Chapter 1 ~ What on Earth Are We Doing? ~ “If everyone in the world had an ecological footprint equivalent to that of the typical North American or Western European, global society would overshoot the planet’s biocapacity three to five fold.” J. Kitzes et al., (2008) Amber Gilewski Tompkins Cortland Community College

67% of North Americans agree that environmental conditions are worsening 28% say they have made major lifestyle changes to protect the environment 55% made some minor changes More than 90% of U.S. residents surveyed indicated that the United States “should act to reduce global warming, even if it has economic costs”

Environmental problems are really behavioral problems They are caused by the thoughts, beliefs, values, and worldviews upon which human beings act Human behavior is ultimately responsible for rapidly deteriorating natural systems on which the survival of all species (including human) depends

THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM Threats to the biosphere: Pollution Over population Climate change Species extinctions Deforestation Ozone depletion topsoil loss Coral reef destruction

Biology’s bottom line: Carrying capacity The maximum number of any species a habitat can support If the territory is isolated and the population cannot migrate to a new one, the inhabitants must find a balance with its resource base Alternatively, if the population grows too quickly so that it depletes its resources suddenly, the population will crash

Figure 1.1 The J-shaped curve of past exponential world population growth, with projections to 2050 (this figure is not to scale). Data from World Bank and United Nations; photo courtesy of NASA. (Adapted from Miller, G.T., Living in the Environment, 15E., p. 6, © Brooks/Cole, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc., With permission.)

Psychological reactions to environmental threats: Despair Anxiety Irritation Anger Feeling overwhelmed The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change The Psychological Impacts of Global Climate Change

Psychological Reactions to Environmental Threats Boomster Optimistic/unrealistic Ingenuity will prevail Belief that we’re not limited by carrying capacity (minority view) Technology will save us Believe the media is exaggerating environmental problems/environmental skeptics Doomster Pessimistic/realistic Sense of hopelessness Viewed as giving a “doom and gloom” perspective Popular position (especially amongst the younger and better educated persons) May not always agree on the solutions

Affluenza An unsustainable addiction to consumption, materialism, and economic growth A painful, contagious, socially transmitted condition of overload, debt, anxiety, and waste, resulting from the dogged pursuit of more AFFLUENZA – PBS PROGRAM

Cultural versus biological carrying capacity I = P x A x T I – the impact of any group or nation P – population size A – the per-capita affluence, as measured by consumption T – the technology employed in supplying that consumption

CONCLUSIONS: No single academic discipline will provide the solution to our environmental problems Interdisciplinary collaborations are urgently needed Psychology has a lot to offer for understanding how environmental degradation developed and the psychological forces maintaining it