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Ch. 13. The Environmental Crisis. Ecology: Studying the Natural Environment. Ecology - study of how living organisms interact with the natural environment
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Ch. 13 The Environmental Crisis
Ecology: Studying the Natural Environment Ecology - study of how living organisms interact with the natural environment Natural environment - earth’s surface and atmosphere, including living organisms as well as the air, water, soil, and other resources necessary to sustain life Technology - knowledge that people use to live in a physical environment
The Role of Sociology Demonstrate how our society’s technology, cultural patterns, and specific political and economic arrangements affect the natural environment
The Global Dimension Environmental issues transcend national boundaries and are global in scope Ecosystem - system composed of the interaction of all living organisms and their natural environment All living things are interrelated Change in one part impacts the other parts
Population Increase • I = PAT • I = Environmental Impact • P = Society’s Population • A = Level of Affluence • T = Level of Technology • Societies that are larger, richer, and have more technology make a bigger environmental impact
Population Increase We are adding 82 million people to the world’s total each year World population expected to be at 8 or 9 billion in 2050 Most rapid growth in the poorest regions of the world
Poverty and Affluence Preoccupied with survival, poor people have little choice than to consume the resources they have without thinking about long-term environmental consequences.
The Rising Power of Technology Humans have always impacted the environment Primitive tools had less of an impact The onset of industrial technologies led to a major increase in human impact on the environment
The Rising Power of Technology The Environmental Deficit - profound and long-term harm to the environment caused by humanity’s focus on short-term material affluence
The Rising Power of Technology There are 3 major reasons for understanding the deficit: Environmental quality a social issue Environmental damage is often unintended The deficit is reversible
Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits The Logic of Growth U.S. based on the value of material comfort Optimistic view Productive technology has made our life better Progress will continue We will figure our way out of environmental problems
Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits The Logic of Growth Criticisms of the logic of growth thesis Resources are finite We will not be able to solve all environmental problems The more powerful and complex the technology the more damage
Cultural Patterns: Growth and Limits The Limits to Growth Book written by Donella Meadows Pessimistic view Growth must have its limits Must limit our growth before we destroy the environment Resources are limited
Solid Waste: The Disposable Society Disposable society Material rich with products Value convenience Many products are built to be disposable Landfills and running out of space EPA - thousands of landfills contain hazardous materials
Solid Waste: The Disposable Society Material that goes into landfills contributes to water pollution Much of what goes into landfills takes a long time to degrade Solution-turn waste into resources Recycling
Preserving Clean Water Hydrological cycle - the earth naturally recycles water and refreshes the land Renews the water supply Cleans the water 2 major concerns related to water: Water supply Water pollution
Preserving Clean Water Inadequate Water Supply Rainfall Rivers and lakes Underground reservoirs Other Population growth and the demand for water Complex technology and the demand for water
Preserving Clean Water Water Pollution Water borne micro-organisms are found in some sources of drinking water and carry infectious disease Typhoid Cholera Dysentery
Air Pollution Industrial technology and air pollution Factory smoke stacks Automobiles Smoke from coal fired utility plants Air quality in U.S. is improving due to computer technology. Air quality is declining in low income countries due to industrial technology
Acid Rain Precipitation, made acidic by air pollutants, that destroys plant and animal life Power plants and the burning of fossil fuel Contaminates water supplies Destroys plant and animal life Global issue because regions that suffer effects may be thousands of miles from the original pollution.
Land pollution • Garbage • 240 billion pounds of garbage each year • Strip mining • Water pollution • Acid rain • Mercury rain • Food chain contamination • Groundwater • Lakes and streams • The Mississippi River • The Great Lakes • Oil spills
The Disappearing Rain Forest Regions of dense forestation, most of which circle the globe close to the equator Deforestation of the rain forest Population growth and demand for resources Demand to raise the standard of living in countries where the forests are located Impact on biodiversity
Global Warming Global warming Industrial production and the release of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere Greenhouse effect - rising temperatures Impact on plant and animal life
Declining Biodiversity 3 problems related to the decline in biodiversity: Biodiversity and the decline in sources of food Loss of genetic resources and medicine Loss of beauty and complexity of the natural environment Extinction of species is irreversible and final
Structural-Functional Analysis: Highlighting Connections 3 sources of pollution from the Functionalist perspective: Technology as a source of environmental pollution Culture as another source of pollution Values and attitudes that guide our behavior as it relates to the environment Interconnectedness of social life
Social-Conflict Analysis: Highlighting Inequality Elites make environmental problems worse as they advance their self-interest The pursuit of corporate interest and profit is the cause of pollution Planned obsolescence Rich countries are overdeveloped and exploit the environment
Social-Conflict Analysis: Highlighting Inequality Environmental racism - pattern by which environmental hazards are greatest for poor people, especially minorities
Conservatives: Grounds for Optimism Conservatives and growing environmental awareness of the environment Anti-Malthusian
Liberals: Grounds for Concern Neo-Malthusians Resources are finite Better management and conservation of resources
Radicals: Grounds for Fundamental Change Support the liberal agenda See capitalism and global inequality as a source of pollution Overconsumption in high income nations must end Global wealth must be distributed more equally
Moral Issues in a Global Age • The dilemma of global solutions • Solution requires global social policy • Proposing international laws to benefit all nations • Such laws will conflict with the individual sovereignty of nations: likely to be rejected
The Future of the Problem • Energy • As expectations of higher standards of living grow, energy demand increases. • Likely that we and the rest of industrialized world will continue wasteful ways • Pollution • Picture pollution less positive • The Greens • A lack of unity
The picture painted by the pessimists • Paint a gloomy future • Built a society on assumption of inexhaustible resources; withdrawal symptoms will bring enormous pain • The picture painted by the optimists • Our present path is fine • Scientists continue to make breakthroughs • Extremophiles
Who Is Right? • Is humanity at a crossroads, as the pessimists insist, with our current course dooming us to destruction? • Or are the optimists right, with our current course taking us to a delightful future?
