G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13 th Edition Chapter 1 Environmental Issues, Their Causes, and Sustainability

Key Concepts What are the Major Environmental ProblemsWhat are the Major Environmental Problems What are Their CausesWhat are Their Causes How Important or Serious are TheyHow Important or Serious are They Ways to Live More SustainablyWays to Live More Sustainably

 Environment Everything that affects a living organism during its lifetime  Ecology Biological science that studies relationship between living organisms and their interaction with the environment  Environmental Science Interdisciplinary science that uses concepts and information from natural sciences and social sciences to help us understand 1)How the earth works 2)How we are affecting the environment 3)How we deal with environmental problems

Living More Sustainably  Environmentally Sustainable Society - satisfies the basic needs of its people into the indefinite future Food Food Clean Water Clean Water Clean Air Clean Air Shelter Shelter

Population Growth How fast are we growing?  Exponential Growth Fig. 1-2 p. 4

World Population J curve

Population Growth  Exponential Growth  Doubling Time and the “Rule of 70”  Doubling Time and the “Rule of 70” Fig. 1-2 p. 4

“Rule of 70” 70 Percent growth rate (%) Doubling Time (in years) =

Let’s See If the Rule of 70 Works! 10% fixed growth rate….what is doubling time?10% fixed growth rate….what is doubling time? 70/10 = 7 year doubling time70/10 = 7 year doubling time 100 people to start 100 people to start (.10)(100) =+10 10% growth 110 total # of people at end of year total # of people at end of year 1 (.10)(110) = end of year end of year 2 (.10)(121) = end of year end of year 3 (.10)(133) = end of year end of year 4 (.10)(146) = end of year end of year 5 (.10)(160) = end of year end of year 6 (.10)(176) = end of year 7—almost doubled! 193 end of year 7—almost doubled!

The Power of Doubling (lab)

Economic Growth refers to an increase in the capacity to provide people with goods and services. Economic growth is measured by a county’s Gross National Product (GNP or GNI) Market value ($) of all goods and services produced within and outside a country during a year plus net income earned abroad by a countries citizensMarket value ($) of all goods and services produced within and outside a country during a year plus net income earned abroad by a countries citizens

Other Economic Indicators  Gross Domestic Product (GDP) market value ($) of all goods and services produced within a country during a year market value ($) of all goods and services produced within a country during a year  Gross World Product (GWP) market value ($) of all goods and services produced in the world during a year market value ($) of all goods and services produced in the world during a year

Economic Growth Per Capita GNP  Per Capita GNP GNP divided by total population at mid-year “your piece of the economic pie”

Economic Development The improvement of living standards by economic growth. Measured by (1) degree of industrialization and (2) per capita GNI –Developed Countries US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, all of Europe –Developing Counties Most of Africa, Asia, and Latin America

<$2700 $2700-$10,750 >$10,750 per capita GNI

Economic Development Positive AspectsPositive Aspects –Global life expectancy has doubled from 33 to 67 years –Infant mortality has dropped –Food production has outpaced population growth –Access to safe drinking water has increased.

Economic Development Negative AspectsNegative Aspects –Average life expectancy in developing countries is 11 years less than in developed countries –Infant mortality is 8x higher –Harmful environmental effects of industrialized food production may limit future food production –Air and water pollution are high in most developing countries –Natural resources are being used unsustainably

Globalization – increasingly integrated world Globalization – we are living in an increasingly integrated world Economic indicators Global economy grew International trade grew Corporation operating in multiple countries grew Economic indicators Global economy grew International trade grew Corporation operating in multiple countries grew Information and Communication 1 in every 11 people in the world have Internet access Information and Communication 1 in every 11 people in the world have Internet access Environmental Effects Number of diseases transmitted across international borders has increased Pollution transported globally Environmental Effects Number of diseases transmitted across international borders has increased Pollution transported globally

ResourcesResources  Perpetual Renewed continuously  Renewable Replenished rapidly Replenished rapidly  Non-renewable Exist in a fixed quantity  Perpetual Renewed continuously  Renewable Replenished rapidly Replenished rapidly  Non-renewable Exist in a fixed quantity

Renewable Resources  Sustainable Yield – the highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely  Environmental Degradation – process of exceeding a resources natural replacement rate

Renewable Resources  Tragedy of the Commons Garrett HardinGarrett Hardin degradation of renewable resourcesdegradation of renewable resources

Non-Renewable Resources Energy Resources Energy Resources Metallic Resources Metallic Resources Non-Metallic Resources Non-Metallic Resources Reuse Reuse Recycle Recycle Energy Resources Energy Resources Metallic Resources Metallic Resources Non-Metallic Resources Non-Metallic Resources Reuse Reuse Recycle Recycle Economic Depletion

Ecological Footprints - the amount of land needed to produce the resources needed by an average person in a countrythe amount of land needed to produce the resources needed by an average person in a country

Ecological Footprints

What’s YOUR ecological footprint?

Pollution What is Pollution? Any addition to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms Where do pollutants come from? Point Sources – single identifiable sources –Smokestack –Drainpipe –Exhaust pipe Nonpoint sources – dispersed sources –Runoff from fields –Pesticides sprayed in the air Where do pollutants come from? Point Sources – single identifiable sources –Smokestack –Drainpipe –Exhaust pipe Nonpoint sources – dispersed sources –Runoff from fields –Pesticides sprayed in the air

Pollution What are the effects of pollutants? a)Disruption of life-support systems for humans and other species. b)Damage to wildlife, human health, and property. c)Nuisances such as noise, and unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.

Dealing With Pollution  Prevention (Input Control)  Refuse  Replace  Reduce  Reuse  Recycle  Cleanup (Output Control)  Temporary  Shifts problem somewhere else  Costly  Cleanup (Output Control)  Temporary  Shifts problem somewhere else  Costly

Environmental and Resource Problems Major Problems ( See Fig. 1-9 p. 12 ) Air Pollution Water Pollution Biodiversity Depletion Food Supply Waste Production

Air Pollution Global climate change Stratospheric ozone depletion Urban air pollution Acid deposition Outdoor pollutants Indoor pollutants Noise Biodiversity Depletion Habitat destruction Habitat degradation Extinction Water Pollution Sediment Nutrient overload Toxic chemicals Infectious agents Oxygen depletion Pesticides Oil spills Excess heat Waste Production Solid waste Hazardous waste Food Supply Problems Overgrazing Farmland loss and degradation Wetlands loss and degradation Overfishing Coastal pollution Soil erosion Soil salinization Soil waterlogging Water shortages Groundwater depletion Loss of biodiversity Poor nutrition Major Environmental Problems

Environmental and Resource Problems Root Causes

Environmental Impact Fig p. 13

Environmental Impact (I) P x A x T = I P = Population A = Affluence T = Technology I = Impact (Environmental) I = Impact (Environmental)

Environmental Interactions Fig p. 14

Environmental Worldviews Planetary Management We are in charge of nature. There is always more. All economic growth is good. Our success depends on how well we can understand, control, and manage the earth’s life support systems. Environmental Wisdom Nature does not exist just for us and we only think we are in charge. There is not always more. Some forms of technology are environmentally beneficial, some are harmful. Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and integrating these lessons into how we think and act. Environmental Wisdom Nature does not exist just for us and we only think we are in charge. There is not always more. Some forms of technology are environmentally beneficial, some are harmful. Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and integrating these lessons into how we think and act.

Environmentally-Sustainable Economic Development Fig p. 17 Decision making in a sustainable society Decision making in a sustainable society SocialEconomic Environmental Sustainable Solutions Traditional decision making Traditional decision making Environmental SocialEconomic