1. Timeline of Environmental Science

2. Environmental issues have surfaced
throughout human history.

3. 60,000 years ago-today
Earliest evidence of fire to clear land in Tanzania
Deforestation continues to devastate

4. 7,000 years ago Land, air and water pollution common
Rome was notorious for sewage in the streets
Ancient sewer system

5. 500 BC forward
Soil conservation practiced except in China in ancient times
Lead poisoning by Romans who prepared their wine with lead sweetened sugar (lead acetate)

6. Middle Ages and Renaissance 1200-1750
Plague devastates Europe but leads to the beginnings of a public health system.
Still deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution
Picture is woodcut of outhouse opening directly into water supply

7. Era of Enlightenment
Thomas Malthus predicts that as populations soar, resources will become scarce or run out entirely.
Movement to clean up waterways.
New technologies create new pollutions
Woodcut of victims of typhus

8. Industrial Revolution 1830-1890
Living conditions in urban areas horrible
Smog episodes begin killing residents of large cities like London.
Conservation of wilderness areas begins
Giant Sequoia “Mother of the Forest” tree cut down started national forest preservation

9. Progressive Era
Reform was the common concern. Reform of working conditions, slum housing, food adulteration, sanitation, drinking water, polluting industries and more.
Social activism, women’s clubs, Sierra Club begin
Young Teddy Roosevelt leads the way in conserving large tracts of land for “wise use”

10. Roaring 20’s and depression 1920-1940
Leaded gasoline becomes standard for vehicles despite fight against
Civilian Conservation Corps founded by FDR

11. World War II and the 50’s
Only the government can secure the long-term public interest. Private industry can not
Increasing C02 buildup
Deadly smog episodes in London

12. The Sixties 1960-1970 Rachel Carson’s book Silent Spring
The tragedy of the commons (as unrestricted grazing could turn a common pasture into a wasteland, unregulated industry could do the same to the planet. )

13. The Seventies
A decade of awakening and cleanup begins with the birth of the Environmental Protection Agency
Air pollution is cut back dramatically through use of catalytic converters on new cars
Water pollution is greatly decreased through a massive sewage treatment expansion program …

14. 1970-1980’s Toxic chemicals become more troubling
Nuclear power safety is increasingly suspect after the Three Mile Island accident.
Energy crisis in oil supply leads to reversals of some restrictions on refinery and oil pollution
Greenpeace protecting whales

15. The Eighties
Disasters -the Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster in Ukraine; and the Challenger shuttle and Exxon Valdez oil spills in the U.S.
Ozone depletion from fluorocarbons

16. The Nineties
Persian Gulf War creates environmental disaster with thousands of burning oil wells.
Political standoff - A Gallup poll finds 76 percent of Americans call themselves "environmentalists."

17. 2000 til now Global climate change becomes a pressing priority
Coal mine disasters continue to haunt the US and China.
Toxic Waste dumping in developing nations continues to be an urgent problem.
Tsunami and earthquake almost destroys nuclear power plant in Japan

18. The Future