1. Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science
Chapter 1
Science and Sustainability: An Introduction to Environmental Science

2. Our island, Earth The Earth may seem enormous to us
But Earth and its systems are finite and limited
We can change Earth and damage its systems
Environment: all the living and nonliving things around us
Continents, oceans, clouds, ice caps
Animals, plants, forests, farms, etc.
Structures, urban centers, living spaces
Social relationships and institutions

3. Environmental science explores our interactions with the world
Environmental science is the study of:
How the natural world works
How the environment affects humans and vice versa
We need to understand our interactions with the environment
To creatively solve environmental problems
Global conditions are rapidly changing
We are also rapidly gaining knowledge
We still have the opportunity to solve problems

4. 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 and allow us to survive
Purify air and water, cycle nutrients, regulate climate
Pollinate plants, receive and recycle wastes
We degrade ecosystem services by depleting resources, destroying habitat, generating pollution
Increased human affluence and population have intensified degradation

5. Our ecological footprint
Affluence increases consumption
Ecological footprint: the environmental impact of a person or population
The area Ecological footprint of biologically productive land + water
To supply 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 4.5 Earths!

6. Calculate your ecological footprint
Go to this website (or google ‘footprintnetwork’ and quiz)
Click on ‘take the quiz’ and answer the questions with as much detail as possible. You do not need to set up an account or register an .
Print or your results for an in class assignment!

7. Overshoot
Overshoot: humans have surpassed Earth’s capacity to sustainably support us
Remember J shaped vs S shaped growth curves?
We are using renewable resources 50% faster than they are being replenished

8. Environmental science helps us avoid past mistakes
How will resource consumption and population growth impact today’s global society?
Civilizations have fallen when population growth and consumption overwhelm resource availability
Easter Island; Greek, Roman and Mayan empires
Once lush regions (e.g., Iraq) are now barren deserts
Civilizations succeed or fail according to how they interact with the environment and respond to problems
Environmental science can help build a better world

9. The nature of environmental science
Environment  impacts  Humans
Its applied goal: solving environmental problems
Solutions are applications of science
It is a broad, interdisciplinary field
Natural sciences: examine the natural world
Environmental science programs
Social sciences: examine human interactions and institutions
Environmental studies programs

10. Environmental science: an integrated approach
An integrated approach to addressing environmental problems can solve problems
Example: leaded gasoline makes car engines run smoothly
But emissions cause brain damage and death
Multiple professions worked together and banned the largest source of atmospheric lead emissions in the U.S.

11. Environmental science is not environmentalism
Environmental science: the pursuit of knowledge about the environment and our interactions with it
Scientists try to remain objective and free from bias, personal values, preconceptions
Environmentalism: a social movement
Tries to protect the natural world from human-caused changes

12. Applications of science
Engineering and technology
Policy and management
Energy-efficient electric car
Prescribed burning restores healthy forests

13. Ethics Ethics: the study of good and bad, right and wrong
The set of moral principles or values held by a person or society that tell us how we ought to behave
People use criteria, standards or rules when making judgments of right or wrong
Different cultures or worldviews lead to different values, leading to different “right or wrong” actions
Relativists: ethics varies with social context
Universalists: notions of right and wrong remain the same across cultures and situations

14. Ethical standards
Ethical standards: criteria that help differentiate right from wrong
Categorical imperative: the “Golden Rule,” which tells us to treat others as we want to be treated
Utility: principle holding that the right action is the one that produces the most benefits for the most people

15. Environmental ethics
Environmental ethics: application of ethical standards to relationships between human and nonhuman entities
Hard to resolve: it depends on the person’s ethical standards and domain of ethical concern
Should we conserve resources for future generations?
Is it OK to destroy a forest to create jobs for people?
Should we drive other species to extinction?
Is it OK for some communities to be exposed to excess pollution?

16. Three ethical perspectives
Anthropocentrism: only humans have rights
Costs and benefits are measured only by their impact on people
Anything not providing benefit to people has no value
Biocentrism: certain living things have value
All life – human and nonhuman – has ethical standing
Opposes development that destroys life – even if it creates jobs
Ecocentrism: whole ecological systems have value
Values the well-being of species, communities, ecosystems
Holistic – it preserves connections between entities

17. Expanding ethical consideration

18. The preservation ethic
John Muir’s (right, with President Roosevelt) ecocentric viewpoint advocated for the preservation of wilderness
Nature deserves protection for its own inherent value
We should protect our environment in a pristine, unaltered state

19. The conservation ethic
Gifford Pinchot’s anthropocentric viewpoint promoted prudent, efficient, sustainable use of resources
Use natural resources wisely
A utilitarian standard that calls for using resources for the greatest good for the most people for the longest time

20. The land ethic
Aldo Leopold’s ecocentric ethical outlook calls for people to view themselves and the land as members of the same community
Healthy ecological systems depend on protecting all parts
We are obligated to treat the land ethically
The land ethic will help guide decision making
A thing is right when it preserves the biotic community

21. Environmental justice (EJ)
Involves the fair treatment of all people with respect to the environment, regardless of race, income, or ethnicity
The poor and minorities are exposed to more pollution, hazards, and environmental degradation
Despite progress, they still suffer substandard conditions

22. Sustainability and our future
A guiding principle of environmental science
Sustainability: living within our planet’s means
Earth can sustain humans AND all life for the future
Leaving our descendants with a rich, full world
Conserving resources for future generations
Developing solutions that work in the long term
Requires keeping fully functioning ecological systems
We cannot sustain human civilization without sustaining Earth’s natural systems

23. Earth’s resources are like a bank account
If we deplete resources, we draw down the account
Natural capital: the accumulated wealth of Earth’s resources
We are withdrawing our planet’s natural capital 50% faster than it is being produced
We must live off nature’s interest – its replenishable resources – to be sustainable
Drawing down resources faster than they are replaced eats into nature’s capital
We cannot do this for long

24. We are increasing our burden on the planet
Human population growth amplifies all environmental impacts
We add over 200,000 people to the planet each day
Our consumption of resources has risen even faster
Life has become more pleasant for us
But rising consumption increases the demands we make on our environment
Increased affluence has not been equal
The gap between rich and poor countries has tripled in the past 40 years

25. Resource consumption exerts pressures
Growth in resource consumption is also a problem
Garrett Hardin’s tragedy of the commons: unregulated exploitation of public resources leads to depletion and damage
Grazing land, forests, air, water
Resource users are motivated by self-interest
They increase use until the resource is gone
Solutions to the tragedy of the commons?
Private ownership?
Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use?
Governmental regulations?

26. Ecological footprints are not all equal
The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly
The U.S. footprint is much greater than those developing countries

27. Increased population and consumption cause:
Erosion from agriculture
Deforestation
Toxic substances
Mineral extraction and mining
Depletion of fresh water
Air and water pollution
Global climate change
Loss of Earth’s biodiversity

28. Humans have heavily influenced the U.S.

29. The 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment
The most comprehensive scientific assessment of the condition of the world’s ecological systems
And their capacity to continue supporting us
2,000 leading environmental scientists found:
Our degradation of environmental systems is having negative impacts on all of us
With care and diligence we can still turn many of these trends around

30. Sustainable solutions abound
Sustainable solutions must:
Enhance quality of life
Protect and restore the environment that supports us
Many solutions exist:
Renewable energy sources
Improved agricultural practices
Habitat and species protection
Reduced emissions of greenhouse gases

31. Sustainable development
We must use resources to satisfy our needs
But leave enough resources for the future
Satisfies the triple bottom line – environmental, economic, and social goals are all met
We must limit our environmental impact while promoting economic development and social justice
Make an ethical commitment to current and future generations
Apply science to solve problems
The single most important question we face is: “How can we develop sustainably?”

32. Conclusion Finding ways to live sustainably on Earth requires:
A solid ethical grounding
Scientific understanding of our natural and social systems
Environmental science helps us:
Understand our relationship with the environment
Informs our attempts to solve and prevent problems
Identifying a problem is the first step in solving it
Environmental science can help find balanced solutions to environmental problems