Chapter 2 Environmental History, Jurisdictional Authority, and Sustainability
Environmental Views in Canada: 1700s–1800s Widespread environmental destruction European settlement Frontier attitude Resources appeared inexhaustible
Early Environmental Movement Henry David Thoreau Writer Lived simply George Perkins Marsh Man and Nature Humans as agents of change
Early Environmental Movement Resources quickly being depleted Emergence of utilitarian conversation Canadian Forest Service established John James Audubon Artist aroused public interest
North American Wildlife Model Recognition that wildlife was an exhaustible resource First push to conserve habitats and wildlife Two Principles: Wildlife belongs to all North Americans Resources should be managed sustainably Making a Difference: Shane Mahoney
Mid-20th Century Conservation Droughts of 1930’s PFRA in 1935 DUC in 1938 Aldo Leopold Game Management A Sand County Almanac Developed a land ethic
Mid-20th Century Conservation Rachel Carson Marine biologist Silent Spring Dangers of pesticides Heightened public awareness Paul Ehrlich Ecologist The Population Bomb
The Environmental Movement 1970: First Earth Day Gaylord Nelson Denis Hayes Religious support 1990: 141 nations celebrate Earth Day
Important Dates In Environmental History 1986: Chernobyl nuclear accident 1987: Montreal Protocol drafted 1989: Exxon Valdez oil spill 1991: Oil spill in Kuwait 1999: Human population reaches 6 billion 2010: World’s worst oil spill
Jurisdictional Authority British Common Law: Property owners have the right to use land and resources on their land as they wish Little influence on environmental protection Statute Law: BNA Act of 1867, government has control over environmental rules and regulations Divided responsibility between the federal and provincial governments
Environmental Legislation Environment Canada is legally incorporated, 1971 Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 1992 Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
Environmental Ethics Application of ethical standards to environmental questions Based on values, which change Consider people today and in the future Involves many tradeoffs
Environmental Worldviews Helps us make sense of: - How the environment works - Our place in the environment - Right and wrong behaviors Two extremes - Western - Deep ecology
Western Worldview Expansionist; frontier attitude Human-centered, utilitarian Exploit nature Accumulate wealth Anthropocentric
Deep Ecology Worldview Based on harmony with nature Spiritual respect for life All species are equal Requires radical shift in modern thinking Need for population control Biocentric
Aboriginal Worldview Passed on from generation to generation Traditional stories, rituals and spiritual beliefs Humans live in harmony with nature Traditional knowledge Add the image that will be place in Chapter 2 Figure 2.14
Voluntary Simplicity How should you live? Material wealth not required for happiness Values and character important How can you make changes?
Environmental Justice Right of everyone to protection from environmental harm Moral sense of fairness & equality Who is exposed to the most pollutants? Where are many landfills and toxic waste facilities located?
A Plan Is Needed Carrying capacity - Maximum population that can be sustained - What is our carrying capacity? Human population must be stabilized Over consumption must stop
Strategies for Sustainable Living: Recommendations Eliminate poverty—stabilize human population Protect and restore Earth’s resources Provide adequate food for all people Mitigate climate change Design sustainable cities
Development Goal: improve quality of human life Unequal distribution of resources Many live on less than $2 per day How can this problem be solved? What can you do?
Biodiversity & Us Biodiversity: variety of living organisms Humans are part of Earth’s web of life What does biodiversity do for us? Ecosystem services
Protecting Biodiversity Much biodiversity is in the developing world Need for more scientists Proper management of land Every country needs a plan
Eco Canada Career Focus Have you considered a career as an environmental assessment analysts? Identify, assess and mitigate environmental effects of proposed projects
Case Study: Jakarta, Indonesia Population 16.9 million: 2006 Pollution from ~ 2 million commuters daily 95% of human waste not cleaned Flooding Squatters What can be done?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937 “The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too little.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937