1 / 33

Chapter 1 The Environment

Chapter 1 The Environment. Defining the Environment. How long have humans been on the planet? Humans increasingly impact the environment: how? We can’t ignore environmental problems. Human Population. Overpopulation: how many people live on Earth? Nearly 1 in 4 live in

tanisha-wood
Download Presentation

Chapter 1 The Environment

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Chapter 1 The Environment

  2. Defining the Environment • How long have humans been on the planet? • Humans increasingly impact the environment: how? • We can’t ignore environmental problems

  3. Human Population • Overpopulation: how many people live on Earth? • Nearly 1 in 4 live in extreme poverty • How big will our population get? • How big can our population get? • Consumption & economic growth

  4. Rich & Poor • Highly developed countries: ≈ 20% of world’s population • Poor countries • Moderately developed • Less developed (LDCs)

  5. Characteristics of LDCs • Cheap, unskilled labor • Economy agriculturally based • Hunger, disease, illiteracy common

  6. Rich vs. Poor • Developing countries • Rapid population growth is overwhelming • Natural resource depletion • Developed countries • Slower population growth • Higher rate of consumption

  7. Types of Resources • Nonrenewable • Limited supply • Once they’re gone, they’re gone • Examples? • Renewable • Virtually unlimited • Replenished over relatively short periods • Examples? • Easy to overexploit  nonrenewable

  8. Population & Resources • Economic growth tied to exploiting natural resources • Developed countries have utilized many of their resources • Use of natural resources tied to poverty

  9. Population & Consumption • People overpopulation • Environment getting worse • Too many people • Consumption overpopulation • Environment getting worse • Use far more than necessary: why?

  10. Too Much Stuff! • Highly developed countries • 20% world’s population consume: • 86% aluminum • 76% harvested timber • 68% energy • 61% meat eaten • 42% fresh water • Developing countries are starting to consume more: why?

  11. Ecological Footprints • Productive land and ocean needed to supply person with her/his needs • What if we all had the same footprint?

  12. Population, Consumption, & Environmental Impact • I = P x A x T • I: Environmental impact • P: Population • A: Affluence per person • T: Technology used • Interpret results with care! • Ultimate goal: make consumption sustainable

  13. NIMBY & NIMTOO • Not in my backyard • Not in my term of office • What situations cause people to say these? • How practical are these?

  14. Environmental Sustainability • Sustainability: environment will function indefinitely • Based on: • Effects of our actions on the environment • Earth’s resources are finite • Understanding impact of consumption • Shared responsibility

  15. Does This Sound Sustainable? • Nonrenewable resources being rapidly depleted • Many renewable resources being used in a nonrenewable way

  16. Does This Sound Sustainable? • Environment is being polluted • Human population is increasing

  17. Sustainable Development • Economic growth that: - Meets needs of the present - Does not compromise future • Meets needs of world’s poor • Can occur only within limits of the environment

  18. Global Environmental Issues Global Warming Deforestation

  19. Global Environmental Issues Threatened Oceans Ozone depletion

  20. Sustainable Development

  21. Sustainable Consumption • Requires eradication of poverty • Poor will need to increase consumption: why? • Will require major lifestyle changes

  22. Sustainable Consumption • Using goods and services for our needs • Minimizes use of resources • Eliminate consumption overpopulation

  23. Economics • Study of how we decide to use scarce resources to provide goods & services • Free market • Supply & demand determine price • Canadian economy

  24. How Are The Economy & Environment Related? • Environment is the source of materials • Environment serves as a sink for wastes • Sources & sinks contribute to natural capital • Resource degradation: overuse of sources • Pollution: overuse of sinks

  25. Economy & Environment

  26. National Income Accounts • Total income in a nation in one year • GDP & NDP provide estimates • Two problems with current system • Natural resource depletion • Cost & benefits of pollution control

  27. Pollution Control • Currently, cost of polluting not deducted from GDP • Estimates of environmental damage should be subtracted from GDP

  28. What is Environmental Science? • Interdisciplinary • Broad field • Ecology is a basic tool • Goals • Establish general principles about how the natural world functions • Identifying, understanding, andsolving problems

  29. What is Science? • Not just a body of knowledge • Dynamic process • Requires collection of data • An ongoing enterprise • Requires reevaluation

  30. The Scientific Method

  31. The Process of Science • A good hypothesis makes a prediction • Experiment • Variable: factor that influences a process • Control group: variable isn’t altered • Theory • Integrated explanation of numerous hypotheses • Solid ground of science • Accepted as true

  32. Eco Canada Career Focus • Eco Canada develops programs, educates and provides resources for employees • Have you though of a career as an environmental communications officer?

  33. Case Study:The Flood of the Century • Red River was used as a principle transport route • Human activities altered the environment • Red River Flood covered 2000 square kilometers • How could the devastation been reduced?

More Related