1. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 4 An Introduction to Environmental Science The Nature of Science & Sustainability and Our Future

2. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Objectives: Define the terms abiotic factors and biotic factors. Understand the scientific method and the process of science. Diagnose and illustrate some of the pressures on the global environment. Articulate the concepts of sustainability and describe campus sustainability efforts. TED - Worldchanging.com founder Alex Steffen argues that reducing humanity’s ecological footprint is incredibly vital now, as the western consumer lifestyle spreads to developing countries.

3. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Define the terms abiotic factors and biotic factors. Abiotic Factor - A non- living chemical or physical factor in the environment, such as soil, pH, forest fire, etc. Biotic Factor - A factor created by a living thing or any living component within an environment in which the action of the organism affects the life of another organism, for example a predator consuming its prey.

4. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Understand the scientific method and the process of science. The scientific process is part of a larger process… Science is a systematic process for learning about the world and testing our understanding of it

5. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. We test hypotheses in different ways… Hypothesis-driven science  targeted research. Experiments test hypotheses using the scientific method Observational (descriptive) science  information is gathered about organisms, systems, processes, etc.

6. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Diagnose and illustrate some of the pressures on the global environment. Rising population and intensifying resource consumption magnify human impact on the environment add more than 200,000 people to the planet each day

7. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Human activities have diverse impacts industrial agriculture and fossil fuel are having diverse impacts air and water pollution habitat destruction, and biodiversity loss resource depletion climate change

8. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Ecological footprints are not all equal The 20 wealthiest nations have 55 times the income of the 20 poorest nations The ecological footprints of countries vary greatly

9. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Humans have changed the Earth’s landscape Agriculture, urban sprawl, and other land uses have substantially affected most of the landscape of all nations

10. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. We face challenges in agriculture Crop production Meat production Technology expanded food production… one of humanity’s greatest achievements. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides

11. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. We face challenges in pollution Since the Industrial Revolution, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations have risen by 39%, to the highest level in 800,000 years

12. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. We face challenges in biodiversity Biodiversity loss may be our biggest problem; once a species is extinct, it is gone forever

13. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment In 2005, 2000 of the world’s leading scientists from 100 nations reported 1) Humans have drastically altered ecosystems 2) These changes have contributed to human well-being and economic development 3) Environmental degradation could get much worse 4) Degradation can be reversed, but it requires work

14. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Our energy choices will affect our future We have used up ½ of the world’s oil supplies; how will we handle this imminent fossil fuel shortage? Our lives are dependent on fossil fuels

15. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Are things getting better or worse? Cornucopians… human ingenuity will solve any problem Cassandras… predict doom and disaster

16. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Articulate the concepts of sustainability and describe campus sustainability efforts. We are striving to develop sustainable solutions to our environmental challenges. Renewable energy and efficiency Organic agriculture Legislation and technology to reduce pollution Protect species and their habitat Recycling, decreasing waste

17. © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Will we develop in a sustainable way? We must make an ethical commitment to current and future generations

18. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings TED Video Alex Steffen Sees A Sustainable Future (17:31) Alex Steffen is cofounder and executive editor of WorldChanging.com, an online clearinghouse of information and inspiration on the environment. “I think better things are on the way.”

19. Copyright © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin Cummings Alex Steffen Sees A Sustainable Future … You know, that it's not just enough to survive. We've got to make something better than what we've got. And I think that we will. Just to wrap up, in the immortal words of H.G. Wells,I think that better things are on the way. I think that, in fact, that "all of the past is but the beginning of a beginning. All that the human mind has accomplished is but the dream before the awakening."I hope that that turns out to be true. The people in this room have given me more confidence than ever that it will.