1. Environmental Science 101 Chapter 1 Environmental Science and Sustainability 1-11-16

2. This lecture will help you understand: The meaning of the term environment The importance of natural resources That environmental science is interdisciplinary The scientific method and how science operates Some pressures facing the global environment Sustainability and sustainable development

3. Environment: the total of our surroundings All the things around us with which we interact: Living things Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc. Non-living things Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks Our built environment Buildings, human-created living centers Social relationships and institutions Urbanization, Cars

4. Humans exist within the environment Humans exist within the environment and are part of nature. – Our survival depends on a healthy, functioning planet. The fundamental insight of environmental science is that we are part of the natural world. – Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal.

5. Science Definition: Human effort to understand how the natural world works by making observations, measurements and experiments. Success depends on 5 Factors – Curiosity – Skepticism – Reproducibility – Peer Review – Critical Thinking

6. The scientific method A technique for testing ideas A scientist makes an observation and asks questions of some phenomenon. The scientist formulates a hypothesis, a statement that attempts to answer the question. The hypothesis is used to generate predictions: specific statements that can be tested. The results support or reject the hypothesis.

7. 3 Limitations to Science Can’t prove or disprove anything 100% Biased Natural Systems are very complex

8. Sustainability Definition: capacity of the earths natural systems and humans systems to survive, flourish, and adapt. Earths Natural Systems -Atmosphere -Hydrosphere/Cryosphere -Geosphere/Pedosphere -Biosphere -Anthrosphere 2 Reasons to Care Self-Interest Ethical Views

9. Natural Capital Definition: resources and ecological services provided by nature that keep us alive and support human economies – Resources: matter and energy Life, Land, Air, Water, Soil, Minerals, Fossil Fuels – Ecological Services: natural cycles that allow us to survive Top-soil, air, water purification, pollination

10. Renewable resources: – Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy – Renew themselves over short periods of time: timber, water, soil Non-renewable resources: – Can be depleted (fixed/limited quantity) – Examples: Oil, coal, minerals

11. Environmental Degradation Definition: Use of a Natural Resource faster than it can be renewed or decreasing the effectiveness of a Natural Service – Tropical Deforestation – Drought – Topsoil Erosion – Water pollution – Air pollution – Extinctions

12. Ecological Footprints Definition: a rough measure of our environmental impact on earth’s renewable resources and life support system. – More-Developed vs Less-Developed Countries – Per Capita ($)

13. Ecological Footprints II

14. Are We Living Sustainably?

15. What Can Be Done? Three Scientific Principles of Sustainability - Solar energy - Chemical cycling - Biodiversity

16. Solar (?) Energy Definition: Renewable (nearly limitless) supply of energy – Powers Technological Solutions – Decreases Pollution Power Plants Transportation – Cars (Airplanes?) – Wind – Nuclear – Ch. 5/6

17. Chemical Cycling Definition: Continuous cycling of chemical required for life from the environments Soil (Ch. 4/9), Water (Ch. 10/11), and Air (Ch. 12) – Required for Life – Rate of Consumption vs Rate of Regeneration – Figure 1.18, 1.19, 1.20

18. Biodiversity Definition: Variety of genes, species, and ecosystems are required for the life-sustaining processes of energy flow and chemical cycling – Key Role in Cycling – Examples: Water Purification, Soil Regeneration, Fishing – Currently in the 6 th great extinction?

19. 3 Social Science Principles of Sustainability Political Science: Win-Win Solutions  Solve environmental issues without economic harms  Benefit the largest number of people *We only need 5-10% of the people to care to bring about change Economics: Full-Cost Pricing  Price resources/pollution better  *Wealth Equality Ethics: Responsibility to Future Generations  That’s you! (and your kids)  Leave the Earth like we found it (or better!)

20. What Can We/You Do? Big/Hard Questions! – Environmental Century – Can’t predict everything – Reduce Ecological Footprint vs Expand Resources Available ?

21. Environmental Science  Environmentalism Environmental Science The pursuit of knowledge Remain objective Environmentalism A social movement Environmental activism

22. Environmental Science How the natural world works and how humans interact with it Environment   Impacts   Humans

23. Environment Environmental Science and Sustainability (1) Population (2) Urbanization (3) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (5) Nonrenewable Energy (6) Extinctions (8) Climate Change (13) Land Degradation (9) Water Pollution (11) Air Pollution (12) Waste (14) Water (10) Food (4) Mineral Resources (7) Exam 1 Exam 3 Exam 2 Exam 5 Exam 4 Final Exam