1. 1 Understanding Our Environment

2. 2 Environmental Science

3. 3

4. 4 The Goals of Environmental Science…  How nature works.  How the environment effects us.  How we effect the environment.  How we can live more sustainably without degrading our life-support system.

5. 5 Human Population The human race plays a key role in important issues we will be discussing the whole year  Population growth  Resource use  Poverty  Loss of biological diversity  Pollution  Global climate change

6. 6 Fig. 1-1, p. 6 Industrial Revolution ? Agricultural revolution Hunting and Gathering Billions of people Time Black Death—the Plague The Population Dilemma – exponential growth

7. 7 Resource Use Global economic output is a rough measure of human resource use More people due to exponential growth and economic growth ↑ resource use

8. 8 Poverty 22 fold ↑ in economic growth b/t 1950 and 2004 50% of people still trying to survive off < $3/day To survive they must deplete and degrade environment

9. 9 Wealth is becoming increasingly concentrated, with the richest 20% receiving most of the world's income (82.7%). Poverty

10. 10 Loss of Biological Diversity Premature extinction of species due to habitat degradation 1%/year IRREVERSIBLE! i.e. cutting down forests due to farming and development

11. 11 Pollution Pollution- presence of substances at high enough levels to harm living organisms due to:  Natural occurrences= biogenic (volcanic eruptions)  Human activities= anthropogenic (burning fossil fuels, using pesticides, etc.) Disrupt support systems of organisms

12. 12 Pollution Occurs more in urban areas Can contaminate area where produced or be carried away by wind or water Factors that determine damage a pollutant can cause:  Concentration  Persistence  Chemical nature  Rate of degradation

13. 13 Climate Change Population growth, resource use, poverty, and loss of biological diversity contribute to climate change  Global warming  Cycle continues

14. 14 What the Earth Provides Us Solar Capital/ Energy Solar capital- direct sunlight and indirect forms of renewable solar energy - Provides 99% of the energy used on earth to sustain life. - Biomass (plant matter) made by plants during photosynthesis using solar energy (i.e. firewood, food, coal) - Hydropower, windpower, and solar power

15. 15 What the Earth Provides Us Natural Capital Natural capital- Earth’s resources and ecological services  Air  Water  Soil  Forests  Fishery  Minerals  Natural water and air purification

16. 16 Fig. 1-4, p. 9 + = NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL SERVICES NATURAL CAPITAL NATURAL RESOURCESNATURAL SERVICES Air Air purification Water purification Water storage Soil renewal Nutrient recycling Food production Conservation of biodiversity Wildlife habitat Grassland and forest renewal Waste treatment Climate control Population control (species interactions Pest Control CAPITAL = + Water Soil Land Nonrenewable minerals (iron, sand) Life (Biodiversity) Renewable energy sun, wind, water flows Nonrenewable energy (fossil fuels, nuclear power) RESOURCES SERVICES

17. 17 Environmental and Resource Problems The Big Five Causes Major causes of problems 1. Population growth 2. Wasteful resource use 3. Poverty 4. Poor environmental accounting 5. Ecological and environmental ignorance

18. 18 Fig. 1-3, p. 8 Sound Science A Path to Sustainability Individuals Matter Trade-Offs Solutions Natural Capital Degradation Natural Capital Sustainability: The Integrative Theme needs needs Living sustainably - satisfying people’s needs of the present, without depleting natural resources to meet the needs of future generations

19. 19 Fig. 1-18, p. 25 Shifts needed to bring about sustainable revolution

20. 20 Is Our Present Course Sustainable? Guidelines for the Earth Never leave it worse than you found it Take only what you need Sustain diverse living organisms Maintains Earth ’ s capacity for self-repair Decrease waste Decrease pollution Decrease population

21. 21 Ecological Footprint A measure of human demand on earth’s ecosystems  Looks at consumption of: - Energy - Food - Building material - Water - Other resources

22. 22 Fig. 1-7c, p. 13 Number of Earths Humanity's Ecological Footprint Earth’s Ecological Capacity Year

23. 23 Fig. 1-7b, p. 13 Footprint Per Person (hectares per person) 1 hectare=2.47 acres=12,000 yds 2 United States 9.7 4.7 European Union 1.6 China India Japan 0.8 4.8

24. 24 Your Ecological Footprint? Go to www.myfootprint.org and complete the Ecological Footprint Quizwww.myfootprint.org  Print out the last page of the quiz informing you how many earth’s are needed if everyone lived like you….