Human-Environment System Concepts

A process explaining why people live in a specific area, and why a certain spatial distribution exists.

Changes to the atmosphere, water, and land from human activities, potentially causing reversible or irreversible impacts.

Contamination of air, water, and soil, taking a long time to recover from.

Climate change caused by human practices, leading to rising temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns.

The reduction or use up of natural resources; especially fossil fuels, which contribute to global warming.

Energy sources like solar, wind, biogas, and geothermal, becoming more affordable.

Gases that trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to global warming.

Resources like coal and oil, used for energy that produce greenhouse gases.

A global issue caused by excessive resource consumption and plastic production, leading to overflowing garbage and pollution, especially in developed countries.

The increase in global temperature due to burning fossil fuels and the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere.

Melting polar ice, changing seasons, new diseases, frequent floods, and altered weather patterns.

A problem affecting many people in a society, often because of factors beyond an individual's control and having varying viewpoints on what is morally right.

A significant social problem in the Philippines, where a substantial portion of the population lives below the poverty line, partly due to economic trends affecting farming & fishing communities.

Disposal presenting severe health risks due to long-term dangers of radioactive materials.

Solid waste, water, and air pollution have devastating effects on agriculture, health, and the environment.

16.1% of the Filipino population was below the poverty line, based on 2018 statistics.

Strengths of the approach to studying environmental issues include a broader perspective, emphasizing interconnections and human agency, beyond just use or other species interactions.

Weaknesses include the reliance on the assumption of human cooperation for environmental solutions, potentially neglecting practical challenges or conflicts of interest.

Human agency in environmental contexts encompasses the role and actions of humans in shaping and responding to environmental concerns, beyond simply being users of the environment or agents of change.

Synergy refers to the combined effect of multiple interacting factors being greater than the sum of their parts. In human-environment systems, it demonstrates how the combined impact of human action and natural processes creates a powerful outcome.

Interconnectedness between human society and the environment highlights the ways in which human actions impact the environment, and vice versa. Environmental issues directly affect human society and vice versa.

A holistic perspective that views environment-related issues by considering their interconnections with human actions and social systems.

Overoptimistic about the potential for cooperative solutions, neglecting complexities or conflicts that hinder joint action.