1. Making Environmental Decisions

2. Consumption in the United States
Source: mindfully.org

3. Consumption in the United States
Americans constitute 5% of the world’s population but consume 24% of the world’s energy
One American consumes as much energy as
2 Japanese
6 Mexicans
13 Chinese
128 Bangladeshis
370 Ethiopians

4. Consumption in the United States
Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day – that’s 200 billion more calories per day than necessary -- enough to feed 80 million people.
Americans throw out 200,000 tons of edible food every day.

5. Consumption in the United States
Every year, an area the size of the state of Delaware is paved over in the Unites States.
The are more shopping malls in the U.S. than high schools.
0.1% of pesticides applied to crops reaches the pest. The rest poisons the ecosystem.

6. Consumption in the United States
Food Consumption
Beverage Consumption

7. Essential Questions What is Environmental Science?
What factors influence environmental decision making?

8. Values Principles or standards we consider important
All environmental decisions are based on values.

9. Values Economic Scientific Ethical/Moral Cultural Health Social
Educational
Aesthetic
Environmental
Recreational

10. Value systems differ for all individuals

11. Value Based Decision Making
Gather Information
Consider Values
Local/Global
Explore Consequences
Long/Short Term
Positive/Negative
Make Decision
Observe
Hypothesize
Experiment
Conclusion

12. Ethics
A set of principle of right conduct and moral values

13. Environmental Ethics
Human’s responsibility to the natural world both now and in the future.
Human responsibility to nature
We affect and are affected by the environment
Our interactions with the environment are constantly changing

14. Most people value the environment but all individuals have different values and interests.

15. Questions:
How do we use the resources in the environment while at the same time protecting it?
How do we allow people to achieve the quality of life they seek without damaging the environmental systems that are essential to their well being?

16. What impact will our actions have?
Positive vs. Negative Consequences
Long Term vs. Short Term Consequences

17. Anthropocentrism
The belief that humans are the center of everything

18. Where do your ethics come from?
Why do you think the way you do?

19. Autobiography of Your Relationship with the Earth
What the heck does that mean?
2 page paper
Where do your values and beliefs come from?

20. Step One: How do you “see” the earth?
How do you “feel” about the natural world?
Do you “understand” the natural world?
Do you “love” or “hate” the earth?
Do you have “faith” in the earth?

21. Step Two What experiences do you have with nature?
How does your family history affect your view of the earth?
Have you ever suffered an environmental crisis?
Is there a book or movie that has influenced you?
Do your religious beliefs affect how you view the natural world?

22. Step Three This is the part you turn in. Rubric
Due Friday, September 23rd, 2:25 p.m.