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Introduction to Environmental Science

Introduction to Environmental Science. What is environmental science?. Environmental science is the study of the impact of humans on the environment Goals of env sci – to understand and solve environmental problems Many fields of study contribute to environmental science:

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Introduction to Environmental Science

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  1. Introduction to Environmental Science

  2. What is environmental science? • Environmental science is the study of the impact of humans on the environment • Goals of envsci – to understand and solve environmental problems • Many fields of study contribute to environmental science: • Biology, earth science, physics, chemistry, social sciences

  3. Let’s brainstorm – some problems in the world today and their solutions: Environmental Problems Solutions to Problems

  4. In your opinion, why have people let the environment suffer??

  5. What is causing so many of our environmental problems? • Agricultural revolution and industrial revolution have allowed the human population to grow much faster than it had ever grown before. • Medicine and sanitation helped increase population • Increased population increased demand for Earth’s resources! • About 7.2 billion people in world today!

  6. Let’s think……. • What happens when there are too many people: • In class? • In Livingston? • In the U.S.? • In the world?

  7. 3 main environmental problems 1. resource depletion – we are using up too many of our natural resources! 2. pollution- undesired change in air, water or soil that adversely affect health, survival or activities of humans or other organisms 3. loss of biodiversity- a decrease in number and variety of species

  8. Resource Depletion • Resources are depleted when a large fraction has been used up • Can we deplete renewable resources? • As the world’s population increases, what happens to its resources?

  9. Problem 1 – Resource Depletion • Natural resource – any material that is used by humans • Non-renewable resource – forms at a much slower rate than it is consumed; once supply is used up, it will take millions of years to replace it • Fossil fuels • minerals • Renewable resource – resource that can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes • Air, water, soil, trees and crops

  10. Problem 2 – PollutionWhat is pollution?

  11. Problem 3 – Loss of Biodiversity • Biodiversity – number and variety of species • Why is there a loss of biodiversity? • What are some animals that are endangered or extinct? (remember our projects!)

  12. The Tragedy of the Commons • Garrett Hardin said that the main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict between the short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society

  13. Look at the diagrams of grazing sheep…. • When land was held in common, individuals tended to graze as many animals as possible. Overgrazing led to destruction of land. • When commons were replaced by enclosed fields owned by individuals, people tended to graze only the number of animals that the land could support.

  14. Tragedy of commons • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTurihxSTnI • Great pacific garbage clip • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5y1W5xduiE • Gpgp clip

  15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP1nzCqoT9g Ecological footprint video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZFkUeleHPY Tragedy of the commons animation

  16. Ecological Footprint • Ecological footprint- productive area of earth needed to support one person in a particular country • How much of the Earth’s resources a person/country uses • Look at table, which country has largest ecological footprint? • Why? • Which countries have larger ecological footprints, developed or developing? • Why?

  17. Developed countries Developing countries Lower average incomes Simple and agriculture-based economies Rapid population growth • Higher average incomes • Slower population growth • Diverse industrial economies • Stronger social support systems • US, Canada, Japan

  18. What can YOU do to reduce your ecological footprint???

  19. What is poverty? • Poverty - state of being poor; the state of not having enough money to take care of basic needs such as food, clothing, and housing

  20. People that live in poverty have • __________ (great/little) healthcare • __________ (great/little) education • __________ (great/little) access to food • __________ (great/little) access to water • __________ (few/many) children

  21. An __________ (increase/decrease) in population creates an ___________ (increase/decrease) in resources which creates an (increase/decrease) in poverty

  22. sustainability • Sustainability – the condition in which human needs are met in such a way that a human population can survive indefinitely • Are we living in a sustainable world right now? • Sustainability is the balance between the humans and the environment!

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