Environmental Science The application of all fields of science to solve environmental problems Environmental Principles Resources and Resource Use Environmental Pollution Social Aspects of Environmental Science

Environmental Principles?  Impact = population x technology  Use of ‘the commons’  Things change!!  Others? Some examples: Have we changed the rate at which ‘things’ change?

Environmental Principles The environment consists of 4 spheres: Lithosphere Atmosphere Hydrosphere Biosphere What role does biogeochemical cycling play in the environment?

Resources & Resource Use Improve efficiency Reuse/recycling Substitution Remove Remediate Restore Society Resources Sinks (Waste) Input reduction Output management

Resources & Resource Use Sustainability = meeting the needs of today without reducing the quality of life for future generations What are resources? Minerals/metals  products Fuels  Energy (fossil, nuclear, biomass) Water  Life, Energy Food (soils, plants, animals, fish)  Energy Biological  biodiversity, esthetics

Resources & Resource Use Renewable Resources vs. Nonrenewable resources can be regenerated within a few human generations vs. can not be regenerated within a few human generations What are ways we can prevent depletion of resources? Should sustainability be part of these definitions?

Environmental Pollution Pollution: excess outputs by society into the environment sinkpollutant examples: How has ‘pollution’ changed over time? Do we need to be concerned about each of these?

What about: Lead? N-fertilizer? Milk? Pesticides? Typical methods for dealing with pollution are: Can you suggest a better way? Removal Restoration Remediation Environmental Pollution Input reduction: efficiency improvements, substitution, recycle/reuse

Social Aspects of Environmental Science What are social issues that affect our environment? Human population: Does human population affect these? Would your answer change if: Growth? Stability? Decline?

Social Aspects of Environmental Science What are some social solutions for environmental management? Economic…… Legal………… Education…… Ethics/ Persuasion.. incentives, green taxes laws, regulations, eliminate subsidies media, environmental science peer interactions/conservation groups

Environmental economics studies society and the natural environment as a single system. How do ethics relate to social aspects of environmental management? How does this differ from traditional economic theory? Social Aspects of Environmental Science

Do you think environmental quality is better in the US today or during your parent’s or grandparent’s childhood? What about for your children? What about the US today versus other developed countries? Developing countries? Social Aspects of Environmental Science