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Environmental Geography

Lecture3Human Use & Our Planet

Lecture 1: Introduction to Environmental Geography

I. Types of Environmental Impact

II. Earth’s Surface Features

III. Our Geographically Integrated Planet

IV. The Rural World

V. The Urban World

VI. Environmental Policy -Introduction

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I. Types of Environmental Impact

• Environmental Pollution • Environmental Disturbance

Los Angeles smog Clear cut, Shasta Trinity National Forest

II. Earth’s Surface Features

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II. Earth’s Surface Features

II. Earth’s Surface Features

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II. Earth’s Surface Features

II. Earth’s Surface Features

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II. Earth’s Surface Features

II. Earth’s Surface Features

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II. Earth’s Surface Features

Earth is a geographically integrated planet.

III. The Rural World

(Source: UN 2003)

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III. The Rural World

IV. The Urban World

•Between 2000 and 2030, the urban population in Africa and Asia is set to double.

•Poor people will make up a large part of future urban growth.

•Dense settlements have greater capacity than rural areas to absorb large populations sustainably.

•Urbanization itself is a powerful factor in fertility decline. Urbanization provides few incentives for large families and numerous disincentives.

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III. The Rural World

V. Environmental Policy - Introduction

• What responsibility should we take in controlling our numbers in order to improve the quality of life for existing and future human societies?

• What is the rightful role of humans in determining the destiny of another species?

• What responsibility should humans assume in the role of stewards of Earth’s environments, resources, and organisms?

Some questions to think about:

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V. Environmental Policy - Introduction

Policy options for protecting the environment:

• International treaties and organizations (Kyoto Protocol, IUCN, UNEP, etc.)

• National government regulations• State government regulations• Local regulations• Grass-roots movements

V. Environmental Policy - Introduction

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V. Environmental Policy - Introduction