Environmental Science: Toward a Sustainable Future Richard T. Wright Chapter 1 Introduction: Toward a Sustainable Future PPT by Clark E. Adams

The Chapter Introduction The global environmental picture Three strategic themes Sustainability Stewardship Sound science

The Chapter Introduction Three integrative themes Ecosystem capital Policy/politics Globalization The environment in the 21st century

The Lessons of Easter Island Society fails to care for the environment and sustain it. Population increases beyond carrying capacity. Disparity between rich and poor widens.

How to Prevent a Global Version of the Easter Island Disaster Understand how the natural world works Understand how human and natural systems interact Accurately assess the status and trends of crucial natural ecosystems Establish long-term sustainable relationships with the natural world

The Global Environmental Picture Rapid human population growth and increasing consumption per person Decline of ecosystems Global atmospheric changes Loss of biodiversity

Rapid Human Population Growth

Ecological Footprint Lower Fraser Valley Canadians require an area 19 times larger than their home region to provide food, clothing, energy, and shelter.

Indicators of Decline of Vital Ecosystems Depleted water supplies Agricultural soils degraded Oceans overfished Forests cut faster than they can grow

Conceptual Framework for Millennium Ecosystem Project

Global Atmospheric Changes

Contributors to Loss of Biodiversity Habitat alteration Exploitation Pollution

Three Strategic Themes Sustainability: interactions with the natural world that we should be working toward Stewardship: the ethical and moral framework of our actions Sound science: the basis for our understanding of how the world works

Unifying Themes

Four Dimensions to Sustainable Solutions Environmental Social Economic Political

How Stewardship Is Demonstrated Recognition that a trust has been given Responsible care for something not owned Desire to pass something on to future generations

Environmental Justice or Racism? Placement of waste sites and hazardous facilities in nonwhite communities

Components to the Structure of Sound Science Data: measurable Theories: explanations Shaping principles: uniformity of nature, quantifiability

Assumptions of the Process of Science Causes and effects are explainable. We have tools and capabilities to understand basic principles and natural laws.

Steps in the Scientific Method

True or False Concerning the Process of Science There are no controversies or arguments among scientists. Progress in science can be slow. We are continually confronted by new observations. Some observed phenomena may not lend themselves to simple experiments.

True or False Concerning the Process of Science Science is incapable of providing absolute proof for any theory. The process of science can be used to test value judgments. The validity of science is based on the ability to do experiments.

Junk Science Presentations of selective results Public distortions of scientific works Publication in quasi-scientific journals

Ecosystem Capital: Goods and Services

Policy and Politics Human decisions that determine what happens to the natural world and the political processes that lead to those decisions. Purpose of public policy is to promote the common good.

Globalization The accelerating interconnectedness of human activities, ideas, and cultures. Health improvements Global markets Improved crop yields Dilution or destruction of cultural and religious ideals.

Globalization Environmentally friendly consumer goods Economic reorganization of the world Worldwide spread of emerging diseases Dispersion of exotic species Trade in hazardous wastes Spread of persistent organic pollutants

The Environment in the 21st Century The big issues Corporate accountability Globalization and WTO Trade and subsidies Climate and energy Development priorities and aid

The Environment in the 21st Century If we do not change direction, we will end up where we are heading.

End of Chapter 1