1. Chapter 1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes and Sustainability

2. Introductory definitions
Know all bold and italicized words in the book, especially ones in your vocab packet.

3. Environmental Science is…
Make a concept map.

4. Sustainability is the central theme of this book
Natural capital:
1) Natural resources
Ex: ______________
2) Natural services
Natural capital is supported by Solar capital
What causes degradation of natural capital?_____________________

5. NATURAL CAPITAL Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural Services
Solar
capital
Air
Air purification
Renewable
energy
(sun, wind,
water flows)
Climate control
UV protection
(ozone layer)
Life
(biodiversity)
Water
Population
control
Water purification
Waste treatment
Pest
control
Nonrenewable
minerals
iron, sand)
Land
Soil
Food production
Soil renewal
Natural gas
Nutrient
recycling
Oil
Nonrenewable
energy
(fossil fuels)
Coal seam
Natural resources
Natural services
Fig. 1-3, p. 8
Fig. 1-3, p. 8

6. Human activities can degrade natural capital
 By using renewable resources faster than can be replenished (ie fish, trees)
(TOTC lab)
And by using nonrenewable resources up

7. Solutions Solutions to problems must be scientific + political
Often trade-offs are required because solutions may require economic losses
Short term vs. long term

8. Economic Gap
There is a wide economic gap between rich and poor countries
Economic growth is measured by

9. Changes in growth
Changes in economic growth: measured by per capita GDP (why does PER CAPITA matter?) _______________
What is per capita GDP PPP? _______________________________

10. Comparison of Developed and Developing Countries, 2008

11. Which kind of growth is good?

12. 1-3 How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth?
Concept 1-3 As our ecological footprints grow, we are depleting and degrading more of the earth’s natural capital.

13. Some Sources Are Renewable
Renewable resource
E.g., forests, grasslands, fresh air, fertile soil
can be replenished fairly quickly (hours up to hundred years)
Sustainable yield
highest which renewable resources can be used indefinitely w/out reducing available supply
Environmental degradation
when available supply begins to shrink 13

14. How resources become degraded

15. Some Resources Are Not Renewable
Nonrenewable resources
exist in a fixed quantity; can be renewed in million to billion yrs (maybe)
Energy resources
Metallic mineral resources
Nonmetallic mineral resources –salt, sand
Reuse-
Recycle-

16. Our Ecological Footprints Are Growing
Ecological footprint concept
Biological capacity
Ecological footprint

17. Natural Capital Use and Degradation

18. If everyone used resources the way we do in the US, the planet could only support 1.3 billion humans. (Currently the population is above 7 billion and rising. Uh oh. )

19. Cultural Changes Have Increased Our Ecological Footprints
Until 12,000 years ago: hunters and gatherers
Three major cultural events
Agricultural revolution
Industrial-medical revolution
Information-globalization revolution
China - By 2020, will have leading economy in terms of GDP PPP. Pop will be 1.5 bil by 2033.   

20. 1-4 What Is Pollution and What Can We Do about It?
Concept 1-4 Preventing pollution is more effective and less costly than cleaning up pollution.

21. Pollution Comes from a Number of Sources
Sources of pollution
Point
E.g., smokestack
Nonpoint
E.g., pesticides blown into the air
Main type of pollutants
Biodegradable
Nondegradable

22. Biodegradable?
Biodegradable pollutants - can break down naturally over time.
Nondegradable are harmful for long periods of time.
Lead, mercury, arsenic, plastics - nondegradable.
Fertilizers, sewage, newspaper - biodegradable.

23. We Can Clean Up Pollution or Prevent It
Pollution cleanup (output pollution control)
Pollution prevention (input pollution control)

24. Problems with cleanup only (rather than output control)

25. Experts Have Identified Five Basic Causes of Environmental Problems
Population growth
Wasteful and unsustainable resource use
Poverty
Failure to include the harmful environmental costs of goods and services in their market prices
Insufficient knowledge of how nature works

26. Some Harmful Results of Poverty

27. Affluence Has Harmful and Beneficial Environmental Effects
Harmful environmental impact due to
High levels of consumption
Unnecessary waste of resources
Affluence can provide funding for:
Developing technologies to reduce pollution, environmental degradation, resource waste

28. In the US, air and water quality have improved since 1970, and some endangered species are coming back from the brink of extinction.

29. Prices Do Not Include the Value of Natural Capital
Companies do not pay the environmental cost of resource use
Goods and services do not include the harmful environmental costs
Companies receive tax breaks and subsidies
Economy may be stimulated but there may be a degradation of natural capital

30. Different Views about Environmental Problems and Their Solutions
Planetary management:
Stewardship:
Environmental wisdom:

31. 1-6 What Are Four Scientific Principles of Sustainability?
Concept 1- 6 Nature has sustained itself for billions of years by using solar energy, biodiversity, population control, and nutrient cycling—lessons from nature that we can apply to our lifestyles and economies.
It seems we have years to make crucial changes.

32. Studying Nature Reveals 4 Scientific Principles of Sustainability