Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The Environmental The Environmental Dilemmas We FaceDilemmas We Face

A World In CrisisA World In Crisis

How long have humans been on the How long have humans been on the planet?planet?

Humans increasingly impact the Humans increasingly impact the environment: how?environment: how?

We can’t ignore environmental We can’t ignore environmental problems problems

Human PopulationHuman Population Overpopulation: how many people Overpopulation: how many people

live on Earth?live on Earth? About 43% of humans live About 43% of humans live

in extreme poverty in extreme poverty How big will our How big will our

population get?population get? How big can our How big can our

population get?population get? Consumption & economic Consumption & economic

growthgrowth

Rich & PoorRich & Poor Highly developed countries: ≈ 20% Highly developed countries: ≈ 20%

of world’s populationof world’s population Poor countriesPoor countries

Moderately developedModerately developed Less developed (LDCs)Less developed (LDCs)

Characteristics of LDCsCharacteristics of LDCs Cheap, unskilled laborCheap, unskilled labor Economy agriculturally basedEconomy agriculturally based Hunger, disease, illiteracy commonHunger, disease, illiteracy common

Rich vs. PoorRich vs. Poor Developing countriesDeveloping countries

Rapid population growth is Rapid population growth is overwhelmingoverwhelming

Natural resource depletionNatural resource depletion Developed countriesDeveloped countries

Slower population Slower population growthgrowth

Higher rate of Higher rate of consumptionconsumption

Types of ResourcesTypes of Resources NonrenewableNonrenewable

Limited supplyLimited supply Once they’re gone, they’re goneOnce they’re gone, they’re gone Examples?Examples?

RenewableRenewable Virtually unlimitedVirtually unlimited Replenished over relatively short periodsReplenished over relatively short periods Examples?Examples? Easy to overexploit ---> nonrenewableEasy to overexploit ---> nonrenewable

Population & ResourcesPopulation & Resources

Economic growth tied to exploiting Economic growth tied to exploiting natural resourcesnatural resources

Developed countries have utilized Developed countries have utilized many of their resourcesmany of their resources

Use of natural Use of natural resources tied to resources tied to povertypoverty

Population & ConsumptionPopulation & Consumption People overpopulationPeople overpopulation

Environment getting worseEnvironment getting worse Too many peopleToo many people

Consumption overpopulationConsumption overpopulation Environment getting worseEnvironment getting worse Use Use farfar more than necessary: why? more than necessary: why?

Too Much Stuff!Too Much Stuff! Highly developed countriesHighly developed countries 20% world’s population consume:20% world’s population consume:

86% aluminum86% aluminum 76% harvested timber76% harvested timber 68% energy68% energy 61% meat eaten61% meat eaten 42% fresh water42% fresh water

Developing countries are starting to Developing countries are starting to consume more: why?consume more: why?

Ecological FootprintsEcological Footprints Productive land and ocean needed to Productive land and ocean needed to

supply person with her/his needssupply person with her/his needs What if we all had the same What if we all had the same

footprint?footprint?

Population, Consumption, & Population, Consumption, & Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

I = P x A x TI = P x A x T I: Environmental impactI: Environmental impact P: PopulationP: Population A: Affluence per personA: Affluence per person T: Technology usedT: Technology used Interpret results with care!Interpret results with care! Ultimate goal: make consumption Ultimate goal: make consumption

sustanblesustanble

Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability

Sustainability: environment will function Sustainability: environment will function indefinitelyindefinitely

Based on:Based on: Effects of our actions on the Effects of our actions on the

environmentenvironment Earth’s resources are finiteEarth’s resources are finite Understanding impact of consumptionUnderstanding impact of consumption Shared responsibilityShared responsibility

Does This Sound Does This Sound Sustainable?Sustainable?

Nonrenewable resources being Nonrenewable resources being rapidly depletedrapidly depleted

Many renewable resources being Many renewable resources being used in a nonrenewable wayused in a nonrenewable way

Does This Sound Does This Sound Sustainable?Sustainable?

Environment is being pollutedEnvironment is being polluted Human population is increasingHuman population is increasing

What is Environmental What is Environmental Science?Science?

InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary Broad fieldBroad field Ecology is a basic toolEcology is a basic tool GoalsGoals

Establish general principles about how Establish general principles about how the natural world functionsthe natural world functions

Identifying, understanding, Identifying, understanding, andand solvingsolving problems problems

What is Science?What is Science?

Not just a body of knowledgeNot just a body of knowledge Dynamic processDynamic process Requires collection of dataRequires collection of data An ongoing enterpriseAn ongoing enterprise Requires reevaluationRequires reevaluation

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method Used to answer questionsUsed to answer questions Five stepsFive steps

1)1) Ask questionAsk question

2)2) Develop a hypothesisDevelop a hypothesis

3)3) ExperimentExperiment

4)4) Interpret data ---> Interpret data ---> conclusionconclusion

5)5) Share findingsShare findings

• Does not need to be Does not need to be done in order! done in order!

The Process of ScienceThe Process of Science A good hypothesis makes a predictionA good hypothesis makes a prediction ExperimentExperiment

Variable: factor that influences a Variable: factor that influences a processprocess

Control group: variable isn’t alteredControl group: variable isn’t altered TheoryTheory

Integrated explanation of numerous Integrated explanation of numerous hypotheseshypotheses

Solid ground of scienceSolid ground of science Accepted as trueAccepted as true

Handling Environmental Handling Environmental ProblemsProblems

Five stages:Five stages:

1)1) Scientific Scientific assessmentassessment

2)2) Risk analysisRisk analysis

3)3) Public education & Public education & involvement involvement

4)4) Political actionPolitical action

5)5) EvaluationEvaluation

Handling Environmental Handling Environmental ProblemsProblems

NIMBY & NIMTOONIMBY & NIMTOO

Not in my backyardNot in my backyard Not in my term of Not in my term of

officeoffice What situations cause What situations cause

people to say these?people to say these? How practical are How practical are

these?these?

Case Study: Tropical Rain Case Study: Tropical Rain Forests vs. AgricultureForests vs. Agriculture

Many developing countries clear rain Many developing countries clear rain forest for agricultural landforest for agricultural land

Environmental consequences?Environmental consequences? Reduces long-term potential for local Reduces long-term potential for local

people: how?people: how? What are some potential What are some potential

benefits from a benefits from a standing rain forest?standing rain forest?