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Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Understanding Our Environment. definitions. Environmental science- systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it Environment- the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms

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Chapter 1

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  1. Chapter 1 Understanding Our Environment

  2. definitions • Environmental science- systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it • Environment- the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms - the complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

  3. 4 stages of conservation • Pragmatic utilitarian conservation- George Marsh, Theodore Roosevelt, Gifford Pinchot • Help to set the national park system, wildlife refuge systems , passed game protection laws • the environment needed to be saved for the people to provide homes and jobs, not because they are beautiful • Resources should be used for the greatest good, for the greatest number for the longest time.

  4. 4 stages of conservation • Biocentric preservation- aesthetic and spiritual value • John Muir- nature deserves to exist for its own sake …first president of the Sierra Club • Aldo Leopold- land ethic- we need to take care of the land because it is the right thing to do

  5. 4 stages of conservation • Modern environmentalism- concerns about damage already caused and what we can do to prevent it • Rachel Carson- wrote of threats to pollution and toxic chemicals to humans as well as other species • Barry Commoner- emphasized the links between science, technology, and society • Sustainable development, the idea that economic improvement for the world’s poorest populations is possible without devastating the environment • - Dr. WangariMaathai

  6. 4 stages of conservation • Global environmentalism- pollution affecting the earth and not just one part • Yu Xiaogang- stopped plans on 13 dams on the Nu River • Dai Qing- revealed the social and environmental costs of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River

  7. 6 environmental dilemmas • Climate change- global temperature increase (greenhouse gases), start fighting for resources, ice caps melting- animals having to adapt to new environment, more severe weather

  8. 6 environmental dilemmas • Hunger- populations are growing larger than the food can sustain, overhunting species then becoming endangered, agriculture- land degradation

  9. 6 environmental dilemmas • Clean water- pollution, sanitation problems contribute to the ill health of more than 1.2 billion people annually • Water wars- international conflict

  10. 6 environmental dilemmas • Energy- get away from fossil fuels, • renewable energy, sustainable energy

  11. 6 environmental dilemmas • Biodiversity loss- species are going extinct • Habitat destruction • Deforestation • Urbanization • Monoculture • Wildlife consumption- medicines , trophy wildlife

  12. 6 environmental dilemmas • Air pollution- gotten dramatically worse • Exhaust from transportation • Ranching- cattle gas • During certain days as much as 75% of the smog and particulate pollution recorded on the west coast of North America can be traced to Asia

  13. Signs of hope • Life expectancy has increased- medicines and technology • Internet- education more widely available • Lower birth rates- populations stabilizing • Habitat Conservation- More laws and regulations • Conserve resources and use them more sustainably • Renewable energy • International cooperation-More countries are vested in environmentalism • Limits on greenhouse gas emissions

  14. Extreme poverty • Extreme poverty-Income that is less than $1.25 a day • Compared to the US about 4/5 of the world would be considered in poverty • Creating larger family to help with the work • No adequate diet or water, or medical care • Need to get people out of survival mode (poverty) before they can help with conservation

  15. Richest vs. Poorest • $43,569 vs. $1006 per year • 4.1 per 1000 live births vs. 99.5 per 1000 live births • CO2 consumption- 15.2 tons vs. 0.1 tons

  16. Economic growth in China • Influx in population, consume more resources, eventually consuming as much as we are • 50 million automobiles in China, increase the CO2 output ( largest source of CO2)

  17. Sustainable development • Economic development without destroying the environment • Increase of well being that can be maintained long term • Improving the present without hurting the future • Benefits all of human kind not just the privileged few

  18. Eliminating poverty • $135 billion per year for the next 20 years • (0.7% of national income)

  19. Indigenous people • Bottom of the social strata • Don’t pollute as much • Don’t consume as much • Lot of knowledge and ecological wisdom • Native land rights

  20. terminology • Ethics- sense of right and wrong • Moral value- worth • Moral extensionism- extending the moral value • Inherent value- intrinsic right • Instrumental value- they are useful to someone who matters • Stewardship- taking care of the resources we are given

  21. terminology • Environmental justice- combines civil rights with environmental protections • environmental racism-inequitable distribution of environmental hazards based on race • Toxic colonialism-practice of targeting poor communities of color in developing nations for waste disposal and/or experimentation with risky technologies

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