Understanding Our Environment Chapter 1

Outline: Environmental Science - Definitions Historical Perspectives Pragmatic, Moral/Aesthetic, Health and Ecological, Global Citizenship Current Conditions North /South Divisions Resource Divisions Sustainable Development Human Development

Introduction Humans have always inhabited both the natural world and the social world. Environment: The complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community.

Introduction Environmental Science: Systematic study of our environment, and our proper place in it. Interdisciplinary Integrative Natural Sciences Social Sciences Humanities Mission Oriented

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE Four Distinct Stages Pragmatic Resource Conservation Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation Health and Ecological Damage Concerns Global Environmental Citizenship

Pragmatic Resource Conservation George Perkins Marsh Early Conservationist Influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot. Pragmatic Utilitarian Conservation “Greatest good for the greatest number for the longest time” Multiple Use Policies of USFS.

Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation John Muir - President Sierra Club Nature deserves to exist for its own sake - regardless of degree of usefulness to humans. (Biocentric Preservation)

Modern Environmentalism Industrial explosion of WWII added new concerns to the environmental agenda. Rachel Carson - Silent Spring (1962) Environmental Agenda expanded in 1960’s and 70’s to include: Atomic Weapons Testing Fossil Fuel Issues Air and Water Pollution Wilderness Protection

Global Concerns Increased technology has greatly expanded international communications. Daily events now reported worldwide instead of locally or regionally.

CURRENT CONDITIONS Human Population > 6 Billion. Food shortages and famines exist in many densely populated areas. Water Quantity and Quality Issues Fossil Fuel Burning Air and Water Pollution Landscape Destruction Loss of Biodiversity

Signs of Hope Progress had been made on many fronts. Population has stabilized in many industrialized countries. Incidence of life-threatening diseases has been reduced in some countries. Average life expectance nearly doubled.

NORTH / SOUTH DIVISIONS Poor countries tend to be located in Southern Hemisphere. World Bank estimates more than 1.3 billion people (1/5 world population) live in acute poverty of < $1 (U.S.) per day. 70% women and children Self-Sustaining Daily survival necessitates over-harvesting resources thus degrading chances of long-term sustainability.

North/South Divisions Wealthy countries tend to be located in the Northern Hemisphere. About 1/5 of world population live in countries with per capita income > $25,000.00 (U.S.). Poor people exist here as well. Gap between rich and poor continues to increase. Wealthiest 200 people in the world have combined wealth of $1 trillion - more than total wealth of poorest half (3 billion) of the world’s population.

North/South Divisions

Division of Resources Affluent lifestyles of richer countries consume inordinate share of natural resources and produces high proportion of pollutants.

Political Economies First World - Industrialized, market-oriented democracies of Western Europe, North America. Second World - Centrally-planned socialist countries such as former USSR. Third World - Ex-colonial nations such as India, Malaysia, Iran, etc. Fourth World - Poorest nations and indigenous communities within wealthy nations.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT United Nations releases Human Development Index (HDI). Based on social factors - ranges from 0-1.0. In 2000: Canada had highest with 0.96 and Sierra Leone had lowest with 0.19. Aggregate numbers hide many important inequity issues: Gender Race

Sustainable Development “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Benefits must be available to all humans, not just sub-set of privileged group.

Sustainable Development Many economists see continual economic growth as essential in providing more resources to more people. Most ecologists view continual growth as impossible in the long-run due to non-renewable resources and limited ecological waste-disposal capabilities.

20:20 Compact 1995 United Nations Summit for Social Development called all nations to ensure basic needs for everyone. 20:20 Compact Wealthy countries contribute 20% of aid to humanitarian concerns and social development. Developing countries contribute 20% of budget to human primary concerns.

Indigenous People Indigenous (native) people are often least powerful, most neglected people in the world. At least half the world’s 6,000 distinct languages are dying. Indigenous homelands may harbor vast percentage of world’s biodiversity. Recognizing native land rights and political rights may often be a solid ecological safeguard.

Summary: Environmental Science - Definitions Historical Perspectives Pragmatic, Moral/Aesthetic, Health and Ecological, Global Citizenship Current Conditions North /South Divisions Resource Divisions Sustainable Development Human Development