Science and the Environment Rest of 1.1

Our Main Environmental Problems Resource Depletion: refers to a large fraction of the resource being used up. Two Types of Natural Resources: Renewable Non - Renewable

Renewable Resources: can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes ex: fresh water, soil, trees

Non Renewable Resources: form at a much slower rates that the rate they are consumed Ex: metals, coal, oil, natural gas

2. Pollution: when the amount of something causes health problems Two Types: Biodegradable Pollutants Non-degradable Pollutants

Biodegradable Pollutants: Can be broken down by natural processes Ex: scrap paper rotting Problem if too many of them

Non-degradable Pollutants: Cannot be broken down by natural processes Ex: mercury, lead, some plastics Problem: dangerous levels

3. Loss of Biodiversity: Predators die off Prey die off Loss of habitat Pollution Species can become extinct and therefore, affect the ecosystem.

Assignment: Page 15 Answer questions 1 – 6

The Environment and Society Chapter 1 Section 2

The Tragedy of the Commons What are the Commons? Any common area shared by a group of individuals Ex. a garden shared by people in a neighborhood

The Tragedy of the Commons describes how shared environmental resources are overused and eventually depleted

Economics and the Environment Supply and Demand: The greater the demand for the resource the greater its value. Ex. Too little oil  higher gas prices

Is the cost of fixing an environmental problem worth it? More Economics and the Environment Costs and Benefits: Is the cost of fixing an environmental problem worth it?

What is the risk of fixing the environmental problem? More Economics and the Environment Risk Assessment: What is the risk of fixing the environmental problem? Ex. Will capping a coastal oil leak possibly cause even more oil to leak?

Environmental Problems in Developed and Developing Countries Developed Country: Economy and infrastructure is better US, Canada, Japan, Western Europe Developing Countries: Economy and infrastructure is poorer Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia Environmental problems are influenced by the wealth and resources a country has.

What are the Root Causes of Environmental Problems? Human population growing too quickly so the environment can’t handle it. Ex. garbage People are wasting, using up, polluting natural resources faster than they can be replaced, renewed, or cleaned up. Result: Malnutrition, starvation, disease

Ecological Footprints A calculation of the amount of land and resources needed to support one person. It differs from country to country. Higher in a developed country than in a developing country.

Name the unit used to measure an ecological footprint. Ecological Footprints Name the unit used to measure an ecological footprint. Which country has the highest ecological footprint? Which country has the lowest ecological footprint? What is the average ecological footprint for the four countries shown in the graph?

Sustainability Able to meet all of our present and future needs

Assignment: Page 21 Answer questions 1 – 5