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Chapter 1
Environmental science
Environmental science is the study of: - How the natural world works - How the environment affects humans and vice versa We need to understand our interactions with the environment - To creatively solve environmental problems
- Crops, livestock
- Stable food supplies Industrial revolution
If everyone consumed the amount of resources the U.S. does, we would need 4.5 Earths!
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Overshoot
Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earths capacity to support us
We are using renewable resources 30% faster than they are being replenished
2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Environmental science
How will resource consumption and population growth impact todays global society? Civilizations have fallen after degrading the environment - Easter Island, Greek and Roman empires - Once lush regions (i.e. Iraq) are now barren deserts Civilizations succeed or fail according to how they interact with the environment - Along with how they respond to problems Environmental science can help build a better world
Pursues knowledge about the environment and our interactions with it Scientists try to remain objective and free from bias
Environmentalism A social movement Tries to protect the natural world from human-caused changes
2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Applications of science
Policy decisions and management practices Developing technology
Experimental design
Agriculture, urban sprawl, and other land uses have substantially affected most of the landscape of all nations
2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
Biodiversity loss may be our biggest problem; once a species is extinct, it is gone forever
2011 Pearson Education, Inc.
The most comprehensive scientific assessment of the condition of the worlds ecological systems
In 2005, 2000 of the worlds leading scientists from 100 nations reported : Humans have drastically altered ecosystems These changes have contributed to human wellbeing and economic development, but at a cost Environmental degradation could get much worse Degradation can be reversed, but it requires work
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Renewable energy and efficiency Organic agriculture Legislation and technology to reduce pollution Protect species and their habitat Recycling, decreasing waste Decrease greenhouse gas emissions
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Sustainable development
Involves environmental protection, economic well-being and social equity It does not threaten economic and social needs - Humans cannot exist without an intact, functioning ecosystem Sustainable development: the use of resources to satisfy current needs - Without compromising future availability of resources
Sustainable development
The poor suffer the most from environmental degradation Development: purposeful changes to improve the quality of life Sustainable development: resources satisfy current needs - Without compromising future availability of resources - It is not ever increasing economic gain - It values and prioritizes environmental protection - Human-made capital cannot substitute for natural capital
Conclusion
Environmental science helps us understand our relationship with the environment - It informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems Identifying a problem is the first step in solving it Solving environmental problems can move us towards health, longevity, peace and prosperity - Environmental science can help us find balanced solutions to environmental challenges