16 Questions
Environmental science is a field that focuses only on natural sciences.
False
The term 'environment' only refers to the natural world.
False
Sustainable development aims to compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
False
Environmental ethics involves making decisions solely based on scientific facts.
False
At least 2 billion people lack an adequate supply of safe drinking water.
False
Environmental science is a well-established field that has been around for centuries.
False
The natural world is the only essential part of our environment.
False
Water is not a critical resource in the twenty-first century.
False
Over 1 billion people suffer from ill health annually due to polluted water and lack of sanitation.
False
Global food production has not kept pace with human population growth over the past century.
False
Only one-third of agricultural lands show signs of degradation.
False
Fossil fuels provide less than 50 percent of the energy used in industrialized countries.
False
Burning fossil fuel does not release CO2, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
False
Less than 2 million people die each year from diseases triggered by air pollution.
False
Air pollution is only a local problem, not a global issue.
False
China is not making progress on environmental problems by using renewable energy sources.
False
Study Notes
Environmental Science
- Environmental science is the systematic study of our environment and our place in it, integrating natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities.
- It's a relatively new, highly interdisciplinary field that takes a holistic approach to studying the world around us.
Understanding the Environment
- Environment refers to the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of organisms, or the complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community.
- Human beings inhabit both the natural world and the world of social, technological, and cultural artifacts, which are intertwined and essential to our lives.
Sustainable Development
- Sustainable development is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Environmental Ethics
- Environmental ethics involve interpreting environmental issues and making decisions about natural resource management based on our worldviews.
- We face many serious environmental problems, including:
Environmental Problems
- Clean Water: 1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, and 2.4 billion lack modern sanitation, leading to health problems and death for millions.
- Food Supplies: Global food production has kept pace with population growth, but soil degradation and poor farming practices threaten sustainability.
- Energy: Fossil fuels provide 80% of energy in industrialized countries, contributing to air and water pollution, and climate change.
- Climate Change: Human activities like burning fossil fuels and deforestation release greenhouse gases, leading to severe weather events, sea-level rise, and disappearing ice.
- Air Pollution: Air quality has worsened, causing an estimated 3 million deaths annually from diseases triggered by air pollution.
- Biodiversity Loss: Habitat destruction, pollution, and invasive species threaten ecological life systems, leading to species extinction and disruption of ecosystems.
Signs of Hope
- Renewable Energy: Countries like China are transitioning to renewable energy sources like wind, biogas, and solar power, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and mitigating environmental problems.
Explore the basics of environmental science and understand the importance of integrating natural and human-made worlds. Learn about the natural world and its impact on human life.
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