What is Environmental Science? Bell Ringer: Put in your binder. YES-write the question! What is Environmental Science? What does that mean to you? List some environmental problems. Article Analysis

Definitions Environment - all external conditions and factors that affect living organisms Ecology - study of relationships between living organisms and their environment Environmental Science - examines the effect of humans on the earth’s environment How the earth works How to deal with the problems we face It is an interdisciplinary science - natural and social sciences.

Sustainability Meeting the needs of humanity without depleting natural resources. Based on principles Must consider the effects we have on nature. Earth’s resources are finite. Living in a linear system will not allow for earth to recover. Must consider all costs on the environment and society Everyone is responsible

So How are We Doing? We use non-renewable resources as if they are unlimited. We use renewable resources (water, wood, food) faster than they can be replenished. Pollution has effected our environment. We keep growing past our carrying capacity.

Why so hard to do? Limited knowledge on the impacts humans have on the environment. Started out on the wrong end of sustainability. Hard to change perception of how to live. Example of sustainability Green architecture – Developing buildings that reduce waste and energy compared to what we have now. Sustainable development Plan for the 21st century. Developed in ’92 by the world summit. 3 factors: Environmental sound decisions. Socially equitable (what is fair) decisions Economically viable decisions. How has it gone so far? No power to enforce plan

Human Impacts Population Biggest problem in Environmental Science Exponential growth 1 billion in 1800. 2 billion in 1930. 3 billion in 1960. 6 billion in 1999. Almost ½ (2.8 Billion) are estimated to be in poverty (No adequate food, shelter, water, nutrition, etc) Fertility rate: Birth rate is about 3 per family Efforts are made to lower this (China)

Environmental Impact Environmental impact (I) I = P x A x T Proposed by Paul R. Ehrlich and John P. Holdren P = # of people, A = consumption per person, T = environmental effects from obtaining resources. Hard to make long term predictions Technology changes in how we get the resources Trends change on what is consumed

Some Examples of Issues Endocrine Disrupters Closing the Georges Bank Fisheries Declining Bird Populations Reintroducing Wolves to Yellowstone Invasive species Ozone depletion Global Climate Change Destruction of Habitat and Biodiversity

Worldviews Western world view Deep ecology world view Human centered and utilitarian Conquer and exploit nature Deep ecology world view Diverse and developed in the 1970’s. Harmony with nature Spiritual respect for life Humans and all species have worth

Lorax http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6650219631867189375# Truax http://woodfloors.org/truax.pdf