Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 16th Edition Chapter 1 Angela Wranic Environmental Science 1

Exams TAKE NOTES—The Powerpoint notes are not comprehensive by themselves. You must write what I say also. If you need a recorder that is fine. Study,study,study…flash cards, reading your book, write out concepts. Each week and when an exam comes along. Focus on the Powerpoint notes. You text covers a lot of material this helps you narrow down material.

Environmental Science Is an Interdisciplinary Study

Sustainability: The Integrative Theme Sustainability, is the ability of earth’s various systems to survive and adapt to environmental conditions indefinitely. The steps to sustainability must be supported by sound science.

Sustainability Is the Central Theme of This Book Natural capital: supported by solar capital Natural resources Natural services E.g., nutrient cycling Degradation of natural capital through human activities Scientific solutions

Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural Services 1-3

Nutrient Cycling 1-4

Degradation of Normally Renewable Natural Resources and Services 1-7

How Can Environmentally Sustainable Societies Grow Economically? Societies can become more environmentally sustainable through economic development dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone without degrading the earth's life support systems.

1-18 Figure 1.18 Solutions: some shifts involved in bringing about the environmental or sustainability revolution. Fig. 1-18, p. 25

Some Resources Are Not Renewable Nonrenewable resources-consumption Energy resources mineral resources Examples? Reuse Recycle

Population Growth Linear Growth Exponential Growth Doubling Time Rule of 70 70/Percentage growth

World Population Fig. 1-1

Global Outlook Examples of Developed and Developing Countries? 1-5

Results of Poverty 1-13 Lack of Number of people access to (% of world's population) Results of Poverty Adequate sanitation facilities 2.6 billion (38%) Enough fuel for heating and cooking 2 billion (29%) Electricity 2 billion (29%) Clean drinking water 1.1 billion (16%) Adequate health care Figure 1.13 Some harmful results of poverty. Question: Which two of these effects do you think are the most harmful? Why? (Data from United Nations, World Bank, and World Health Organization) 1.1 billion (16%) 1-13 Adequate housing 1 billion (15%) Enough food for good health 0.86 billion (13%) Fig. 1-13, p. 18

POLLUTION Found at high enough levels in the environment to cause harm to organisms. Point source Nonpoint source

Solutions: Prevention vs. Cleanup Problems with relying on cleanup: Often removes a pollutant from one part of the environment to cause problems in another. Pollutants at harmful levels can cost too much to reduce them to acceptable levels.

Pollution Pollutants can have three types of unwanted effects: Can disrupt / degrade life-support systems. Can damage health and property. Can create nuisances such as noise and unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.

Our Ecological Footprints Are Growing Ecological footprint concept Biological capacity Ecological footprint Average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country is called per capita ecological footprint. The WWF estimates human’s global ecological footprint exceeded the earth’s biological capacity by how much? 25% U.S consumption would only support 1.3 billion people.

Natural Capital Use and Degradation 1-10

Case Study: China’s New Affluent Consumers (1) Leading consumer of various foods and goods Wheat, rice, and meat Coal, fertilizers, steel, and cement Second largest consumer of oil

Case Study: China’s New Affluent Consumers (2) Two-thirds of the most polluted cities are in China Projections, by 2020 Largest consumer and producer of cars World’s leading economy in terms of GDP PPP 22

Causes of Environmental Problems 1-12

Prices Do Not Include the Value of Natural Capital Companies do not pay the environmental cost of resource use Goods and services do not include the harmful environmental costs Companies receive tax breaks and subsidies Economy may be stimulated but there may be a degradation of natural capital

We Can Learn to Make Informed Environmental Decisions Scientific research Identify problem and multiple solutions Consider human values

Individuals Matter: Aldo Leopold 5–10% of the population can bring about major social change Aldo Leopold: environmental ethics A leader of the conservation and environmental movements of the 20th century Land ethic Wrote: A Sand County Almanac

Homework Estimate your own ecological footprint by visiting the website www.myfootprint.org/. What are 3 things you could do to reduce your ecological footprint? (10 points)

Chapter 1 exercises Each person will turn in a paper with notes-Worth 15 points.

Discussions Be able to discuss your answers with other groups or the class. It is more important that you be able to discuss rather than writing everything out perfectly. If you are not participating I will mark your grade down. It is important to express your opinion. This does not mean attacking each other. Ask the question am I talking too much or too little. You of course can disagree with my opinions. Usually everyone has a different view and that is OK.

Henry David Thoreau What’s the use of a house if you don’t have a decent planet to put it on? End chapter 1