Unit 1: Our Environment

OVERALL  Explain how population growth affects the sustainability of global ecosystems; SPECIFIC  explain how growth in population and economic activity around the world increases pressure on natural resources and natural systems (e.g., the effects of urbanization and loss of agricultural land on food production)

The reason our population has exploded since the 1600s is because of:  With better sanitation and healthcare people no longer die from diseases and infections  With people no longer dying at an alarming rate the birth rate increased However since population may not be an large influencing factor in environmental degradation because:  The population growth rate is decreasing due to many factors including families choosing to have less children. Population does matter but environmental degradation is more about how we use environmental resources, not how many people use them.

 Threats to sustainability comes from the impact that individuals have on the environment.  Paul Ehrlich, an American expert in population biology and ecology suggested that total environmental effect could be expressed as a formula: ________________ + ________________ + ________________ = Impact

 According to the formula, either an increase in total population or an increase in individual impact on the environment results in the total human impact on the environment.  As we have learned some scientists have emphasized the population part of the formula, but this is too simplistic an explanation.  For example, Canada has a relatively small population but we are the largest consumers of energy in the world.

 The ________________ and ________________ of human populations are also a factor in environmental impact.  Some environments are more susceptible to degradation from human activities than others.  Ex. Saskatchewan was settled during unusually wet years and in later years rainfall declined dramatically. The settled land now needed ________________ to be productive.  Farming and ________________ led to massive loss of ________________.

 Population-affluence-technology debate for developing countries raising a dilemma:  Various aid agencies strive for the improvement in the ________________ and a decline in overall human population growth.  Supporting efforts to improve ________________ could contribute to an increase in environmental impact, which is counterproductive to the benefits of the reduction of population growth.

 However, it has been pointed out that developed countries should not condescend to developing countries by asking them not to strive for the same standard of living.

 Economic and political forces have placed developing nations at a disadvantage.  In order to create human sustainable development, these disadvantages must be addressed.  The first step is to measure and to illustrate inequalities.

 There are four ways of measuring human development: 1. The Human Development Index 2. The Millennium Development Goals 3. The Genuine Progress Indicator 4. The Canadian Index of Well-being

The Human Development Index  Has been published since 1990 by the UN  Composed of three dimensions 1. _________________________ 2. _________________________ 3. _________________________

The Millennium Development Goals  In 2000 world leaders adopted the United Nations Millennium Declaration, committing their nations to work together to reduce extreme poverty, hunger, disease, lack of shelter, and exclusion from the benefits of education.  The Declaration promoted gender equality, education and environmental sustainability.  The above were basic needs were a part of every human’s right to health, security, education and shelter.

The Millennium Development Goals The rights were translated into 8 goals: 1. _________________________ 2. _________________________ 3. _________________________ 4. _________________________ 5. _________________________ 6. _________________________ 7. _________________________ 8. _________________________

The Genuine Progress Indicator  In America and Canada it has been proposed as a means to measure well-being  The GPI adds up a nation’s expenses (GDP) and factors in sectors that are usually excluded from the market economy such as housework, volunteering and then subtracts socials ills (crime, natural resources, depletion and loss of leisure time) GPI = (GDP + ____________ + _______________) – (______________)

The Canadian Index of Wellbeing  Is an attempt to understand what health, social, environmental and economic factors have to do with wellbeing  The index distinguishes between positive attributes (health and clean air) and negative attributes (sickness and pollution).  Gives value to unpaid work and volunteering and sees overwork and stress as deficits.

The Canadian Index of Wellbeing  The Index has 7 domains: 1. _________________________ (secure and meaningful employment; adequate employment; low income and wage gap) 2. _________________________ (balance between paid and unpaid work; free time; lack of stress) 3. _________________________ (looks at mental and emotional well-being as well as physical well-being) 4. _________________________ (good air and water quality, healthy forests, etc.) 5. _________________________ (literacy, numeracy, other indicators of education) 6. _________________________ (safe communities, trust, sense of belonging and identity) 7. _________________________ (individuals and collective action designed to address piublic issues)

Choose one of the following questions and write a response of 250 to 300 words (Don’t bother with an introduction, just jump write into your topic; conclusion should be a sentence or two at most). 1. Of the 4 measurements of human development, which would be the most helpful in creating a sustainable future? 2. In order to lower the population growth rate and increase development there has been a focus on educating girls and developing programs to help women. What are the positives and negatives of this gender-specific focus? Due: Friday May 1, 2015