Our Changing Environment – Chapters 1-3

Environmental Science vs. Ecology

Ecology – study of the relationships between organisms & their environment (including biotic & abiotic factors)

Environmental Science – study of the role / impact of humans on Earth.

Limitations of Environmental Science

·  Some data cannot be exactly measured so estimates must be used (ex: exactly how many acres of rainforest are cut down each year; numbers of humans who are nomadic; how much of a particular resource is actually available, etc)

·  Since the interactions between people & their environment have so many variables involved, our models to explain them are limited.

·  Predictions into the future must take into consideration assumptions – Will Environmental Education have an impact on change? Will less developed nations harm the environment as we have in the past? How fast will human population grow?

Human Impact – Why we need to study Environmental Science

Overpopulation

·  #1 greatest problem in Environmental Science

·  As of today there are 7 billion people on earth.

·  Leads to loss of biodiversity (biggest problem)

Pollution

·  Air: includes smog, ozone pollution, acid rain, radon

·  Water: includes runoff (fertilizer, animal waste), leaking tanks, etc

·  Noise: any sounds that are offensive or bothersome

·  Land: litter, soil contamination from leaks, dumping, etc

·  Biological: invasive species

·  Genetic: cross-breeding, hybridization of plants /animals

·  Solid Waste: landfills, hazardous waste storage, incineration, etc

·  Light: artificial lights on beach houses, from cities, etc

Exploited resources (using too much... of any given resource faster than it can be replenished.)

Helping to Correct Environmental Problems

Big Problem: We are living as if resources are unlimited.

Sustainability:

·  Living in a way that will support life on earth in the future.

·  Using only resources that are needed.

·  ability of a system to survive & function over time

·  An environmentally sustainable society does not deplete the earth capital (air, water, soil, chemical, & biological resources that support life) on which it depends.

·  Sustainable society - sustains basic needs of people w/o depleting its natural resources at expense of future generations (manages economy & population to live w/in carrying capacity)

Conservation: sensible and careful management of resources (air, water, forests, wildlife, etc)

Preservation: setting aside undisturbed areas, keeping them pristine and unharmed by human activity

Conservation Biology: maintain the genes, species, communities, & ecosystems that make up Earth’s biological diversity. Find out human impacts & create solutions.

Wildlife Management: manipulation of population size of mostly game species

Environmental World Views

Commonly shared perspective based on a collection of our background knowledge that helps us make sense of the world, our role in the world, & determine right & wrong behaviors

Western World View

·  a.k.a. Planetary Management (Human Centered)

·  Humans most important & in charge of nature

·  there is always more

·  all economic growth = good

·  our survival depends on our ability to manipulate the earth.

Variations:

·  No Problem school of thought: growth, management, technology will solve everything

·  Free-Market School: no government interfering w/ business. All land is private

·  Stewardship: We're the gardener that needs to care for Earth (Earth is our garden)

Ecosphere Centered

·  Also known as Earth-Wisdom

·  Earth is for All species

·  Resources are limited

·  some economic growth = bad, hurts environment

·  maintain life-support of Earth by preserving:

·  global biodiversity

·  global environmental conditions

·  sustainable use of resources

Variations of Earth Wisdom

·  Deep Ecology - stresses harmony with nature, a spiritual respect for life, & the belief that humans & all other species have an equal worth.

·  Ecofeminism - male dominance caused shift from "mother earth" to nature is a foe

·  Biocentric

·  aka, Life Centered

Individual Centered –

·  every organism has right to exist

·  Species Centered - all species have right to exist, especially the "cute" ones. Kill problem species.

Arguments Against Individual Centered

·  Earth too complex for humans to understand the near future

·  Continued economic growth will destroy Earth's Resources (not sustainable)

·  Don't focus on protecting Earth's life-support systems (many non-living cycles)

Economics of Environmentalism

·  Earth (or Natural) Capital: combination of sources (for natural resources) & sinks (for waste products)

·  Resources degradation & Pollution = overuse of Natural Capital

o  Resource degradation = overuse of sources

o  Pollution = overuse of sinks

Economics

Economic Growth Measurement

1.  GNP (gross national product): value all goods/services produced within & outside US

2.  GDP (gross domestic income): value all goods & services produced within a country

3.  Per Capita GNP (shows average slice of GNP for each person)

Wealth Gap

The United Nations classifies countries as:

·  Developed (aka More Developed Countries; 1st World Nations): highly industrialized, high per capita GNP (AGR = 0.1%)

-  have 15% world’s wealth, use 12% of resources, but have 80% of world’s population

-  Includes US, most of Europe, Japan (US, Germany & Japan produce ½ of world’s economic output)

-  Have few children (why?)

·  Developing (aka Less Developed Countries; 3rd World Nations): low industrialization, low per capita GNP (AGR = 1.7%)

-  Rural, agricultural / nomadic, illiterate, poor

-  Includes most of Africa, Asia, & South America.

-  Have many children (why?)

/ MDC / LDC
GNI
(Gross National Income) / Above $27,000 per capita / Less than $5,000 per capita
World’s Population / 20% / 80%
Infant Mortality Rates / 6 / 1000 births / 57 /1000 births
Life Expectancy / 77 / 65
% of pop. w/ AIDS / 0.5% / 1.2%
Resource use / 88% / 12%
Pollution / solid waste production / 75% / 25%
World’s Wealth / 85% / 15%
Hazardous Waste production / 90% / 10%

Micro Credits: small loans given to people in LDCs to help them start their own businesses.

Cost-Benefit Analysis

Is the cost of doing something worth the benefit?

·  Big issue in ES

·  Government constantly getting lobbied to enforce or reject environmental legislation because of the cost.

Internal vs External Costs

Internal Costs:

·  The cost of a product is included in the purchase price of that product (supplies, shipping, labor, utilities used to make the product, etc).

·  Quantifiable, easy to track & gauge.

·  Consumer pays for all costs associated with the product when buying a product.

External Costs:

·  The cost of creating a product that cannot be paid for by the manufacturer.

·  Paid for by the general public in fines, taxes, health effects.

·  Include air & water pollution from factories, transportation, farms, etc.

·  Not quantifiable. General public pays for clean-up or pays in health problems (i.e. asthma)

Government

Government often controls pollution that companies can release by:

1.  nonincentive-based regulations

a.  Command & Control Regulations, that impose legal limits on amount of allowed pollution

2.  incentive-based regulations, that use profit and capitalism to control pollution

·  emission charge – a tax charged for each “unit” of pollution released

·  marketable waste-discharge permits (Cap & Trade) - permit allows only a certain amount of pollution to be released, but companies can buy more permits or trade with other companies.

Government Incentives to its citizens:

Incentive Based:

·  “Cash for Clunkers” – gave a $3000 credit to people who traded in their cars for ones that were at least 10 mpg more efficient.

·  Tax credits

o  Tax Free Weekend for Energy Star products

o  Credit for energy efficient furnaces, air conditioners, insulated windows.