Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The EnvironmentThe Environment

Chapter 1 Chapter 1 The EnvironmentThe Environment

Defining the EnvironmentDefining the Environment How long have humans been on the How long have humans been on the

planet?planet? Humans increasingly impact the Humans increasingly impact the

environment: how?environment: how? We can’t ignore environmental problemsWe can’t ignore environmental problems

Human PopulationHuman Population Overpopulation: how many people Overpopulation: how many people

live on Earth?live on Earth? Nearly 1 in 4 live in Nearly 1 in 4 live in

extreme povertyextreme poverty How big How big willwill our our

population get?population get? How big How big cancan our our

population get? population get? Consumption & economic growthConsumption & economic growth

Rich & PoorRich & Poor Highly developed countries: ≈ 20% Highly developed countries: ≈ 20%

of world’s populationof world’s population Poor countriesPoor countries

– Moderately developedModerately developed– Less developed (LDCs)Less developed (LDCs)

Characteristics of LDCsCharacteristics of LDCs Cheap, unskilled laborCheap, unskilled labor Economy agriculturally basedEconomy agriculturally based Hunger, disease, illiteracy commonHunger, disease, illiteracy common

Rich vs. PoorRich vs. Poor Developing countriesDeveloping countries

– Rapid population growth is overwhelmingRapid population growth is overwhelming– Natural resource depletionNatural resource depletion

Developed countriesDeveloped countries– Slower population growthSlower population growth– Higher rate of consumptionHigher rate of consumption

Types of ResourcesTypes of Resources NonrenewableNonrenewable

– Limited supplyLimited supply– Once they’re gone, they’re goneOnce they’re gone, they’re gone– Examples?Examples?

RenewableRenewable– Virtually unlimitedVirtually unlimited– Replenished over relatively short periodsReplenished over relatively short periods– Examples?Examples?– Easy to overexploit Easy to overexploit nonrenewable nonrenewable

Population & ResourcesPopulation & Resources Economic growth tied to exploiting Economic growth tied to exploiting

natural resourcesnatural resources Developed countries have utilized Developed countries have utilized

many of their resourcesmany of their resources Use of natural resources tied to Use of natural resources tied to

povertypoverty

Population & ConsumptionPopulation & Consumption People overpopulationPeople overpopulation

– Environment getting Environment getting worseworse

– Too many peopleToo many people Consumption Consumption

overpopulationoverpopulation– Environment getting Environment getting

worseworse– Use Use farfar more than more than

necessary: why?necessary: why?

Too Much Stuff!Too Much Stuff! Highly developed countriesHighly developed countries 20% world’s population consume:20% world’s population consume:

– 86% aluminum86% aluminum– 76% harvested timber76% harvested timber– 68% energy68% energy– 61% meat eaten61% meat eaten– 42% fresh water42% fresh water

Developing countries are starting to Developing countries are starting to consume more: why?consume more: why?

Ecological FootprintsEcological Footprints Productive land and ocean needed to Productive land and ocean needed to

supply person with her/his needssupply person with her/his needs What if we all had the same What if we all had the same

footprint?footprint?

Population, Consumption, & Population, Consumption, & Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact

I = P I = P xx A A xx T T I: Environmental impactI: Environmental impact P: PopulationP: Population A: Affluence per personA: Affluence per person T: Technology usedT: Technology used Interpret results with care!Interpret results with care! Ultimate goal: make consumption Ultimate goal: make consumption

sustainablesustainable

NIMBY & NIMTOONIMBY & NIMTOO Not in my backyardNot in my backyard Not in my term of Not in my term of

officeoffice What situations What situations

cause people to say cause people to say these?these?

How practical are How practical are these?these?

Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability Sustainability: environment will Sustainability: environment will

function indefinitelyfunction indefinitely Based on:Based on:

– Effects of our actions on the environmentEffects of our actions on the environment– Earth’s resources are finiteEarth’s resources are finite– Understanding impact of consumptionUnderstanding impact of consumption– Shared responsibilityShared responsibility

Does This Sound Sustainable?Does This Sound Sustainable? Nonrenewable resources being Nonrenewable resources being

rapidly depletedrapidly depleted Many renewable resources being Many renewable resources being

used in a nonrenewable wayused in a nonrenewable way

Does This Sound Sustainable?Does This Sound Sustainable? Environment is being pollutedEnvironment is being polluted Human population is increasingHuman population is increasing

Economic growth that:Economic growth that:- Meets needs of the present- Meets needs of the present

- Does not compromise future- Does not compromise future Meets needs of world’s poorMeets needs of world’s poor Can occur only withinCan occur only within

limits of the limits of the

environmentenvironment

Sustainable Development

Global Environmental IssuesGlobal Environmental IssuesGlobal Warming DeforestationGlobal Warming Deforestation

Global Environmental IssuesGlobal Environmental IssuesThreatened Oceans Ozone Threatened Oceans Ozone

depletiondepletion

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development

Requires eradication of povertyRequires eradication of poverty Poor will need to Poor will need to increaseincrease consumption: consumption:

why?why?

Will require major Will require major

lifestyle changeslifestyle changes

Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption

Using goods and services for our needsUsing goods and services for our needs Minimizes use of resourcesMinimizes use of resources Eliminate consumption overpopulationEliminate consumption overpopulation

Sustainable ConsumptionSustainable Consumption

EconomicsEconomics Study of how we decide to use scarce Study of how we decide to use scarce

resources to provide goods & servicesresources to provide goods & services Free marketFree market

– Supply & demand determine priceSupply & demand determine price

– Canadian economyCanadian economy

How Are The Economy & How Are The Economy & Environment Related?Environment Related?

Environment is the source of Environment is the source of materialsmaterials

Environment serves as a sink for Environment serves as a sink for wasteswastes

Sources & sinks contribute to natural Sources & sinks contribute to natural capitalcapitalResource degradation: overuse of Resource degradation: overuse of

sourcessourcesPollution: overuse of sinksPollution: overuse of sinks

Economy & EnvironmentEconomy & Environment

National Income AccountsNational Income Accounts Total income in a nation in one yearTotal income in a nation in one year GDP & NDP provide estimatesGDP & NDP provide estimates Two problems with current systemTwo problems with current system

– Natural resource depletionNatural resource depletion– Cost & benefits of pollution controlCost & benefits of pollution control

Pollution ControlPollution Control Currently, cost of polluting not Currently, cost of polluting not

deducted from GDPdeducted from GDP Estimates of environmental damage Estimates of environmental damage

should be subtracted from GDPshould be subtracted from GDP

What is Environmental What is Environmental Science?Science? InterdisciplinaryInterdisciplinary

Broad fieldBroad field Ecology is a basic toolEcology is a basic tool GoalsGoals

– Establish general principles about how the Establish general principles about how the natural world functionsnatural world functions

– Identifying, understanding, Identifying, understanding, andand solvingsolving problemsproblems

What is Science?What is Science? Not just a body of knowledgeNot just a body of knowledge Dynamic processDynamic process Requires collection of dataRequires collection of data An ongoing enterpriseAn ongoing enterprise Requires reevaluationRequires reevaluation

The Scientific MethodThe Scientific Method

The Process of ScienceThe Process of Science A good hypothesis makes a predictionA good hypothesis makes a prediction ExperimentExperiment

– Variable: factor that influences a processVariable: factor that influences a process– Control group: variable isn’t alteredControl group: variable isn’t altered

TheoryTheory– Integrated explanation of numerous Integrated explanation of numerous

hypotheseshypotheses– Solid ground of scienceSolid ground of science– Accepted as trueAccepted as true

Eco Canada Career FocusEco Canada Career Focus Eco Canada develops Eco Canada develops

programs, educates programs, educates and provides resources and provides resources for employeesfor employees

Have you though of a Have you though of a career as an career as an environmental environmental communications communications officer?officer?

Case Study:Case Study:The Flood of the Century The Flood of the Century

Red River was used as a Red River was used as a principle transport routeprinciple transport route

Human activities altered Human activities altered the environmentthe environment

Red River Flood covered Red River Flood covered 2000 square kilometers 2000 square kilometers

How could the How could the devastation been devastation been reduced?reduced?