1. Science and the Environment Chapter 1 Section 1: Understanding Our Environment Section 2: The Environment and Society Chapter 1 Section 1: Understanding Our Environment Section 2: The Environment and Society

2. Science and the Environment  What are some of the most significant environmental problems in the world? In our community?  What are solutions to these problems?  What are some of the most significant environmental problems in the world? In our community?  What are solutions to these problems?

3. What is Environmental Science?  Define environment: a complex web of relationships that connects us with the world we live in.  Environmental science is the study of how humans interact with the environment.  Define environment: a complex web of relationships that connects us with the world we live in.  Environmental science is the study of how humans interact with the environment.

4. Goals of Environmental Science  To understand and solve environmental problems  How do we use our natural resources  What actions have altered the environment  Use many fields of study in order to accomplish this goal  To understand and solve environmental problems  How do we use our natural resources  What actions have altered the environment  Use many fields of study in order to accomplish this goal

5. Our Environment Through Time  Hunters-gatherers  Discovered types of foods and animals to eat  Used natural resources for everything  Impact on environment was low  Hunters-gatherers  Discovered types of foods and animals to eat  Used natural resources for everything  Impact on environment was low

6. Our Environment Through Time  Agricultural Revolution  Domestication of plants and animals.  People settle in one area rather than move in order to follow food.  Still relying on man-power  Agricultural Revolution  Domestication of plants and animals.  People settle in one area rather than move in order to follow food.  Still relying on man-power

7. Our Environment Through Time  Industrial Revolution  Involved a shift in energy sources to fossil fuels.  Efficiency of agriculture, industry and transportation  Improved quality of life  Industrial Revolution  Involved a shift in energy sources to fossil fuels.  Efficiency of agriculture, industry and transportation  Improved quality of life

8. What are the Main Problems?  Resource Depletion  Natural Resource: any natural material used by humans  Resources are depleted when a large fraction of the resource has been used up  Resource Depletion  Natural Resource: any natural material used by humans  Resources are depleted when a large fraction of the resource has been used up

9. Resources  Renewable Resources: a resources that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes  Fresh water, soil, air, trees, crops and energy from the sun  Renewable Resources: a resources that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes  Fresh water, soil, air, trees, crops and energy from the sun

10. Resources  Nonrenewable Resources: a resource that forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed  Mineral and fossil fuels (oil and coal)  Takes millions of years to replace  Nonrenewable Resources: a resource that forms at a much slower rate than the rate that it is consumed  Mineral and fossil fuels (oil and coal)  Takes millions of years to replace

11. What are the Main Problems?  Pollution  An undesired change in air, water or soil that adversely affects the health, survival or activities of human or other organisms  Pollution  An undesired change in air, water or soil that adversely affects the health, survival or activities of human or other organisms

12. Pollution  Biodegradable pollutants: broken down by natural processes  Human Sewage and newspapers  Non-biodegradable pollutants: can not be broken down by natural processes  Plastics and some types of metals  Biodegradable pollutants: broken down by natural processes  Human Sewage and newspapers  Non-biodegradable pollutants: can not be broken down by natural processes  Plastics and some types of metals

13. Pollution in China

14. What are the Main Problems?  Loss of Biodiversity  Biodiversity: the number and variety of species that live in an area.  Many species depend on others for survival.  If certain species do not exist, that could lead to further problems.

15. “Tragedy of Commons”  In certain villages there were areas consider commons. Individuals would have their animals graze the land.  If too many animals grazed on the commons it can destroy grass.  In certain villages there were areas consider commons. Individuals would have their animals graze the land.  If too many animals grazed on the commons it can destroy grass.

16. Tragedy of the Commons

17. Economics and the Environment  Supply and Demand  The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that things is worth  Give an example of something that is in high demand now, but seems to be in limited supply  Supply and Demand  The greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that things is worth  Give an example of something that is in high demand now, but seems to be in limited supply The supply curve and the demand curve -- where they meet determines the price of a particular item or service

19. Economics and the Environment  Cost and Benefits  Is the benefit worth the cost?  Risk Assessment  How can we protect our environment cost effectively  Cost and Benefits  Is the benefit worth the cost?  Risk Assessment  How can we protect our environment cost effectively

20. Developed and Developing Countries  Developed Country  Have higher than average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies and strong social structure  U.S., Japan, Western Europe, Canada  Developed Country  Have higher than average incomes, slower population growth, diverse industrial economies and strong social structure  U.S., Japan, Western Europe, Canada

21. Developed and Developing Countries  Developing Country  Lower than average incomes, simple and agricultural based economies and rapid population growth  Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia  Developing Country  Lower than average incomes, simple and agricultural based economies and rapid population growth  Mexico, Brazil, Malaysia

24. Population and Consumption  Consumption Trends:  75% of the world’s resources are used by developed countries  Ecological Footprints:  Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country  Consumption Trends:  75% of the world’s resources are used by developed countries  Ecological Footprints:  Shows the productive area of Earth needed to support one person in a particular country

26. A Sustainable World  Sustainability:  the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely.  Sustainability:  the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely.