Environmental Science: Definition and Components

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to identify the components of the environment and the significance of environmental auditing.

Environmental Science

• The study of living organisms and how they interact with the environment.
• It's a broad discipline encompassing engineering, information studies, and environmental issues research.
• Often referred to as ecology, environmental scientists aim to understand our surroundings.
• It combines physical, chemical, and biological components of the environment.
• Environmental scientists research ways to mitigate climate change/global warming and prevent ecological problems.

Definition of Environmental Science

• Derived from the French word "environ" meaning surrounding or enveloping.
• A multidisciplinary science combining physics, chemistry, biology, medical science, life sciences, agriculture, forestry, public health engineering, and more.
• The main objective is to protect the environment.

Environmental Engineering

• Applies science and engineering knowledge to maintain and improve the environment.
• Aims to solve environmental problems.

Definition of Environment

• Includes all factors affecting human life on Earth: physical, geographical, chemical, biological, and ecological components.
• Earth, lakes, forests, farms, vegetation, animals, plants, bacteria, and microorganisms.
• Divided into biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components.

Major Components of Global Environment

• Natural: Soil, water, air, trees, noise.
• Man-made: Houses, roads, schools, railways.
• Components can be categorized as abiotic (non-living) and biotic (living) spheres.
• These are further categorized by Energy and physical spheres, and biosphere.

Scope of Environmental Science

• Studying the interrelationship between environmental components.
• Conducting impact analysis and environmental audits.
• Preventing pollution from new and existing industries.
• Preventing the use of biological and nuclear weapons, and managing disasters.
• Our surroundings include forests, rivers, mountains, deserts, or their combinations.
• Human activities have significantly modified landscapes.
• We rely on natural resources for daily life (drinking water, food, air).
• Protecting our environment is essential for our survival.

Importance of Environment

• Complex and involves various disciplines (science and social science).
• Includes factors like biology, chemistry, physics, geography, resource management, economics, and population issues.
• Encompasses many disciplines and aspects.
• Natural resources (water, air, soil, minerals, forests, grasslands, oceans, agriculture, livestock) are essential for life.
• Resource quantity is limited and misuse/pollution will negatively impact the environment.
• Taking action is critical to prevent further damage to environmental resources.

Importance of Environment (Cont.)

• With increasing populations, resource use increases, leading to environmental problems (air/water pollution, waste generation, resource depletion) .
• Pollution can lead to health problems.
• Environmental problems require collective action, especially by individuals.
• Protecting our environment is essential for maintaining human life.

What is Environmental Auditing?

• Measures activities' effects on the environment against specific standards.
• Various types of audits exist, depending on standards and focus.
• Used to identify and evaluate environmental effects of many activities.
• Helps organizations improve their environmental performance.
• Helps reduce environmental damage and enhance management effectiveness.

Why would an organization wish to undertake an environmental audit?

• Environmental regulations and liabilities.
• Ensuring proper investment decisions.
• Specific investigations into issues.
• Enhancing the corporate image.
• Assessing past environmental activities/accidents.

Benefits of Environmental Audits

• Enhanced management effectiveness by identifying weaknesses and ensuring nothing is missed.
• Identifying environmental issues previously unknown to senior management.
• Improved employee relations, enhanced company image, increased customer confidence, and reduced operating costs through waste minimization.

Environmental Audit Steps

• Planning, including activities and responsibilities.
• Reviewing company policies/regulations.
• Assessing and evaluating organization, management, equipment.
• Gathering information and data.
• Evaluating performance.
• Identifying areas needing improvement.
• Reporting findings to management.

Types of Environmental Audits

• Environmental Compliance Audits: Evaluates legal compliance status.
• Environmental Management Audits: Assesses organizational environmental performance against standards.
• Functional Audits: Focuses on a specific environmental issue (air quality, materials management, wastewater).

Cost Savings in Environmental Audits

• Identify opportunities for improvement in organizational management.
• Reduce waste and minimize resource use.
• Recycling can reduce waste disposal costs, which in turn can decrease the costs associated with waste management.

Explore environmental science, the multidisciplinary study of living organisms and their interaction with the environment. Learn about its components, objectives, and its significance in mitigating climate change and preventing ecological problems. Understand the role of environmental auditing.