human ecology the interaction between the human social system and the environment

Human Ecology

The interaction between the human social system and the environment

Social System

Population Psychology Social organizations Technology Values Knowledge

Environment

Abiotic – non-living Water, soil, light, minerals…

Biotic – living Plants, animals, microorganisms…

The Global Environmental Picture

Rapid human population growth and increasing consumption per person

Decline of ecosystems Global atmospheric changes Loss of biodiversity

Rapid Human Population Growth

Ecological Footprint

Lower Fraser Valley Canadians require an area 19 times larger than their home region to provide food, clothing, energy, and shelter.

Three Strategic Themes

Sustainability: interactions with the natural world that we should be working toward

Stewardship: the ethical and moral framework of our actions

Sound science: the basis for our understanding of how the world works

Four Dimensions to Sustainable Solutions

Environmental Social Economic Political

What is the most important environmental problem facing the world?

Who’s fault is it?

What should be done?

Approximately how many people live on earth today?

Approximately how many people lived on earth during the 1960’s?

Approximately how many people live in the United States?

Which country is the most populated?

Second most populated?

Name an endangered animal.

Why is it endangered?

What is the primary cause of global warming?

Has global warming happened before human civilization?

Which country uses the most nuclear energy?

United StatesIndiaRussiaFranceChina

Which fuel causes the least deaths world wide?

CoalNuclearOilNatural Gas

If you could keep only three electrical devices in your house which ones would they be?

How much garbage is produced per person per day?

What percentage is recycled?

Which recycled material has the greatest value?

plastic, aluminum, paper, steel or glass

Where does our drinking water come from?

Is it clean?

Where are the pine barrens?

Why are the pine barrens important to Long Island?

What happens to material that is flushed down the drain?