Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Science

What is Environmental What is Environmental Science?Science?

The study of how humans interact with The study of how humans interact with their environmenttheir environment

Our environment is everything that surrounds us, both natural and man-made.

Environment: the total of our Environment: the total of our surroundingssurroundings

• All the things around us with which All the things around us with which we interact:we interact:• Living thingsLiving things

• Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc.Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc.• Nonliving thingsNonliving things

• Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocksContinents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks• Our built environmentOur built environment

• Buildings, human-created living centersBuildings, human-created living centers• Social relationships and institutionsSocial relationships and institutions

Natural resources: vital to human survivalNatural resources: vital to human survival

• Renewable resourcesRenewable resources::• Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energyPerpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy• Renew themselves over short periods: timber, water, soilRenew themselves over short periods: timber, water, soil

• These can be destroyedThese can be destroyed• Nonrenewable resourcesNonrenewable resources: can be depleted: can be depleted

• Oil, coal, mineralsOil, coal, minerals

Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed for survival

• “…“…the earth enables our people to survive, the earth enables our people to survive, the environment must be respected and the environment must be respected and maintained. As long as the earth remains maintained. As long as the earth remains healthy, the people remain healthy.” (healthy, the people remain healthy.” (Long Long and Fox, 1996)and Fox, 1996)

Global human population growthGlobal human population growth

• More than 6.7 billion More than 6.7 billion humanshumans

• Why so many humans?Why so many humans?• Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolution

• Stable food suppliesStable food supplies

• Industrial revolutionIndustrial revolution• Urbanized society Urbanized society

powered by fossil fuelspowered by fossil fuels• Sanitation and medicinesSanitation and medicines• More foodMore food

• Human population growth Human population growth exacerbates all environmental exacerbates all environmental problemsproblems• The growth rate has slowed…but The growth rate has slowed…but

we still add more than 200,000 we still add more than 200,000 people to the planet each daypeople to the planet each day We We depend completely on the depend completely on the environment for survival environment for survival

• Life has become more pleasant Life has become more pleasant for us so far (Increased wealth, for us so far (Increased wealth, health, mobility, leisure time)health, mobility, leisure time)

• But…natural systems have been But…natural systems have been degraded and environmental degraded and environmental changes threaten long-term changes threaten long-term health and survivalhealth and survival

BrainstormBrainstorm

• With your partner/group, brainstorm at With your partner/group, brainstorm at least 10 ways in which destruction to the least 10 ways in which destruction to the environment and depletion of resources environment and depletion of resources can affect our overall well being as a can affect our overall well being as a populationpopulation

Environmental science: how does Environmental science: how does the natural world work?the natural world work?Environment Environment impacts impacts

HumansHumans

• It has an applied goal: It has an applied goal: developing solutions to developing solutions to environmental problemsenvironmental problems

• An interdisciplinary fieldAn interdisciplinary field•Natural sciences: Natural sciences: information about the worldinformation about the world

•Social sciences: values Social sciences: values and human behavior, and human behavior, politics, economy, etc.politics, economy, etc.

What is an “environmental What is an “environmental problem”?problem”?

• The perception of what The perception of what constitutes a problem varies constitutes a problem varies between individuals and between individuals and societiessocieties

• Ex.: DDT, a pesticide Ex.: DDT, a pesticide • In developing countries: In developing countries:

welcome because it kills welcome because it kills malaria-carrying mosquitoesmalaria-carrying mosquitoes

• In developed countries: not In developed countries: not welcome, due to health riskswelcome, due to health risks

Environmental science is not Environmental science is not environmentalismenvironmentalism

•Environmental scienceEnvironmental science• The pursuit of knowledge The pursuit of knowledge

about the natural worldabout the natural world• Scientists try to remain Scientists try to remain

objectiveobjective•EnvironmentalismEnvironmentalism

• A social movement A social movement dedicated to protecting the dedicated to protecting the natural worldnatural world

The “ecological footprint”The “ecological footprint”• The environmental impact of The environmental impact of

a person or populationa person or population• Amount of biologically Amount of biologically

productive land + water productive land + water

for raw materials and to for raw materials and to dispose/recycle wastedispose/recycle waste

• OvershootOvershoot: humans have : humans have surpassed the Earth’s surpassed the Earth’s capacity capacity

We are using 30% more of the planet’s resources than are available on a sustainable basis!

Ecological footprints are not all Ecological footprints are not all equalequal

• The ecological The ecological footprints of countries footprints of countries vary greatlyvary greatly• The U.S. footprint is The U.S. footprint is

almost 5 times greater almost 5 times greater than the world’s than the world’s averageaverage

• Developing countries Developing countries have much smaller have much smaller footprints than footprints than developed countriesdeveloped countries

What are the challenges we What are the challenges we face?face?• What are the environmental issues we What are the environmental issues we

are facing today?are facing today?

• Come up with at least 10! Come up with at least 10!

We face challenges in agricultureWe face challenges in agriculture

• Expanded food production led to Expanded food production led to increased population and increased population and consumptionconsumption

• It’s one of humanity’s greatest It’s one of humanity’s greatest achievements, but at an enormous achievements, but at an enormous environmental costenvironmental cost

• Nearly half of the planet’s land Nearly half of the planet’s land surface is used for agriculturesurface is used for agriculture

• Chemical fertilizers Chemical fertilizers • Pesticides Pesticides • ErosionErosion• Changed natural systemsChanged natural systems

We face challenges in pollutionWe face challenges in pollution

• Waste products and artificial chemicals Waste products and artificial chemicals used in farms, industries, and used in farms, industries, and householdshouseholds

Each year, millions of people die from Each year, millions of people die from pollutionpollution

We face challenges in climateWe face challenges in climate• Scientists have firmly concluded that humans Scientists have firmly concluded that humans are changing the composition of the are changing the composition of the atmosphereatmosphere• The Earth’s surface is warmingThe Earth’s surface is warming

• Melting glaciersMelting glaciers• Rising sea levelsRising sea levels• Impacted wildlife and cropsImpacted wildlife and crops• Increasingly destructive weatherIncreasingly destructive weather

Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 37%, to the highest level in concentrations have risen by 37%, to the highest level in 650,000 years650,000 years

We face challenges in biodiversityWe face challenges in biodiversity• Human actions have driven many species Human actions have driven many species

extinct, and biodiversity is declining extinct, and biodiversity is declining dramaticallydramatically

Biodiversity loss may be our biggest environmental problem; once a species is extinct, it is gone forever

Our energy choices will affect our futureOur energy choices will affect our future

• The lives we live today are due The lives we live today are due to fossil fuelsto fossil fuels

• Machines Machines • Chemicals Chemicals • Transportation Transportation • ProductsProducts

• Fossil fuels are a one-time bonanza; Fossil fuels are a one-time bonanza; supplies will certainly declinesupplies will certainly decline

We have used up ½ of the world’s oil We have used up ½ of the world’s oil supplies; how will we handle this imminent supplies; how will we handle this imminent fossil fuel shortage?fossil fuel shortage?

Sustainable solutions existSustainable solutions exist• We must develop solutions that protect both our We must develop solutions that protect both our

quality of life and the environmentquality of life and the environment• Organic agricultureOrganic agriculture• TechnologyTechnology

• Reduces pollutionReduces pollution• BiodiversityBiodiversity

• Protect speciesProtect species• Waste disposalWaste disposal

• RecyclingRecycling• Alternative fuelsAlternative fuels

Are things getting better or worse?Are things getting better or worse?

• Many people think environmental Many people think environmental conditions are betterconditions are better ( (Human ingenuity will Human ingenuity will solve any problem)solve any problem)

• Some think things are much worse in the Some think things are much worse in the world (predict doom and disaster)world (predict doom and disaster)

• How can you decide who is correct?How can you decide who is correct?• Are the impacts limited to humans, or are other Are the impacts limited to humans, or are other

organisms or systems involved?organisms or systems involved?• Are the proponents thinking in the long or short term?Are the proponents thinking in the long or short term?• Are they considering all costs and benefits?Are they considering all costs and benefits?

Sustainability: a goal for the futureSustainability: a goal for the future

• How can humans live within the How can humans live within the planet’s means?planet’s means?

• SustainabilitySustainability • Leaves future generations with a Leaves future generations with a

rich and full Earthrich and full Earth• Conserves the Earth’s natural Conserves the Earth’s natural

resourcesresources• Maintains fully functioning Maintains fully functioning

ecological systemsecological systems

• Sustainable developmentSustainable development: : the the use of resources to satisfy current use of resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future needs without compromising future availability of resourcesavailability of resources

Will we develop in a sustainable way?Will we develop in a sustainable way?

• The The triple bottom linetriple bottom line: : sustainable solutions that sustainable solutions that meetmeet• Environmental goalsEnvironmental goals• Economic goalsEconomic goals• Social goalsSocial goals

• Requires that humans apply Requires that humans apply knowledge from the knowledge from the sciences tosciences to• Limit environmental impacts Limit environmental impacts • Maintain functioning ecological Maintain functioning ecological

systemssystems

ConclusionConclusion• Environmental science helps us understand our Environmental science helps us understand our

relationship with the environment and informs our relationship with the environment and informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems.attempts to solve and prevent problems.

• Solving environmental problems can move us Solving environmental problems can move us towards health, longevity, peace and prosperitytowards health, longevity, peace and prosperity

• Environmental science can help us find balanced Environmental science can help us find balanced solutions to environmental problemssolutions to environmental problems