1. AP Environmental Science
Lecture 1: Intro to Env. Sci.

2. What is this? How was the image taken?
When these photos are taken from space whether by astronauts or satellites, the act to show us how connected we all are. On Earth, it may seem that the world is endless, or has endless supplies and resources for people and other life to take advantage of. But to me, these pictures put things in perspective. In this small, single image is every person, animal, plant and other life definitively known to exist in the entire universe. We can also see from this image that the Earth really is finite and limited in its capacity to support life. That is really what this course will focus on- how have and how do humans affect the world we live in and share, and what can we learn about this system in order to improve and prolong our ability to live on this planet.

3. This lecture will help you understand:
The meaning of the term “Environment”
The field and interdisciplinary nature of environmental science
The importance of natural resources and ecosystem services
The scientific method and the process of science
Some pressures on the global environment
Concepts of sustainability and sustainable development

4. Our island: Earth Earth may seem enormous, but…
It and its systems are finite and limited (scarcity)
We can change the Earth and damage its systems
The fate of organisms is interconnected
Humans must allow for circumstances to allow for continued survival

5. Our island: Earth
Environment: all the living and non-living things around us
Animals, plants, forests, farms, etc.
Continents, oceans, clouds, ice caps
Structures, urban centers, living spaces
Social relationships and institutions

6. Humans are part of nature
Humans depend on a healthy, functioning planet
The fundamental insight of environmental science:
We are part of the natural world, but we can also change it
Our interactions with its other parts matter a great deal to our continued survival
Take a few minutes and list two ways in which we rely on the natural world. As a table come up with 2 ways humans depend on the environment for survival. Also list 2 ways which humans can affect the environment.

7. Humans are part of nature
We depend completely on the environment for survival
Food, water, shelter, health, longer lives, wealth, mobility, leisure, joy
Natural systems have been, and can be, degraded by pollution, soil erosion, species extinction, and overuse
Environmental changes threaten long-term health and survival of human and non-human life on Earth

8. Environmental science
Environmental science is the study of:
How the natural world works
How the environment affects humans and human actions impact the environment
We need to understand our interactions with the environment
To identify environmental problems that could impact our survival or way of life
Ensure long term survival and standards of living
Implement creative solutions for environmental problems

9. We rely on natural resources
Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed for survival, obtained from the natural environment
Food
Water
Energy
Building materials
Shelter for flora and fauna
Resources activity.

10. We rely on natural resources
Renewable natural resources: can be replenished, though at differing rates
Perpetually renewed:
Sunlight
Wind
Geothermal
Renew themselves over short periods, but can be destroyed if over consumed
Timber
Water
Soil
Nonrenewable natural resources: unavailable after depletion
Oil
Coal
Minerals

11. We rely on natural resources

12. We rely on natural resources
What makes a resource renewable or non-renewable?
Whether a resource is renewable or not is really in terms of human time frames
Lumber
Oil
Solar

13. We rely on ecosystem services
Natural resources are “goods” produced by nature
Earth’s natural resources provide “services” to us
Ecosystem services: arise from the normal functioning of natural services
Purify air and water, cycle nutrients, regulate climate
Pollinate plants, receive and recycle wastes
We can degrade ecosystem services
By depleting resources, destroying habitat, generating pollution
Increased human affluence has intensified degradation through overuse and surpassing the capacity of the natural environment

14. Human population growth amplifies impacts
There are over 7.1 billion humans worldwide in 2013
Agricultural revolution
Crops, livestock
Stable food supplies
Slash and Burn techniques
Industrial revolution
Urbanized society powered by fossil fuels (oil, gas, coal)
Sanitation and medicines
Pesticides and fertilizers

15. Human population growth amplifies impacts

16. Resource consumption exerts pressures
Exploitation and consumption of resources is also a problem:
Garret Hardin’s tragedy of the commons:
Unregulated exploitation of public resources leads to depletion and damage of common resource(s).
This leads to damage of the group’s long-term interest in favor of individual short-term benefits
Soil, air, water
Resource users are motivated by self interest
They increase use until the resource is gone

17. Resource consumption exerts pressures
Solutions to the tragedy of the commons?
Private ownership?
Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use?
Governmental regulations?

18. QUESTION: Weighing the Issues
Which do you think is the best way to protect commonly owned resources (e.g., air, water, fisheries)?
Sell the resource to a private entity.
Have the users form voluntary organizations to enforce responsible use.
Governmental regulations
Do nothing and see what happens.

19. QUESTION: Weighing the Issues
Which do you think is the best way to protect commonly owned resources (e.g., air, water, fisheries)?
Sell the resource to a private entity.
Have the users form voluntary organizations to enforce responsible use.
Governmental regulations
Do nothing and see what happens. 19

20. Our “ecological footprint”
Affluence increases consumption
Why?
Ecological footprint: the environmental impact of a person or population
The area of biologically productive land + water
To supply raw resources and dispose/recycle waste
People in rich nations have much larger ecological footprints
If everyone consumed the amount of resources the U.S. does, we would need 5 Earths!

21. Ecological Footprint
Measure of the biologically productive land and sea area necessary to supply the resources a population consumes (Biocapacity) & to deal with associated waste
Thus, Ecological Footprint = Biocapacity + Land necessary to deal with waste
2007- Ecological footprint of humanity is approx. 1.5 Earths (Sustainable?)

22. Overshoot
Overshoot: When a population exceeds the long-term carrying capacity its environment.
Humans have surpassed the Earth’s capacity to support us:

23. Ecological footprints are not all equal
The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly
The U.S. footprint is much greater than the world’s average, but not greatest
Arab Gulf States have highest
Europe and Australia also high
The world avg. biocapacity of the Earth is 1.8 ha
Deficit of 0.9 ha on avg.

24. Environmental science
How will resource consumption and population growth impact today’s global society?
Civilizations can succeed or fail according to how they interact with the environment
Along with how they respond to problems
Environmental science can help build a better world

25. QUESTION: Review What is the definition of “sustainable development”?
Using resources to benefit future generations, even if it means lower availability now.
Letting future generations figure out their own problems.
Using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability.
Letting each country decide how to use their resources to best meet their unique, immediate needs.

26. QUESTION: Review What is the definition of “sustainable development”?
Using resources to benefit future generations, even if it means lower availability now.
Letting future generations figure out their own problems.
Using resources to satisfy current needs without compromising future availability.
Letting each country decide how to use their resources to best meet their unique, immediate needs. 26

27. Sustainability and the future of our world
Sustainability: we must live within our planet’s means
So the Earth and its resources can sustain us and all life for the future
Sustainability involves conserving resources
Developing long-term solutions
Keeping fully functioning ecosystems
Natural capital: Earth’s total wealth of resources
We are withdrawing it faster that it’s being replenished
We must live off Earth’s natural interest (replenishable resources), not its natural capital

28. Population & consumption
Population growth amplifies all human impacts
The growth rate has slowed, but we still add more than 200,000 people to the planet each day
Resource consumption has risen faster than population
Life has become more pleasant
Healthier and Wealthier people
Rising consumption also amplifies our demands on the environment

29. The nature of environmental science
Environment  impacts  Humans
Its applied goal: solving environmental problems
Solutions are applications of science
An interdisciplinary field
Natural sciences: examines the natural world
Environmental science programs
Social sciences: examines values and human behavior
Environmental studies programs

30. What is an “environmental problem”?
Whether an environmental condition is seen as a problem
Depends on the individual and situation
Ex.: the pesticide DDT
In malaria-infested Africa: welcome because it kills malaria-carrying mosquitoes
In America: not welcome, due to health risks
People also differ in their awareness of problems, depending on who they are, where they live, what they do

31. Environmental science is not environmentalism
Pursues knowledge about the environment and our interactions with it
Scientists try to remain objective and free from bias
Environmentalism
A social movement
Tries to protect the natural world from human-caused changes

32. QUESTION: Review
Which of the following is correct about the term “environmentalism”?
It is very science-oriented.
It is a social movement to protect the environment.
It usually does not include advocacy for the environment.
It involves scientists trying to solve environmental problems.

33. QUESTION: Review
Which of the following is correct about the term “environmentalism”?
It is very science-oriented.
It is a social movement to protect the environment.
It usually does not include advocacy for the environment.
It involves scientists trying to solve environmental problems. 33

34. Summary Environment: All living and non-living things around us:
Natural Environment (Animals, Plants, Bacteria, Rivers, Mountains, Lakes, etc.)
Built environment (Buildings, roads, sewers, etc.)
Environmental Science is the study of:
How the natural world works
How the environment affects humans and vice versa 34

35. Summary Earth is capable of sustaining a large and diverse population
Earth’s resources are finite
Limited Biocapacity leads to limits on Ecological Footprints
Humans currently consume more ecological good and services than the Earth can replace
Deficit of natural resources, meaning a reduction in Earth’s “Natural Capital”
Unsustainable long-term if current conditions hold 35

36. Questions???