Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability Chapter 1 Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability

Human Impacts on the Environment Increasing Human Numbers

Human Impacts on the Environment Most populous countries: 1) China 1,374,853,000 2) India 1,155,011,000 3) United States 309,163,000 4) Indonesia 258,825,000 5) Brazil 195,580,000 Source: US Census Bureau, Global Population Profile: 2002

Human Impacts on the Environment

Human Impacts on the Environment Poverty : per capita income of less than $1 a day 1.2 billion worldwide currently live at this level Leads to . . . Inadequate health care Unsanitary water Poor nutrition Lower life expectancy

Population, Resources, and the Environment The contrast between less developed and highly developed countries is great:

Population, Resources, and the Environment Types of resources: Renewable, but only when managed in a sustainable way

Population, Resources, and the Environment Resource Consumption: because of our greater consumption rates, 1 US child has the environmental impact of 12+ children in less developed countries.

Population, Resources, and the Environment People Overpopulation: when excess # of people cause environmental damage. Consumption Overpopulation: when people consume enormous amounts of natural resources.

Population, Resources, and the Environment Ecological footprint

Population, Resources, and the Environment IPAT Model Environmental Impact Affluence per person I = P A T Environmental effect of technologies Number of people

Environmental Sustainability stewardship of natural resources leading to their perpetual availability for successive generations.

Environmental Sustainability Sustainability and the Tragedy of the Commons Garrett Hardin

Environmental Science Interdisciplinary study of the interconnected problems associated with the environment. Heavily leans upon ecology.

Environmental Science The Process of Science Problem recognition or question New knowledge Hypothesis development Experimentation Make predictions Other scientists Analysis Share knowledge NO Hypothesis supported? YES

Environmental Science Controls and Variables in Experimental Design Variable: factors influencing processes being examined. hypothesis examines ONE variable, holding others constant. This is the experimental group. Control group : examined variable is left unaltered

Environmental Science Hypothesis: Burning will increase frequency of prairie wildflowers. Which is the control group?

Environmental Science How does the view of a theory differ between scientists and the public?

Environmental Science Inductive and Deductive Reasoning Inductive examines a series of facts for commonalities that can be concluded. Example: Fact: an ant has six legs Fact: a wasp has six legs Fact: a beetle has six legs Conclusion: all insects have six legs

Environmental Science Deductive examines for relationships among data moving from generalities to specifics. Example: General rule: all insects have six legs Specific example: a grasshopper is an insect Therefore: a grasshopper has six legs

Addressing Environmental Problems Scientific Assessment Risk Analysis Public education and involvement Political action Evaluation

Addressing Environmental Problems Case in Point: Lake Washington Scientific assessment Public education and involvement Political action

Addressing Environmental Problems Case in Point: Lake Washington Evaluation

Addressing Environmental Problems Case in Point: Lake Washington Evaluation