Welcome to Environmental Geography!

GEOG 101 (Section 01) – Day 1

(Photo by P. Regoniel in Picable).

Getting Oriented My name is Don Alexander. My office is across the

street at Building 359, Room 215. My local is 2261, and my office hours are 11:30 to 12:30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

How many of you are at VIU for the first time? If so, if you need a hand figuring anything out, just let me know.

The textbook for this course is available in the bookstore. There may be used copies of the previous edition at the bookstore or at the student union store. It’s Environment: The Science Behind the Stories (Canadian edition) by Jay Withgott, Scott Brennan, and Barbara Murck (Toronto: Pearson Canada, 2013) [see www.pearsoned.ca/highered/ myenvironmentplace/index.html for student support materials]. It's a good book, with lots of illustrations, case studies, and Canadian examples. Please note that we will be skipping Chapters 4 & 5.

Course Focus This course will provide an introduction to the

Earth’s biophysical processes and systems at a variety of scales, and will examine the impact of human population and land use activities.

Topics include population, agriculture, biodiversity, forestry, ocean and freshwater systems, climate change and air pollution, energy, air pollution and climate change, resource consumption and waste, environmental ethics/ policy, and sustainable land use practices. Successful solutions for sustainability will also be highlighted along with social change strategies for implementing them.

Course ObjectivesBy the end of the course, you willunderstand better how local, regional and global ecosystems affect one other;have a stronger appreciation of the impacts of human populations and activities on nature and the role played by economic, social, and political institutions;understand better what is happening in different sectors, such as forestry and agriculture;learn more about how sustainable management concepts and strategies are being applied to address the pressing environmental issues of our age, and how you can play a crucial role in building a more sustainable world.

Getting Oriented The course will be a mix of lectures,

discussion, occasional guest speakers, videos, assignments, and possible in-class debates.

Also: read the course outline carefully.... We will go over some of it today.

If you suffer from a disability of any kind, you need to register with Disability Services (in Building 200) and let me know as soon as possible

Regarding extreme weather and campus closures, what’s on the web site is the final authority, so use that as your guide.

Getting Oriented The focus of the course is the global ecological

crisis [see http://energyskeptic.com/2011/9-planetery-boundaries/] and what we can do to address it, including what is already being done in a number of sectors. If you have specific interests, let me know and I will try to accommodate them if at all possible.

What are some key environmental issues facing our planet? What is causing them and how are they impacting on people and other species?

I would also like to take advantage of whatever knowledge or previous life experience you have that is relevant. What can you offer?

“Arctic Ice Decline Much Worse Than Expected…”

(summer 2012 news story)

Getting Oriented In addition to the final exam and a mid-term quiz,

there will be two major assignments. For these, you will choose from the four following options:

a life-cycle analysis of an everyday product, a media analysis of a controversial environmental

issue, a research and writing project on the ecological and social values associated with West Linley Valley or a look at the Colliery Dam Park controversy, an

the development of an environmental education unit to present in a local elementary or secondary school.

You may also be asked to answer questions about videos shown, and to participate in a debate on a key environmental topic. [more instructions soon!]

Getting Oriented EVALUATION 1. Attendance and Participation in in-class work-

10% 2. Mid-term quiz- 15% 3. Life-cycle Analysis or Research & Writing

Project- 25% (see outline for proposal and final due dates)

4. Media analysis or Elementary/ High School Educational Outreach Exercise- 25%

6. Final Exam- 25% (TBA)________________________

100% [more on the assignments soon] You can also boost your participation marks by

bringing relevant resources to my and the class' attention.

Ground Rules No late assignments unless there is some health or

family emergency. No plagiarism – all assignments must be original. If

you have any questions about what that means, we can talk about it.

CRITICAL THINKING IS ENCOURAGED! For referencing use the parenthetical forms of APA

or University of Chicago (The Writing Centre has handouts or see http://libguides.viu.ca/citing).

If at all possible, print double-sided or on scrap paper.

If you're going to miss a class, please let me know. When you do miss, it's your responsibility to keep

up with the readings, and see what was covered in lecture by viewing the lecture notes on my web site: http://web.viu.ca/alexander2 under “Courses.”

No abuse of laptops or phones in class (i.e. surfing or Facebook).

Chapter 1 will help you understand: The meaning of the term

environment The importance of natural

resources and ecosystems That environmental science

and environmental geography are interdisciplinary

The scientific method and how science operates

Some pressures facing the global environment

Sustainability and sustainable development

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Our Island, Earth -- OverviewAll the things around us with which we interact: Biotic (living things)

Animals, plants, forests, soils, etc. Abiotic (nonliving things)

Continents, oceans, clouds, icecaps Our built environment

Structures, human-created living centres

Social relationships and institutions1-11

Humans…• are altering the natural systems we need for

- resources, health, life-span, wealth, mobility, & leisure• Impacts:

- natural systems have been degraded - long-term threat to health and survival of ourselves, other

species and ecosystems

• Environmental science and environmental geography study:- how the natural world works- how the environment affects humans and vice versa

• Environmental geography gives special emphasis to how things interrelate in space – for instance, the relationship between pollution and climate change and health impacts on humans or ecosystems, or the spread of exotic species and how they impact on indigenous species.

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Natural resources: vital to human survival

• Renewable resources:- Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy- Those that renew themselves over longer periods: timber, water, soil

- can be overharvested• Nonrenewable resources: finite supply; can be depleted

- Oil, coal, minerals

FIGURE 1.1

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Global human population growth

• More than 7 billion humans• Why so many humans?

- Agricultural revolution- Stable food supplies

- Industrial revolution- Urbanized society

powered by fossil fuels

- Sanitation and medicines (decline in death rate)

FIGURE 1.2 1-14

The “Tragedy of the Commons”

• Unregulated exploitation of open access resources leads to resource depletion -- examples?• Resource users are tempted to increase use until the resource is gone• Solution?

• Private ownership?• Voluntary organization to enforce

responsible use?• Governmental regulations?

weighing

the issues by Garrett Hardin

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The “ecological footprint” concept

The environmental impact of an individual or population

Amount of biologically productive land + water required to provide raw materials a population consumes and absorb the waste produced

Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earth’s capacity (the date when humans are said to have overshot the Earth's carrying capacity is said to fall earlier and earlier each year and now occurs August 22nd).

We are using 40% more of the planet’s resources than are available on a sustainable basis from all the land!

developed by Mathis Wackernagel& William Rees

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Environmental science

… can help us avoid mistakes made in the past.

The lesson of Easter Island: people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment. Can we act more wisely to conserve our planet, or will we drive a bitumen-filled SUV straight into a cement wall?

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Environmental science/ geography are interdisciplinary

• What experts would you need for: The construction of a new

hydroelectric dam Environmental review for the

Northern Gateway pipeline The proposed draining of a

wetland to build a new subdivision

A proposal to permit bear hunting in a national park

The management of a large oil spill offshore from a coastal ecosystem

FIGURE 1.3

weighing

the issues

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What is an “environmental problem”?

The perception of what constitutes a problem varies between individuals and societies

e.g. DDT, a pesticide In developing countries:

welcome because it kills malaria-carrying mosquitoes

In developed countries: not welcome, due to health risks

FIGURE 1.4

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Environmental science is not environmentalism

Environmental science The pursuit of knowledge about the natural

world Scientists try to remain objective (though

sources of funding can influence questions studied and conclusions arrived at)

Environmentalism A social movement dedicated to protecting the

natural world, though some environmental scientists (e.g. David Suzuki, Andrew Weaver) become environmentalists because they feel the 'facts' demand that we take action as a society and as a species.

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The nature of science Science:

A systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it

A dynamic process of observation, testing, and discovery

The accumulated body of knowledge that results from this process

Science is essential for Sorting out fact from fiction Developing solutions to the problems we face

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Current controversy over federal government cancelling evidence-based science projects/ centres and muzzling scientists. This has led to recent protests (“Death of Evidence” in Ottawa) and to editorials in the prestigious science journal, Nature [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v487/n7407/full/487271b.html]

Science: Critically examining evidence

Scientists design tests: are ideas supported by evidence?

Explanations must: Be testable Resist repeated attempts to disprove it Eventually ‘consensus’ results, as with human-

induced climate change. Accepted ideas can be applied in policy and

management decisions (e.g. prescribed burning)

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The scientific method A technique for testing

ideas with observations Assumptions:

The universe works according to unchanging natural laws

Events arise from causes, and cause other events

We use our senses and reason to understand nature’s laws FIGURE 1.7

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The scientific method A scientist makes an observation and asks questions of some phenomenon The scientist formulates a hypothesis, a statement that attempts to explain the scientific question. The hypothesis is used to generate predictions, which are specific statements that can be directly and unequivocally tested. The test results either support or reject the hypothesis

FIGURE 1.7

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There are different ways to test hypotheses

Manipulative experiments yield the strongest evidence • Can show causation• Not always possible to use

Natural or correlational tests show real-world complexity• Cannot show causation

FIGURE 1.81-25

The scientific process is part of a larger process

The scientific process includes peer review, publication, and debate A consistently supported hypothesis becomes a theory, a well-tested and widely accepted explanation With enough data, a paradigm shift – a change in the dominant view – can occur (examples?)

FIGURE 1.9

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Sustainability and the future of our world Human population growth exacerbates all

environmental problems The growth rate has slowed, but we still add

more than 200,000 people to the planet each day

Our consumption of resources has risen even faster than our population growth. Life has become more pleasant for us so far However, rising consumption amplifies the

demands we make on our environment.

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Ecological footprints are not all equal

The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly

Canada uses far more than its equal share of the world’s resources

Developing countries have much smaller footprints than developed countries

FIGURE 1.10

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We face challenges in agriculture Expanded food production led to increased

population and consumption

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

Nearly half of the planet’s land surface is used for agriculture that depends heavily on

chemical fertilizers pesticides, and produces erosion changed natural systems

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We also face challenges in pollution

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

Each year, millions of people die from pollution…

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We face challenges in climate

Scientists have firmly concluded that humans are changing the composition of the atmosphere The Earth’s surface is warming

catastrophic decline in Artic sea ice melting glaciers rising sea levels impacted wildlife and crops increasingly destructive weather

Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 38%, to the highest level in 650,000 years

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We face challenges in biodiversity• Human actions have driven many species extinct, and biodiversity

is declining dramatically• We are at the onset of a mass extinction event

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

FIGURE 1.12

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The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

The most comprehensive scientific assessment of the condition of the world’s ecological systems, carried out by the UN

Major findings: humans have drastically altered ecosystems these changes have contributed to human well-

being and economic development, but at a cost environmental degradation could get much worse degradation can be reversed, but it requires a lot of

work (and leadership, which is in short supply)1-33

Our energy choices will affect our future The lives we live today are due to fossil fuels

machines chemicals transportation products (e.g. plastics)

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

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

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Sustainable solutions exist We must develop solutions that protect both our quality

of life and the environment. Components include: organic agriculture new technology reduce pollution conservation recycling renewable energy

sources

FIGURE 1.13

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Are things getting better or worse?

Many people think environmental conditions are better Cornucopians: Human ingenuity will solve any

problem

Some think things are much worse in the world Cassandras: predict doom and disaster

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

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

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Sustainability: a goal for the future How can humans live within the planet’s means?

Humans cannot exist without functioning natural systems

Sustainability Leaves future generations with a rich and full Earth Conserves the Earth’s natural resources [leaves

‘natural capital’ intact] Maintains fully functioning ecological systems

Sustainable development: the use of resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability of resources (ambivalent meaning??)

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Conclusion Environmental science helps us understand our

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

Identifying a problem is the first step in solving it (e.g. scientific understanding of climate change)

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

Environmental science and geography can help us find balanced solutions to environmental problems.

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QUESTION: ReviewThe term “environment” includes

a) Animals and plantsb) Oceans and riversc) Soil and atmosphered) All of the above are included in this term

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Will we develop in a sustainable way? The triple bottom line: sustainable

solutions that meet environmental goals economic goals social goals

Requires that humans apply knowledge from the sciences to limit environmental impacts maintain functioning ecological systems

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QUESTION: ReviewWhich of the following is correct about the term “environmentalism”?

a) It is very science-orientedb) It is a social movement to protect the environmentc) It usually does not include advocacy for the

environmentd) It involves scientists trying to solve environmental

problems

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QUESTION: ReviewAdding various amounts of fertilizer to plants in a laboratory is a _____ type of experiment

a) Correlativeb) Naturalc) Manipulatived) Rare

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QUESTION: ReviewWhat is the definition of “sustainable development”?

a) Using resources to benefit future generations, even if it means lower availability now

b) Letting future generations figure out their own problems

c) Using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability

d) Letting each country decide what is its best interest

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QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

Which do you think is the best way to protect commonly owned resources (i.e., air, water, fisheries)?

a) Sell the resource to a private entityb) Voluntary organizations to enforce responsible

usec) Governmental regulationsd) Do nothing and see what happens

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QUESTION: Weighing the Issues

Do you think the rest of the world can have an ecological footprint as large as the footprint of the Canada?

a) Yes, because we will find new technologies and resources

b) Yes, because the footprint of Canada is not really that large

c) Definitely not; the world does not have that many resources

d) It does not matter; it’s not that important

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QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and DataAccording to this graph, what has happened to the

population over the last 500 years?

a) It has grown exponentially

b) It has grown linearly

c) It has decreased

d) It has slowed down recently

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QUESTION: Interpreting Graphs and Data

What happens if test results reject a hypothesis?

a) a) The scientist formulates a new hypothesis

b) b) It shows the test failedc) c) The hypothesis was

supportedd) d) The predictions may not

have been correct

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