1. ES 118 Environment and Society ES118 Environment and Society

2. Setting the Context: What are the Trends? Diminishing Availability of Water and Agricultural Land Diminishing Availability of Water and Agricultural Land The Oil Peak The Oil Peak Collapsing Fisheries Collapsing Fisheries Shrinking Forests Shrinking Forests Loss of Biodiversity Loss of Biodiversity Climate Change Climate Change

3. Climate Change: The Evidence Today is Colby’s “ Focus the Nation” day Today is Colby’s “ Focus the Nation” day The latest IPCC report states that the evidence is now clear that the climate is changing and humans are responsible. The latest IPCC report states that the evidence is now clear that the climate is changing and humans are responsible. Some evidence of warming is already evident (glaciers melting, earlier ice outs, ecosystem changes). Some evidence of warming is already evident (glaciers melting, earlier ice outs, ecosystem changes).

4. Climate Change: the Implications The fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive our economy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon) when combusted. The fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive our economy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon) when combusted. The models that estimate future impacts suggest the likelihood of very large negative impacts (sea level rise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystem changes, etc) The models that estimate future impacts suggest the likelihood of very large negative impacts (sea level rise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystem changes, etc) Changing those outcomes means changing the way we have historically improved well-being. Changing those outcomes means changing the way we have historically improved well-being. This makes climate change politically very controversial. This makes climate change politically very controversial.

5. An Alternative View “We ought not punish ourselves in shame. We ought to be pleased that we have thrown off so many of humanity’s yokes and made possible fantastic progress in terms of prosperity. And we ought to face the facts - that on the whole we have no reason to expect that progress will not continue. “We ought not punish ourselves in shame. We ought to be pleased that we have thrown off so many of humanity’s yokes and made possible fantastic progress in terms of prosperity. And we ought to face the facts - that on the whole we have no reason to expect that progress will not continue. This is the real state of the world.” This is the real state of the world.” Bjørn Lomberg (p. 330) Bjørn Lomberg (p. 330)

6. A Sense of History How did we get into this predicament? Hunter/Gatherers Hunter/Gatherers The First Agricultural Revolution The First Agricultural Revolution The Industrial Revolution The Industrial Revolution The Second Agricultural Revolution The Second Agricultural Revolution The Consequences The Consequences

7. Why “Environment and Society”? Why “Environment and Society”? Behavioral Sources of Degradation Behavioral Sources of Degradation Mark Hertsgaard’s “Earth Odyssey ” Mark Hertsgaard’s “Earth Odyssey ” Environment and Society

8. The Dilemma   Need to increase the standard of living among the poorest nations and people.   Yet the traditional model of development puts excessive stress on the environment, thereby undermining the process.  As described by Thomas Friedman in his new book the meteoric rise of India and China are the testing grounds for these concerns.  How can this dilemma be resolved?

9. Sustainable Development: The Origins Our Common Future (1987) Our Common Future (1987)  Nations must work together to solve global environmental problems.  This new approach, which involves raising living standards for the poor while protecting and enhancing the environment, is called sustainable development.

10. Sustainable Development: The Definition  “Sustainable development seeks to meet the aspirations and the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

11. Overarching Questions Is the predominant economic system (capitalism) compatible with sustainable development? Is the predominant economic system (capitalism) compatible with sustainable development? Is democracy compatible with sustainable development? Is democracy compatible with sustainable development? What role does globalization play in the quest for sustainable development? What role does globalization play in the quest for sustainable development? Elizabeth Kolbert concluded her series in the New Yorker magazine on climate change with: "It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.” Is she right? Elizabeth Kolbert concluded her series in the New Yorker magazine on climate change with: "It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.” Is she right?

12. Societal Resilience Diamond’s focal question: Why did some societies overcome resource scarcity while others succumbed? Diamond’s focal question: Why did some societies overcome resource scarcity while others succumbed? His approach: case study method using historical examples His approach: case study method using historical examples His findings: His findings: (1) Information (2) Incentives (3) Values

13. The Course

14. Overarching Themes Evidence over opinion. Evidence over opinion. Behavioral Sources of Environmental Degradation: Behavioral Sources of Environmental Degradation:  Values  Information  Incentives

15. The Computer Connection ES 118 Web page ES 118 Web page Download syllabus Download syllabus Download lecture outlines Download lecture outlines Announcements Announcements Web sources Web sources http://www.colby.edu/environ/ES118/ES118.html

16. Meet the Faculty Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Studies Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Studies Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental Studies Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental Studies Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Studies Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Studies Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental Studies Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental Studies

17. Characteristics of the Course  Introductory  Solutions Oriented  Multiple Perspectives  Survey  Active Learning  Writing and Speaking Components

18. Course Format Mondays and Wednesdays we will have all-course lectures in this room. Mondays and Wednesdays we will have all-course lectures in this room. Thursday nights we will have presentations on research methods in this same room. Thursday nights we will have presentations on research methods in this same room. On Fridays in the individual section rooms we will have small group discussions. These sessions will be an opportunity for you to clarify issues, to raise alternative points of view, and to delve into some of the leading questions that the faculty will put before you. On Fridays in the individual section rooms we will have small group discussions. These sessions will be an opportunity for you to clarify issues, to raise alternative points of view, and to delve into some of the leading questions that the faculty will put before you.

19. Research Projects Designed to allow you to be actively involved in learning about a specific topic. Designed to allow you to be actively involved in learning about a specific topic. Thursday night sessions will lead you step-by-step through the research process. We will discuss finding researchable topics, formulating testable hypotheses, analytical approaches, research design, how to use evidence, etc. These session are generally timed to help you with the next step in your research process. Thursday night sessions will lead you step-by-step through the research process. We will discuss finding researchable topics, formulating testable hypotheses, analytical approaches, research design, how to use evidence, etc. These session are generally timed to help you with the next step in your research process. Some work sessions. (Good time for group to meet.) Some work sessions. (Good time for group to meet.) Presentations during the last week. Run like a professional conference. Four days of presentations. Your group presents on one day and you attend presentations by others on the other three days. You choose the session you want to hear. Presentations during the last week. Run like a professional conference. Four days of presentations. Your group presents on one day and you attend presentations by others on the other three days. You choose the session you want to hear.

20. The Syllabus Readings Readings Grading Grading Deadlines Deadlines Content Content Download it from the web Download it from the web http://www.colby.edu/environ/courses/ES118/ES118.html

21. The Readings

22. The Text Used for basic background Used for basic background Note Glossary in back Note Glossary in back

23. The E-Reader Selected readings from the literature to enrich the text and lectures. Selected readings from the literature to enrich the text and lectures. Electronically available from the web. Electronically available from the web. Type “ES118” into the reserves search box on http://www.colby.edu/library/ Type “ES118” into the reserves search box on http://www.colby.edu/library/ http://www.colby.edu/library/

24. Issues for Discussion Controversial issues with two opposing experts Controversial issues with two opposing experts Useful point of departure for some class discussions on Friday Useful point of departure for some class discussions on Friday

25. Some Final Details Please make sure you have signed the attendance sheet. Please make sure you have signed the attendance sheet. If you would like to be placed our the weekly email list for the ES program (speakers, internships, job opportunities), please email Beth Kopp at bkkopp@colby.edu and ask to be put on the ES Newsletter list. If you would like to be placed our the weekly email list for the ES program (speakers, internships, job opportunities), please email Beth Kopp at bkkopp@colby.edu and ask to be put on the ES Newsletter list. Can get daily environmental news from around the world if interested for free from any Colby computer, for example: http://www.greenwire.com Can get daily environmental news from around the world if interested for free from any Colby computer, for example: http://www.greenwire.comhttp://www.greenwire.com