1. The Environmental Crisis Michael Itagaki Sociology 102, Social Problems

2. The Environment: Global Warming/Climate Change “An Inconvenient Truth”  Rising carbon dioxide levels  Correspond with rising temperatures  Ramifications?  Water: stronger storms/drought  Artic/Greenland: sea level  Climate: ecological niches

3. The Environment: Global Warming “An Inconvenient Truth”  Handout: 10 things to do, online  We have technology/resources to reduce our CO 2 output and thus slow global warming process.

4. The Environment: Global Warming “An Inconvenient Truth”  What was a surprising/shocking fact in the film?  What can we do?

5. Discussion: “An Inconvenient Truth” Confronted with these issues  How does it make you feel about our planet?  What are some practical things we can do?

6. The Environment: Global Warming “An Inconvenient Truth”  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change  Increase in temperatures caused by greenhouse gases  Temperature and sea levels will rise regardless  Sea levels will likely rise 7”-23”

7. The Environment: Global Warming “An Inconvenient Truth”  Caveats to consider  CO 2 influence temperature?  Temperature influence CO 2 ?  Both

8. The Environment: Global Warming “An Inconvenient Truth”  So what do you want to do?  Informed decisions  Do you believe you can make a difference?

9. The Problem in Sociological Perspective On-going destruction of our environment  Prehistoric times: Burn forests  Mesopotamia: River irrigation  Mayans: Clearing of trees, soil erosion

10. The Problem in Sociological Perspective Parable of the tragedy of the commons (p. 457) Is our world’s “pasture” limited? A rationalization to continue our own self- destructive behavior?

11. The Scope of the Problem Global scope of environmental problem  Interconnectedness  “An Inconvenient Truth”

12. The Scope of the Problem Pollution  Accumulation in air, water, land of substances harmful to living things  Presence of substances that interfere with socially desired uses of air, water, land or food  Social definition of pollution: What people say and believe is pollution

13. The Scope of the Problem Pollution  Pollutants introduced at exponential rate  Earth’s finite capacity to absorb pollutants  Long delay between introduction of pollutant and indication of harm to environment

14. Symbolic Interactionism How did the environment become a social problem?  Conservation movement

15. Symbolic Interactionism How did the environment become a social problem?  Conservation movement  Shift to environmental concern  Professionals/interest groups  Government agencies  News media  Public

16. Symbolic Interactionism Ecosystem  Interconnected system on the earth  Now, how do we connect to future?

17. Functionalism Global System: Interconnectedness Ecosystem: Living organism Dysfunctions of Industrialization

18. Conflict Theory Environmental Groups vs. Polluters  Greenpeace, National Wildlife Federation  Industrial, corporate entities “Corporate Welfare” (p. 463) Power of U.S. Industry  Environmental injustice

19. Research Findings Air Pollution  Fossil fuels  Autos/electricity  Waste incineration  PCBs  Flourocarbon gases  Damage to ozone expected to be repaired

20. Research Findings Global warming  Potential effects (p. 465)  Difference of opinion (Henslin)  One claim: Increase in CO 2 will lower sea levels  More CO 2 will increase plant growth?  National Academy of Sciences confirms threat of greenhouse effect

22. Discussion: “An Inconvenient Truth” Confronted with these issues  How does it make you feel about our planet?  What are some practical things we can do?