Environmental Science Why study Environmental Science?

Environmental Science Environmental Science is… Environmental Science is… An interdisciplinary study of how the earth works An interdisciplinary study of how the earth works How we interact with the planet How we interact with the planet How to deal with environmental problems How to deal with environmental problems It affects all aspects of your life It affects all aspects of your life

Fig. 1-2, p. 7 Philosophy Biology Ethics Chemistry Physics Political science Geology Economics Geography Demography Anthropology EcologyInterdisciplinary

Environment: the total of our surroundings All the things around us with which we interact: Living things: Biotic Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc. Non-living things: Abiotic Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks Our built environment Buildings, human-created living centers Social relationships and institutions

Humans exist within the environment Humans exist within the environment and are part of nature. Our survival depends on a healthy, functioning planet. We are part of the natural world. Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal. This idea is fundamental to environmental science and conservation biology

Humans and the world Humans depend on the resources of the environment. Anything obtained from environment to meet our needs and wants is a resource. Types of resources Renewable Resources: can be replenished fairly rapidly Renewable Resources: can be replenished fairly rapidly Nonrenewable Resources: exist in a limited quantity Nonrenewable Resources: exist in a limited quantity But natural systems have been degraded Environmental Degradation when resource demands exceed its replacement rate Environmental Degradation - when resource demands exceed its replacement rate Pollution, erosion, and species extinction Environmental changes threaten long-term health and survival.

Natural resources: vital to human survival Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy Renewable over short periods of time: timber, water, soil, wildlife? These can be destroyed Non-renewable resources: Oil, coal, minerals

Global Environmental Concerns Population Growth Population Growth Economic Development Economic Development Decline of Vital Ecosystems Decline of Vital Ecosystems Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Biodiversity Global Atmospheric Changes Global Atmospheric Changes

Carrying Capacity Maximum population size of the species that the environment can sustain indefinitely. If our population continues to grow we will exceed ours. If our population continues to grow we will exceed ours.

Population Growth Human population today is approximately 7.1 billion Human population today is approximately 7.1 billion Global estimates for the year 2050 could reach over 9 billion people Global estimates for the year 2050 could reach over 9 billion people

Fig. 1-1, p Billions of people ? Industrial revolution Agricultural revolution B. C.A. D Time Hunting and gathering Black Death—the Plague Industrial revolution 2–5 million years

Population Growth -

Population Growth Concern over economic growth in developing nations, e.g. China and India Concern over economic growth in developing nations, e.g. China and India Populations are exploding Populations are exploding in these countries and they in these countries and they want a westernized middle want a westernized middle class life style. class life style. What does this mean for the resources of our planet?

Thomas Malthus and human population Thomas Malthus Population growth must be controlled, or it will outstrip food production. Starvation, war, disease Neo-Malthusians Population growth has disastrous effects. Paul and Anne Ehrlich, The Population Bomb (1968) Agricultural advances have only postponed crises.

Resource consumption exerts impacts Garret Hardin’s “tragedy of the commons” (1968) Unregulated exploitation causes resource depletion Grazing lands, forests, air, water No one has the incentive to care for a resource. Everyone takes what he or she can until the resource is depleted. Solution? Private ownership? Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use? Governmental regulations?

Easter Island Many great civilizations have fallen after depleting their resources. The lesson of Easter Island: people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment. Can we act more wisely to conserve our resources?

Decline of Ecosystems Ecosystem: A group of plants, animals, and other organisms that work/interact with each other in a specific environment Ecosystem: A group of plants, animals, and other organisms that work/interact with each other in a specific environment Biodiversity: The variety of organism found within an ecosystem Biodiversity: The variety of organism found within an ecosystem Species: A single kind of any plant, animal or microbe that can reproduce and have viable offspring Species: A single kind of any plant, animal or microbe that can reproduce and have viable offspring

Decline of Ecosystems How do you feel about habitat loss? How do you feel about habitat loss? What about animal extinction? What about animal extinction? What is the importance of healthy ecosystems? What is the importance of healthy ecosystems? Provides support for all life on this planet Provides support for all life on this planet Why should we care about the environment? Why should we care about the environment?

Loss of Biodiversity Endangered Species Endangered Species - every day one species goes extinct -there are thousands of animals on the Endangered Species List -this number increases every year -few animals ever get de-listed

Loss of Biodiversity Risks of losing biodiversity? Risks of losing biodiversity? 1. animal species once gone can never be replaced 2. stability within the environment decreases

Sustainable Future Sustainability A habitat that A habitat that can continue indefinitely indefinitely without depleting its resources

Sustainability A guiding principle of environmental science Living within our planet’s means The Earth can sustain humans AND other organisms for the future Leaving our descendents with a rich, full world Developing solutions that work in the long term Requires keeping fully functioning ecological systems

Sustainability We are increasing our burden on the planet each year. Population growth, affluence, consumption Natural capital: the accumulated wealth of Earth We are withdrawing our planet’s natural capital 30% faster than it is being produced Conservation: the management of natural resources for future generations Conservation: the management of natural resources for future generations

Ecological Footprint What is your Ecological Footprint? What is your Ecological Footprint? The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate. The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It compares human demand with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate. Ecological Footprints measures humanities demands on Nature. Everything we do has consequences… Ecological Footprints measures humanities demands on Nature. Everything we do has consequences…

Ecological footprints are not all equal

Sustainable solutions abound Sustainable development: using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability of resources Sustainability involves: Renewable energy sources Soil conservation, high-efficiency irrigation, organic agriculture Pollution reduction Habitat and species protection Recycling Fighting global climate change Humanity’s challenge is to develop solutions that further our quality of life while protecting and restoring the environment.

Stewardship What is Stewardship? What is Stewardship? -taking responsibility for our actions and how they effect the planet

Ethics Ethics: the study of good and bad, right and wrong The set of moral principles or values held by a person or society that tells us how we ought to behave Will save most of this discussion for the end of the semester

Environmental ethics Should we conserve wildlife for future generations? Is it OK to hunt or trap animals? Should we drive other species to extinction to maintain economic growth? Is it OK to destroy a forest to create certain jobs for people?

Three ethical perspectives or viewpoints Anthropocentrism: only humans have rights Costs and benefits are measured only according to their impact on people Anything not providing benefit to people has no value Biocentrism: certain living things also have value All life has ethical standing Development is opposed if it destroys life, even if it creates jobs Ecocentrism: whole ecological systems have value Values the well-being of species, communities, or ecosystems Holistic perspective, stresses preserving connections

Overall attitude that combines environmental wisdom with compassion for all life Social scientists suggest it only takes 5- 10% of the population to bring about major social change Significant social change can occur more quickly than we often think A More Sustainable Future is Possible