Introduction of environmental themes Chapter 1 AP Environmental Introduction of environmental themes Chapter 1

Environmental Goals Understand how the natural world works Understand how human systems interact with the natural system Accurately determine environmental problems Develop and follow a sustainable relationship with natural world

Environmental Concerns Current indicators of environmental decline: Biological Diversity Food production Carbon Dioxide increases Human population growth Resource depletion

Theme question What is the criteria for something to be considered an environmental issue? Environmental issues are defined as problems with the planet's systems (air, water, soil, etc.) that have developed as a result of human interference or mistreatment of the planet. An environmental problem arises whenever there is a change in the quality or quantity of any environmental factor which directly or indirectly affects the health and well-being of man in an adverse manner Known process (such as resource consumption) that has negative effects on the sustainability of the environmental quality necessary for the well being of the organisms living in it.

Solutions

Human Population Growth Population growth is often considered the underlying issue of all environmental damage directly or indirectly In just the last 40 years the human population has more than doubled to over 7 billion people and currently continues that growth at a rate of approximately 1.14% each year World Population Meter Every 5 days the human population increases by more than 1 million people

Human Population growth Current = exponential growth Problem: Family explosion Solution: Population maintenance One child per adult to replace the previous generation

Human population growth Unmanaged population growth causes strains on resources Famine, disease, malnutrition Population growth is not constant. Disease and famine can provide temporary relief from overpopulation struggles. There is currently no shortage of food worldwide, just an issue of dispersal and management of waste

Urbanization Steady movement of the human population into more urban environments 53% of the world’s population lives in an urban environment Urbanization can lead to more concentrated pollution issues and can take away fertile land for agriculture

Urbanization Megacities represent prime example of what urbanization can do to an ecosystem. Megacities change the environment around them and strain local resources. By 2030: China will have 221 cities with more than 1 million people 5 billion people worldwide will live in urban areas

urbanization Urbanization is worse in developing countries because of a lack of infrastructure to support a large and increasing population Most rapid area of population growth High birth rate and decreasing death rates Due to a lack of resources in rural areas

Sustainability and Carrying capacity With a growing population and higher concentration of people in urban areas the question for environmentalists is how many people can the Earth support? Not a matter of numbers but a question of what kind of quality of life people are willing to live with.

Carrying capacity Carrying capacity is the maximum number of organisms an environment can support Predictions for the human population range from 2.5 billion to 40 billion.

Carrying capacity Carrying capacity depends on 4 things: Food availability Water supply Living space Environmental conditions

Carrying capacity Sociobiologist E.O. Wilson has predicted that the human population will be limited by food resources and reach capacity at 10 billion people by 2100. Before reaching capacity humans will have to be willing to live as vegetarians to maximize available food resources.

Sustainability Sustainability means the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely Sustainability depends on the balance of three things: Environment Society Economy

sustainability 3 standards of environmental sustainability from Herman Daly (American ecological economist, 1990): 1. For renewable resources, the rate of harvest should not exceed the rate of regeneration (sustainable yield) 2. [For pollution] The rates of waste generation from projects should not exceed the assimilative capacity of the environment (sustainable waste disposal) 3. For nonrenewable resources the depletion of the nonrenewable resources should require comparable development of renewable substitutes for that resource.

Sustainability Types of sustainability Sustainability of resources: harvesting at the same rate for a specified amount of time into the future Sustainability of an ecosystem: maintenance of primary functions for a specified amount of time into the future

sustainability Actions that must be taken to promote a sustainable global ecosystem include: Changing lifestyles and current values Encouraging all global citizens to live sustainably Planning to meet future issues with sustainable solutions Focusing on the positive impacts of sustainable lifestyles Making the Earth a safe and clean place to live and work

People and Nature A major challenge in environmental issues is figuring out the relationship between people and the environment Theme Question: What is more important, survival of people alive today or conservation of the environment for the future?

People and nature Two Approaches Separate people from nature. This assumes that humans are at fault for environmental problems and the solution is to stop those actions People are connected to nature. Searches for long term solutions to environmental problems by recognizing that we need nature and that nature is affected by us Supports an “Earth-centered” approach to life

People and nature Anthropocentrism focuses on human welfare and well-being Ecocentrism focuses on environmental conservation and stewardship (man= nature) Technocentrism focuses on utilizing technology to analyze natural patterns and make accurate predictions that influence policy

People and nature Focusing on environmental issues from the ecocentric approach requires finding ways to use nature without abusing it, and co-existing naturally within the global ecosystem Natural solutions in Namibia

People and nature Conservation is the physical act of preserving or protecting resources that are valuable to the environment Stewardship is an ethical choice to live in way that responsibly manages resources Approaches possessions as a gift Manages possessions with a greater purpose in mind

Global Perspective Local issues can turn into global issues (Examples: famine, ozone depletion, greenhouse gases) Gaia Hypothesis: the environment has been changed by life which has in turn led to changes that improve chances for life to continue Developed by British chemist James Lovelock and American biologist Lynn Margulis

Gaia Theory Developed in the 1960’s by Dr. James Lovelock after he worked with NASA to determine the probability of life on Mars Proposes that the Earth, like other natural systems, reacts to changes in stimuli in order to maintain a type of homeostasis within ecosystems Suggests that natural changes force ecosystems to adjust in ways that continue to promote the existence of life

Gaia Theory Example: According to scientists, solar energy on Earth has increased by 30% since the formation of the planet Increased temperatures on Earth have resulted in higher levels of algae in the oceans The large algae populations release sulfur gas as a waste product that seeds the formation of clouds over the open ocean Increased cloud production regulates temperatures over the open ocean, promotes the production of raindrops and returns sulfur to terrestrial ecosystems

Why is nature important to you? Science and Values To choose what action to take to solve environmental problems we have to choose what we want the environment to be and what options are available to get us to that goal Why is nature important to you?

Science and Values Justifications for action Utilitarian: benefits the economy or is necessary for survival Saving salmon populations in the Pacific Northwest is essential for the livelihood of the people and tourism industries in those communities Ecological: benefits another species important to us Mangrove swamps must be protected because they support fish populations that people eat

Science and values Aesthetic: beauty of nature People enjoy the scenic value of nature and want to preserve nature for their enjoyment Recreational: use of nature for observation or sport People like to experience nature through hiking, fishing, running,etc.

Science and values Inspirational: nature can benefit the human spirit People feel a deep connection with nature. Nature can be viewed as therapy for mental and emotional health. Frederick Olmstead argued that plantings of vegetation provided medical, psychological and social benefits to people living in cities. He is famous for designing the landscape in New York’s Central Park and the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, NC.

Science and values Creative: nature is a source of artistic creativity Moral: the environment has the right to exist and it is our obligation to help it Because of our moral obligation to preserve nature governments have chosen to pass laws to protect it

Science and values Cultural: different cultures have different values in regard to nature’s place within their belief system In preparing ground for a new building Buddhist monks may pick up and move earthworms inhabiting the area