Our Changing Environment Chapter 1 Review

True or False 1. One of the major concerns in environmental science is how to successfully integrate the natural world and the socio-cultural- technological world of our own creation. 2. Human actions now impact natural systems in ways that threaten earth’s life-support systems on which we depend. 3. Earth has the capacity to support about ten billion people on a sustainable basis. 4. The world population is increasing at a rate comparable to adding four new Californias of people every year.

True or False 5. The vast majority of global villagers dwell in urban centers as opposed to the countryside. 6. About one in four residents in the global village is a child under Illiteracy among adults in the global village is about 20%.

Solar Capital vs. Earth’s Capital Energy from the Sun Our planet’s air, water, soil, wildlife, minerals, and natural purification, recycling, and pest control processes Interdependent and Interconnected Click on the Earth above to see a video about Ecological Footprints of different countries.

Living sustainably means living off of income and not depleting the capital that supplies the income. Inherit $1 million dollars Invest this capital at 10% interest Sustainable income of $100,000 You can spend $100,000 each year without touching your capital Example

 If you choose to spend $200,000 – your million will be gone in the 7 th year!  If you choose to spend $110,000 – your million will be gone in the 18 th year Deplete your capital and you move from a sustainable to an unsustainable lifestyle. During the last 40 years the U.S. alone has used more resources than the rest of humanity in all previous years. BUT….

Population Growth 60,000 years to reach 1 billion people 130 years to add the 2 nd billion people 30 years for the 3 rd billion (1960) 17 years for the 4 th billion (1977) 12 years for the 5 th billion (1989) 10 years for the 6 th billion (1999) Expected Growth th billion th billion th billion We will have grown from 5.9 billion to 8 billion between 1998 and 2025 (Just…16 years)

Ecological Footprint

What year did we reach 100% Biocapacity? Biocapacity represents the ability of ecosystems to produce useful biological materials and to absorb CO2 generated by humans, using current management and extraction technologies. Useful biological materials are defined as those materials that the human economy actually demanded in a given year. The Ecological Footprint measures demand on this productive capacity.

Sustainable Society Manages it’s economy and population size without exceeding all or part of the planet’s ability to absorb environmental insults, replenish its resources, and sustain human and other forms of life over a specified period (usually hundreds to thousands of years) Intergenerational Equity Sustainable Development

Components of Sustainability Society How are people’s live affected? How are cultures affected? Do some people benefit at the expense of others? Environment How are plants and animals affected? How are air, water, and soil affected? What is the long-term impact on the environment? Economy How are local, national, and international economies affected? Are meaningful job opportunities provided? Is there a long-term economic gain for people and communities? /video/congos-bloody- coltan

Exponential vs. Linear Growth The red line shows linear growth Exponential Population Growth

Green Architecture

Human Disturbance of Land 73% of the habitable area of the planet has been altered by human activities.

1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development ◦ Held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ◦ Agenda 21 - a complex plan for sustainable development for the 21 st century  Particularly in developing countries  Goal is to improve living condition for all people while maintaining a healthy environment in which natural resource are not overused and excessive pollution is not generated.

The 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development Johannesburg, South Africa Assess the progress and failure of the 1992 summit. Progress? Goals? 3 factors necessary for achieving sustainable development  Environmentally Sound Decisions  Socially Equitable Decisions  Economically Viable Decisions

If there were 100 people…. Click on the Lorax to see the demographics if there were 100 people! Click on the Lorax to see the demographics if there were 100 people!

Environmental Degradation When the available supply of a renewable resource begin to shrink because a resource’s natural replacement rate is exceeded. Tragedy of the Commons If I don’t use this resource someone else will… the little bit I use or pollute is not enough to matter!

Three Key Factors – P x A x T = I Model developed in the early 1970’s by Paul Ehrlich (biologist) John Holdren (physicist)

P x A x T = I P = Population A = Affluence (resource use) T = Technology (environmental degradation and pollution per unit of resource used) Number of People Number of units of resource use per person Environmental impact unit of resource use XX

What is meant by an environmental value system (EVS)?

Environmental World Views Commonly shared perspectives based on a collection of our basic values that help us make sense of the world. Western Worldview – Frontier Worldview Preservationist – Use Resources Sustainably Deep Ecology Worldview – Earth Wisdom

Important Key Words Ecocentric Life centered, respects the rights of nature and the dependence of humans on nature. Has a holistic view of life with is earth-centered: ◦ The Earth is here for all species ◦ Resources are limited ◦ We should manage growth so that only beneficial forms occur ◦ We must work with the Earth not against it ◦ We need the Earth more than it needs us.

Important Key Words Technocentric/Anthropocentric Human-centered, humans are dependent on nature but nature is there to benefit humankind. Within this view, humans are viewed as the dominant species on earth and we can manage the environment to suit our own needs. Other species can only therefore have value if they are useful to us. ◦ We are the most important species ◦ There will always be more resources to exploit ◦ We will control and manage these resources and be successful ◦ We can solve any pollution problem that we cause ◦ Economic growth is a good thing and we can always keep the economy growing

Environmental Philosophies Ecocentrism (nature centered) Anthropocentrism (people centered) Technocentrism (technology centered) Holistic worldview. Minimum disturbance of natural view. processes. Integration of spiritual, social and environmental dimensions. Sustainability for the whole Earth. Self-reliant communities within a framework of global citizenship. Self-imposed restraint on resource use. People as environmental managers of sustainable global systems. Population control given equal weight to resource use. Strong regulation by independent authorities required. Technology can keep pace with and provide solutions to environmental problems. Resource replacement saves resource depletion. Need to understand natural processes in order to control them. Importance of market and economic growth

Ecological Footprint Carbon Footprint Greenhouse Gases