1. Science and the Environment
Rest of 1.1

2. Our Main Environmental Problems
Resource Depletion: refers to a large fraction of the resource being used up.
Two Types of Natural Resources:
Renewable
Non Renewable

4. Renewable Resources: can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes ex: fresh water, soil, trees

5. Non Renewable Resources: form at a much slower rates that the rate they are consumed Ex: metals, coal, oil, natural gas

6. 2. Pollution: when the amount of something causes health problems
Two Types:
Biodegradable Pollutants
Non-degradable Pollutants

7. Biodegradable Pollutants:
Can be broken down by natural processes
Ex: scrap paper rotting
Problem if too many of them

8. Non-degradable Pollutants:
Cannot be broken down by natural processes
Ex: mercury, lead, some plastics
Problem: dangerous levels

15. 3. Loss of Biodiversity: Predators die off Prey die off
Loss of habitat
Pollution
Species can become extinct and therefore, affect the ecosystem.

16. Assignment:
Page 15
Answer questions 1 – 6

17. The Environment and Society
Chapter 1 Section 2

18. The Tragedy of the Commons
What are the Commons?
Any common area shared by a group of individuals
Ex. a garden shared by people in a neighborhood

19. The Tragedy of the Commons
describes how shared environmental resources are overused and eventually depleted

20. Economics and the Environment
Supply and Demand:
The greater the demand for the resource the greater its value.
Ex. Too little oil  higher gas prices

21. Is the cost of fixing an environmental problem worth it?
More Economics and the Environment
Costs and Benefits:
Is the cost of fixing an environmental problem worth it?

22. What is the risk of fixing the environmental problem?
More Economics and the Environment
Risk Assessment:
What is the risk of fixing the environmental problem?
Ex. Will capping a coastal oil leak possibly cause even more oil to leak?

23. Environmental Problems in Developed and Developing Countries
Developed Country: Economy and infrastructure is better
US, Canada, Japan, Western Europe
Developing Countries: Economy and infrastructure is poorer
Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia
Environmental problems are influenced by the wealth and resources a country has.

25. What are the Root Causes of Environmental Problems?
Human population growing too quickly so the environment can’t handle it.
Ex. garbage
People are wasting, using up, polluting natural resources faster than they can be replaced, renewed, or cleaned up.
Result: Malnutrition, starvation, disease

26. Ecological Footprints
A calculation of the amount of land and resources needed to support one person.
It differs from country to country. Higher in a developed country than in a developing country.

27. Name the unit used to measure an ecological footprint.
Ecological Footprints
Name the unit used to measure an ecological footprint.
Which country has the highest ecological footprint?
Which country has the lowest ecological footprint?
What is the average ecological footprint for the four countries shown in the graph?

28. Sustainability
Able to meet all of our present and future needs

29. Assignment:
Page 21
Answer questions 1 – 5