

Prices of Goods and Services Do Not Include the Harmful Environmental Costs l Companies do not ______ the environmental ____ of resource use l Goods and services do not include the ______environmental costs l Companies receive _______ breaks and ______

Humans and the world Humans depend on the ______ of the environment. l Anything

Humans and the world Humans depend on the ______ of the environment. l Anything obtained from environment to meet our ______ and _______ is a resource. l Types of resources l ______ Resources: can be replenished fairly rapidly l ______ Resources: exist in a limited quantity l But natural systems have been degraded l _______- when resource demands exceed its replacement rate l Pollution, erosion, and species extinction l Environmental changes threaten long-term health and 8 survival. l

Natural resources: vital to human survival ________ available: sunlight, wind, wave energy Renewable over

Natural resources: vital to human survival ________ available: sunlight, wind, wave energy Renewable over _______ periods of time: timber, water, soil, wildlife? l These can be destroyed l ____-renewable resources: Oil, coal, minerals l l

Pollution Comes from a Number of Sources l ______ sources l l of pollution

Pollution Comes from a Number of Sources l ______ sources l l of pollution Single, identifiable source ______ sources l Disbursed and difficult to identify l What are some strategies for pollution cleanup and prevention?

Global Environmental Concerns 1. ________ Growth l Human population today is approximately ___ billion

Global Environmental Concerns 1. ________ Growth l Human population today is approximately ___ billion l l Concern over economic growth in developing nations, e. g. _____ and ______ l l Estimates for the year 2050 could reach over 9 billion people Populations are exploding in these countries and they want a westernized middle class life style. ____ major cultural events increased population l l l _________ revolution Industrial-________ revolution __________-globalization revolution

_______ l ____ population size of the species that the environment can _____ indefinitely.

_______ l ____ population size of the species that the environment can _____ indefinitely. l If our population continues to grow we will exceed ours. 12

13 12 11 Billions of people ? 1 09 8 7 6 5 4

13 12 11 Billions of people ? 1 09 8 7 6 5 4 Industrial revolution Black Death—the Plague 2– 5 million years 8000 Hunting and gathering 6000 4000 2000 Time B. C. A. D. 3 2 1 0 2000 2100 Agricultural revolution Industrial revolution 13 Fig. 1 -1, p. 5

Resource _______ exerts impacts l Many great civilizations have fallen after depleting their resources

Resource _______ exerts impacts l Many great civilizations have fallen after depleting their resources like _______ Island. The _____ of Easter Island: people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment. ______ property and open-access renewable resources are often degraded from overuse

The _____ of the Commons: Degrading Commonly Shared Renewable Resources Garret Hardin’s “____________” (1968)

The _____ of the Commons: Degrading Commonly Shared Renewable Resources Garret Hardin’s “____________” (1968) • Unregulated _____ causes resource ____ • Grazing lands, forests, air, water • No one has the incentive to care for a resource. • Everyone takes what he or she can until the resource is depleted. • Solution? • _____ ownership? • _____ organization to enforce responsible use? • _______ regulations? • 15

Global Environmental Concerns l 2. l _____ of Ecosystems ______: A group of plants,

Global Environmental Concerns l 2. l _____ of Ecosystems ______: A group of plants, animals, and other organisms that work/interact with each other in a specific environment l ______: The variety of organism found within an ecosystem l ______: A single kind of any plant, animal or microbe that can reproduce and have viable offspring

Loss of Biodiversity l _______ Species l every day one species goes _____ l

Loss of Biodiversity l _______ Species l every day one species goes _____ l there are thousands of animals on the _______ Species List which increases every year l few animals ever get de-listed l once an animal species is gone, it can never be replaced and _____ within the environment decreases

Global Environmental Concerns l 3. Global ______ Changes l l l Increase of ____

Global Environmental Concerns l 3. Global ______ Changes l l l Increase of ____ and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere can be directly related to global warming. ______ activities such as burning fossil fuels are responsible for atmospheric change. Changes in the atmosphere can have major impacts on biodiversity as well has humans.

__________ l We are increasing our burden on the planet each year. l Population

__________ l We are increasing our burden on the planet each year. l Population growth, affluence, consumption l Natural ______: the accumulated wealth of Earth. Includes Natural _____ and Natural ______ l Resources are all resources humans use and services are what species naturally do for us. l We are withdrawing our planet’s natural capital _______% faster than it is being produced

Sustainability A guiding principle of environmental science _______ l A habitat that can continue

Sustainability A guiding principle of environmental science _______ l A habitat that can continue _____ without depleting its resources

Sustainable _____ l Shift l l l toward living more sustainably by: Applying ____pricing,

Sustainable _____ l Shift l l l toward living more sustainably by: Applying ____pricing, searching for win-win solutions Committing to preserving the earth’s life-support system for _____ generations Living within our planet’s means Developing solutions that work in the long term Requires keeping fully functioning ecological systems _________: the management of natural resources for future generations

Natural Capital Solar Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Ecosystem Services energy Air Renewable

Natural Capital Solar Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Ecosystem Services energy Air Renewable energy (sun, wind, water flows) Air purification Climate control UV protection (ozone layer) Life (biodiversity) Population control Water purification Pest control Waste treatment Soil Nonrenewable minerals (iron, sand) Natural gas Oil Soil renewal Nonrenewable energy (fossil fuels) Land Food production Nutrient recycling Coal seam Natural resources Ecosystem services Fig. 1 -3, p. 7

Environmental ethics _____: the study of good and bad, right and wrong. The set

Environmental ethics _____: the study of good and bad, right and wrong. The set of moral principles or values held by a person or society that tells us how we ought to behave Should we conserve wildlife for future generations? Should we drive other species to extinction to maintain economic growth? Is it OK to destroy a forest to create certain jobs for people? Is it OK to hunt or trap animals?

____ ethical perspectives or world viewpoints ________ (Planetary Management): only humans have rights l

____ ethical perspectives or world viewpoints ________ (Planetary Management): only humans have rights l We are separate from and in charge of nature l Costs and benefits are measured only according to their impact on people l Anything not providing benefit to people has no value l ________(Stewardship): certain living things also have value l All life has ethical standing l Manage earth for our benefit with ethical responsibility to be stewards l Development is opposed if it destroys life, even if it creates jobs l ________(Environmental Wisdom): whole ecological systems have value l Values the well-being of species, communities, or ecosystems l We are part of nature and must engage in sustainable use l

Ecological Footprint l What is your _____ Footprint? l The ecological footprint is a

Ecological Footprint l What is your _____ Footprint? l The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate. l Ecological Footprints measures humanities _____ on Nature. Everything we do has consequences… l Ecological l ______ Footprint is larger than biological capacity for replenishment

How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth? l As our ecological footprints grow,

How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth? l As our ecological footprints grow, we are depleting and ______ more of the earth’s natural capital Also called a carbon footprint

Natural Capital Degradation of Normally Renewable Natural Resources Climate change Air pollution Soil erosion

Natural Capital Degradation of Normally Renewable Natural Resources Climate change Air pollution Soil erosion Shrinking forests Decreased wildlife habitats Species extinction Water pollution Aquifer depletion Declining ocean fisheries Fig. 1 -7, p. 11

Ecological footprints are not all equal 28

Ecological footprints are not all equal 28

Sustainable solutions abound l Sustainable _______: using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising

Sustainable solutions abound l Sustainable _______: using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability of resources l Sustainability ________: l Renewable energy sources l Soil conservation, high-efficiency irrigation, organic agriculture l Pollution reduction l Habitat and species protection l Recycling l Fighting global climate change Humanity’s _____ is to develop solutions that further our quality of life while protecting and restoring the environment.

A More ______ Future is _____ l Overall ______ that combines environmental wisdom with

A More ______ Future is _____ l Overall ______ that combines environmental wisdom with compassion for all life l Social scientists suggest it only takes _______% of the population to bring about major social change l Significant social change can occur more _____ than we often think 30