Chapter 1 Intro: Toward a Sustainable Future

The Global Environmental Picture Developing Countries Developing Countries Developing Countries Developing Countries People are directly attached People are directly attached to the environment Examples are Tanzania, Examples are Tanzania, Amazon River Forest Industrialized countries Industrialized countries Industrialized countries Industrialized countries People are detached from the environment People are detached from the environment Examples are USA and Western Europe Examples are USA and Western Europe Understand the factors affecting the fall of Easter Island Understand the factors affecting the fall of Easter Island

Global Trends of Concern Population Growth Population Growth P Decline of Ecosystems Decline of Ecosystems Global Atmospheric Changes Global Atmospheric Changes Biodiversity Loss Biodiversity Loss

J and S curves J and S curves

Human Growth

Unifying Themes Sustainability Sustainability Stewardship Stewardship Environmentalism Environmentalism

Sustainability Definition: Definition: Economist: concern Economist: concern with growth, efficiency, and maximum use of resources Sociologist: focus on equity for human needs Sociologist: focus on equity for human needs Ecologist: preserving the integrity of natural systems, living within the carrying capacity of the environment, and dealing effectively with pollution Ecologist: preserving the integrity of natural systems, living within the carrying capacity of the environment, and dealing effectively with pollution

Stewardship Justice and Equity for care of the natural world and human relationships Justice and Equity for care of the natural world and human relationships Environmental Racism: waste sites and hazardous facilities placed in areas where the majority of residents are poor and/or nonwhite (example – Love Canal) Environmental Racism: waste sites and hazardous facilities placed in areas where the majority of residents are poor and/or nonwhite (example – Love Canal) Environmental Racismwaste sites Environmental Racismwaste sites Environmentalism: the movement to resolve problems of the degradation of the natural world and environmental injustices Environmentalism: the movement to resolve problems of the degradation of the natural world and environmental injustices

More on Environmental Racism “In the United States, the victims of environmental racism are African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, who are more likely than Whites to live in environmentally hazardous conditions. Three out of five African Americans live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites. Native American lands and sacred places are home to extensive mining operations and radioactive waste sites. Three of the five largest commercial hazardous waste landfills are located in predominantly African American and Latino communities. As a consequence, the residents of these communities suffer shorter life spans, higher infant and adult mortality, poor health, poverty, diminished economic opportunities, substandard housing, and an overall degraded quality of life.” “In the United States, the victims of environmental racism are African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders, who are more likely than Whites to live in environmentally hazardous conditions. Three out of five African Americans live in communities with uncontrolled toxic waste sites. Native American lands and sacred places are home to extensive mining operations and radioactive waste sites. Three of the five largest commercial hazardous waste landfills are located in predominantly African American and Latino communities. As a consequence, the residents of these communities suffer shorter life spans, higher infant and adult mortality, poor health, poverty, diminished economic opportunities, substandard housing, and an overall degraded quality of life.” ---Dr. Deborah Robinson from Echoes: Environmental Racism – Old Wine in a New Bottle

Environmentalism Movement Early Environmentalism began in the late 1800’s with the closing of the frontiers. Early Environmentalism began in the late 1800’s with the closing of the frontiers. National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, national park system National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Sierra Club, national park system Muir, Malthus Muir, Malthus Modern Movement began when Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. Modern Movement began when Rachel Carson wrote Silent Spring. Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, Zero Population Growth, Environmental Protection Agency (1970) Environmental Defense Fund, Greenpeace, Zero Population Growth, Environmental Protection Agency (1970) Endangered Species Act (1973), Marine Mammals Protection Act (1972), Clean Air Act of 1970, Clean Water Act of 1972 and Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 Endangered Species Act (1973), Marine Mammals Protection Act (1972), Clean Air Act of 1970, Clean Water Act of 1972 and Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974

Environmentalism’s Critics Wise-Use movement of the 1980’s: includes groups such as Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, Alliance for America, American Land Rights Association, Cato Institute Wise-Use movement of the 1980’s: includes groups such as Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, Alliance for America, American Land Rights Association, Cato Institute Wise-UseCato Institute Wise-UseCato Institute Example: DDT use considered a victory Example: DDT use considered a victory Example: Example: Beginning of opposition to the Endangered Species Act Beginning of opposition to the Endangered Species Act

Sound Science Characteristics: Use of scientific method Use of scientific method Peer review Peer review Subject to scrutiny or verification by other researchers Subject to scrutiny or verification by other researchers Sources and funding sources are objective Sources and funding sources are objective Explains factual knowledge Explains factual knowledge

Junk Science Junk ScienceCharacteristics: Research and funding resources are not objective Research and funding resources are not objective Selective presentation of results Selective presentation of results Manipulation of statistics Manipulation of statistics Politically motivated distortion of sound papers Politically motivated distortion of sound papers Credit to respected organization of false data Credit to respected organization of false data Relies heavily on belief and opinion Relies heavily on belief and opinion Be familiar with examples, 2, 3 Be familiar with examples, 2, 3examples23examples23

The Environment in the 21 st Century World Summits World Summits UNCED: Rio, 1992 UNCED: Rio, 1992 WSSD: Johannesburg, 2002 WSSD: Johannesburg, 2002 A New Commitment A New Commitment The new millenium The new millenium The new millenium The new millenium