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G. Tyler Miller’s Living in the Environment 13 th Edition. Chapter 1 Environmental Issues, Their Causes, and Sustainability. Key Concepts. What are the Major Environmental Problems What are Their Causes How Important or Serious are They Ways to Live More Sustainably. Environment
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G. Tyler Miller’sLiving in the Environment13th Edition Chapter 1 Environmental Issues, Their Causes, and Sustainability
Key Concepts • What are the Major Environmental Problems • What are Their Causes • How Important or Serious are They • Ways to Live More Sustainably
Environment Everything that affects a living organism during its lifetime • Ecology Biological science that studies relationship between living organisms and their interaction with the environment • Environmental Science Interdisciplinary science that uses concepts and information from natural sciences and social sciences to help us understand • How the earth works • How we are affecting the environment • How we deal with environmental problems
Living More Sustainably Environmentally Sustainable Society - satisfies the basic needs of its people into the indefinite future Food Clean Water Clean Air Shelter
Population GrowthHow fast are we growing? Fig. 1-2 p. 4 • ExponentialGrowth
World Population J curve
Population Growth Fig. 1-2 p. 4 • ExponentialGrowth • Doubling Timeand the “Rule of 70”
“Rule of 70” 70 Doubling Time (in years) = Percent growth rate (%)
Let’s See If the Rule of 70 Works! 10% fixed growth rate….what is doubling time? 70/10 = 7 year doubling time 100 people to start (.10)(100) =+10 10% growth 110 total # of people at end of year 1 (.10)(110) =+11 121 end of year 2 (.10)(121) =+12 133 end of year 3 (.10)(133) =+13 146 end of year 4 (.10)(146) = +14 160 end of year 5 (.10)(160) = +16 176 end of year 6 (.10)(176) = +17 193 end of year 7—almost doubled!
The Power of Doubling (lab)
Economic Growth refers to an increase in the capacity to provide people with goods and services. Economic growth is measured by a county’s Gross National Product (GNP or GNI) Market value ($) of all goods and services produced within and outside a country during a year plus net income earned abroad by a countries citizens
Other Economic Indicators Gross Domestic Product (GDP) market value ($) of all goods and services producedwithin a country during a year Gross World Product (GWP) market value ($) of all goods and services produced in the world during a year
Economic Growth Per Capita GNP GNP divided by total population at mid-year “your piece of the economic pie”
Economic Development The improvement of living standards by economic growth. Measured by (1) degree of industrialization and (2) per capita GNI Developed Countries US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, all of Europe Developing Counties Most of Africa, Asia, and Latin America
<$2700 $2700-$10,750 >$10,750 per capita GNI
Economic Development Positive Aspects Global life expectancy has doubled from 33 to 67 years Infant mortality has dropped Food production has outpaced population growth Access to safe drinking water has increased.
Economic Development Negative Aspects Average life expectancy in developing countries is 11 years less than in developed countries Infant mortality is 8x higher Harmful environmental effects of industrialized food production may limit future food production Air and water pollution are high in most developing countries Natural resources are being used unsustainably
Globalization –we are living in an increasingly integrated world • Economic indicators • Global economy grew • International trade grew • Corporation operating in multiple countries grew • Information and Communication • 1 in every 11 people in the world have Internet access • Environmental Effects • Number of diseases transmitted across international • borders has increased • Pollution transported globally
Resources Perpetual Renewed continuously Renewable Replenished rapidly Non-renewable Exist in a fixed quantity
Renewable Resources • Sustainable Yield – the highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely • Environmental Degradation – process of exceeding a resources natural replacement rate
Renewable Resources • Tragedy of the Commons • Garrett Hardin • degradation of renewable resources
Economic Depletion Non-Renewable Resources Energy Resources Metallic Resources Non-MetallicResources Reuse Recycle
Ecological Footprints - • the amount of land needed to produce the resources needed by an average person in a country
Pollution What is Pollution? Any addition to air, water, soil, or food that threatens the health, survival, or activities of humans or other living organisms Where do pollutants come from? Point Sources – single identifiable sources Smokestack Drainpipe Exhaust pipe Nonpoint sources – dispersed sources Runoff from fields Pesticides sprayed in the air
Pollution What are the effects of pollutants? Disruption of life-support systems for humans and other species. Damage to wildlife, human health, and property. Nuisances such as noise, and unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.
Dealing With Pollution • Prevention (Input Control) • Refuse • Replace • Reduce • Reuse • Recycle • Cleanup (Output Control) • Temporary • Shifts problem somewhere else • Costly
Environmental and Resource Problems Major Problems(See Fig. 1-9 p. 12) Air Pollution Water Pollution Biodiversity Depletion Food Supply Waste Production
Biodiversity Depletion • Habitat destruction • Habitat degradation • Extinction • Air Pollution • Global climate change • Stratospheric ozone depletion • Urban air pollution • Acid deposition • Outdoor pollutants • Indoor pollutants • Noise • Food Supply Problems • Overgrazing • Farmland loss • and degradation • Wetlands loss • and degradation • Overfishing • Coastal pollution • Soil erosion • Soil salinization • Soil waterlogging • Water shortages • Groundwater depletion • Loss of biodiversity • Poor nutrition Major Environmental Problems • Water Pollution • Sediment • Nutrient overload • Toxic chemicals • Infectious agents • Oxygen depletion • Pesticides • Oil spills • Excess heat • Waste Production • Solid waste • Hazardous waste
Environmental and Resource Problems Root Causes
Environmental Impact Fig. 1-11 p. 13
Environmental Impact (I) P x A x T = I P = Population A = Affluence T = Technology I = Impact (Environmental)
Environmental Interactions Fig. 1-12 p. 14
Environmental Worldviews Planetary Management We are in charge of nature. There is always more. All economic growth is good. Our success depends on how well we can understand, control, and manage the earth’s life support systems. Environmental Wisdom Nature does not exist just for us and we only think we are in charge. There is not always more. Some forms of technology are environmentally beneficial, some are harmful. Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and integrating these lessons into how we think and act.
Environmentally-Sustainable Economic Development Social Economic Social Economic Sustainable Solutions Environmental Environmental Decision making in a sustainable society Traditional decision making Fig. 1-13 p. 17