Introduction to Environmental Science

Introduction to Environmental Science

• Environmental Science deals with the study of our environment, encompassing both living and nonliving aspects.
• It is an interdisciplinary field examining the role of humans on Earth, integrating concepts and information from natural sciences (biology, chemistry, earth science, physics, medicine), social sciences (economics, political science, sociology, history, philosophy, ethics), and other sciences like mathematics, statistics, technology, business, law, religion, morality and aesthetics.
• Knowledge & technology are products of environmental science.
• Resource management and resource technology are significant features which help to solve environmental issues.
• The goals are to develop a sustainable world and to study/resolve environmental problems.
• Environmental Education is a process by which people develop awareness, knowledge, and concern for the environment.
• The environment encompasses all that surrounds us.
• Ecology studies the relationships of living organisms with each other and their environment, and also is known as "science for survival."

Levels of Organization of Life

• Protoplasm: the living substance of the cell
• Cell: The basic unit of life
• Tissue: A group of cells
• Organ: A group of tissues
• Organ System: A group of organs
• Organism: Formed by levels of organization from protoplasm to organ systems
• Population: A group of organisms of the same kind or species
• Community: A group of populations
• Ecosystem: Basic unit of ecology
• Biosphere: Portion of the Earth and its environment within which life exists

Laws and Principles of Ecology

• Everything is connected.
• Strength and stability exist in the unity of differences.
• Consumption limits require that it cannot exceed production.
• Everything has a purpose.
• Nature knows best.
• All forms of life are important.
• Everything changes and must go somewhere.
• Earth is finite, and nature is beautiful.
• Humans are stewards of Earth in partnership with God.

Biogeochemical Cycles

• Biogeochemical cycles are the movements of nutrients and other elements between biotic and abiotic factors and transformation of chemical elements within the Earth's systems.
• These cycles regulate Earth's climate, maintain chemical balance, and ensure availability of nutrients to sustain life and ecosystems.
• Key cycles are the Carbon, Nitrogen, and Water/Hydrologic Cycles.
• The Carbon Cycle regulates the flow of carbon through air, water, soil, and living organisms.
• The Nitrogen Cycle converts nitrogen into different forms to support plant and animal life.
• The Water/Hydrologic Cycle circulates water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and infiltration and is also known as the water cycle.

Hydrologic Cycle Key Processes

• Evaporation: Liquid water transforms into water vapor.
• Condensation: Cooling of water vapor.
• Transpiration: Release of water vapor from plants.
• Precipitation: Return of condensed water as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
• Runoff: Movement of water across land.
• Percolation: Water from rain/melted snow seeps into the soil and rock layers to replenish underground water reserves called aquifers.

Carbon Cycle Details

• The carbon cycle moves carbon between living things and the earth's atmosphere. Most carbon is stored in underground rocks.
• Carbon is found in the air, making up about 0.03% of atmospheric gases, which is crucial for life.

How the Carbon Cycle Works

• Photosynthesis: plants absorb carbon from the air to make food.
• Consumption & Respiration: Animals eat plants and release carbon back while breathing.
• Decomposition: Dead plants and animals break down, returning carbon to the earth.
• Fossil Fuels & Combustion: Buried carbon turns into fossil fuels, releasing carbon when burned.
• Oceans & Carbon Storage: Carbon dissolves in water, then marine organisms use the carbon.
• Balancing carbon is crucial.

Carbon Element

• Carbon is an element found in all living things.
• It’s the second most abundant element in the human body after oxygen.
• Carbon is a key building block of cells and is present in molecules like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and DNA.
• Carbonic acid is a weak acid when carbon dioxide mixes with water, and then changes into forms like bicarbonate and carbonate.

Nitrogen Cycle

• Nitrogen is essential for life in plants and animals, making up about 79% of the atmosphere.
• It involves microorganisms to transforms atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms.

Nitrogen Cycle Stages

• Nitrogen Fixation: Special bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium in legumes) convert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into ammonia (NH₃) or ammonium (NH₄⁺), which plants can use.
• Lightning and volcanic activity can also fix nitrogen.
• Ammonification: Bacteria break down nitrogen-containing materials from dead organisms or waste into ammonia or ammonium.
• Nitrification: Ammonia is converted into nitrites (NO₂⁻) and then into nitrates (NO₃⁻) by nitrifying bacteria.
• Nitrates are easily absorbed by plants.

Eutrophication

• Eutrophication refers to the enrichment of water bodies with excessive nutrients, with excess nitrogen and phosphorus entering water bodies through runoff.
• Effects:
  • Algal Blooms: Excess nutrients promote rapid growth, which can block sunlight and disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
  • Oxygen Depletion: Decomposing algae consume oxygen and lead to hypoxia, harming aquatic life.
  • Tainted Water: Some algae produce toxins that can contaminate water.
  • Loss of Biodiversity: Algal blooms, oxygen depletion, and toxins harm aquatic organisms.

Oxygen Cycle

• Cycle in which oxygen moves through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere.
• Oxygen elements: Colorless, odorless chemical element, atomic number 8, atomic mass 16.

Key Processes of Oxygen Cycle

• Respiration: Consumption by living
• Combustion: Burning fossil fuels and organic materials
• Ozone Formation and Breakdown: Oxygen (O₂) forms ozone (O₃), which absorbs UV then breaks down.
• Diffusion: Oxygen movement between the atmosphere and water surfaces.
• Decomposition: Breakdown of dead organisms by bacteria.

Energy Cycle

• The energy cycle refers to continuous flow of energy through an ecosystem.

Sulfur Cycle

• The Sulfur Cycle is a biogeochemical process in which sulfur moves through waterways in all living systems.

Key Steps of Sulfur Cycle

• Mineralization: Mineralization of organic sulfur into hydrogen sulfide.
• Oxidation: Oxidation of hydrogen sulfide and elemental sulfur to sulfate.
• Oxidation of elemental sulfur into sulfates: Elemental sulfur is converted to sulfates for plant utilization.
• Reduction of Sulfates: Sulfates are reduced by hydrogen sulfide by sulfate reducing bacteria.

Phosphorus Cycle

• A process in which phosphorus moves through the environment, from rocks to organisms and back again within ecosystems.

Human Population

• Population: The total number of people/inhabitants in a region, derived from Latin "populus" (people/multitude).
• Population Growth: The increase in the number of organisms in a given area over time.
• Population Density: Measures the number of people in a specific area relative to its size.
• Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size an environment can sustain indefinitely.

Human Settlement

• Human Settlement: A place where humans live, with sizes ranging from isolated dwelling to conurbation.
• Settlements can be rural, urban, coastal, or mountainous.
• Environmental factors governing human settlement:
  • Land (Topography): The formation of land.
  • Food: Abundance of food in fertile land for farming.
  • Natural Resources: Presence of timber, rivers, and minerals.

Overpopulation

• The condition when a population exceeds the environment's carrying capacity.

Reasons for Overpopulation

• High Birth Rates
• Reduced Mortality Rates
• Lack of Education
• Poverty
• Unstable Politics and Economy

Effects of Overpopulation

• Environmental Degradation
• Water and Air Pollution
• High Demand for Basic Needs
• High Crime Rate
• Increased Energy Consumption
• Reduced Standard of Living

Coevolution and Co-Adaptation

• Coevolution: Two or more species change over time in response to each other's evolution.
• Co-adaptation: Two or more species adapt together in response to natural selection.

Earth's Carrying Capacity

• Economist Julian Simon: Believes human ingenuity can eliminate carrying capacity limits.
• Ecological/Environmental Footprint: Used to calculate the degree of lifestyle impact on the environment.
• Biocapacity: Earth's capability to replenish resources and absorb waste.

Economy and Population Growth

• High-Income Nations: Developed countries (e.g., United States, Canada, Japan)
• Middle-Income: Moderately developed countries (e.g., Latin America, China, Indonesia)
• Low-Income: Developing countries (e.g., Eastern, Western, and Central Africa, India)

Earth Overshoot Day

• Earth Overshoot Day marks when humanity has used all resources the planet can produce in a year.
  • 2023: August 2
  • 2024: August 1

Solutions Pillars

• Five key solutions to help nature thrive
  • Planet: How we help nature thrive
  • Cities: How we design and manage cities
  • Energy: How we power ourselves
  • Food: How we feed ourselves
  • Population: How many of us there are

Human Development Index (HDI)

• A composite statistical measure to assess and compare country development.
• Four Pillars of Human Development: Equity, Sustainability, Productivity, and Empowerment.
• Factors for HDI: Life expectancy, education, and income levels.

Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI)

• Measures deprivation across same dimensions as HDI.

Environmental Degradation Formula

• Developed by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren in 1972 as a way to calculates human impact on the environment.
• Formula: I = P × A × T (Environmental Impact = Population × Affluence × Technology)

Sustainable Development

• Definition: Meeting current needs without compromising future generations' ability to meet their own needs.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

• Maslow's hierarchy is a five-tier model of human needs: physiological, safety, love/belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Development Concepts

• Development means the sustained capacity to achieve a better life.
• Sustainable Development came out of the Brundtland Report in 1987.
• Five Guiding Principles of Sustainable Development:
  • Living within environmental limits
  • Ensuring a strong, healthy, and just society
  • Achieving a sustainable economy
  • Promoting good governance
  • Utilizing ICT as a social responsibility

Pillars of Sustainable Development

• Aims to achieve growth & create shared prosperity for future generations.
• Three pillars: Economic, Social, and Environmental (plus Cultural).
• The Economic Dimension: Studies how economic activities impact the environment, includes production/consumption.
• Economic Sustainability: Achieving the growth while minimizing environmental impacts.
• Measuring Development: Using quantitative indicators to assess impacts of humanities activities within the Environment.
• Social Sustainability: Long-term improvement of a society's well-being, promoting equity, justice, and inclusion.

Fundamentals of Sustainable Development

• Sustainable development balances economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection.

Global Initiatives for Sustainabililty

• Aims to balance economic, social, and environmental needs
• Main programs:
  • UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Global Initiative for Sustainable Development

History of Sustainabililty

• Brundtland Commission (WCED)/1987:
  • World Environment and Development Commission/created by the United Nations in 1983.
  • Released Report "Our Common Future"
  • Emphasized Equity, Growth, and Sustainability.
• Earth Summit-UNCED/1992:
  • Broad issue/resolution approach on various environmental and development concerns.
  • Created Agenda 21 and Rio Declaration.
  • Action plan grouped into social & economic development, resource management, group participation, and implementation.

Convention and Goals for Sustainabililty

• Convention on Biological Diversity:
  • Signed by 155 Countries to conserve biodiversity, species, and ecosystems. -USA did not sign out of biotech concerns.
• Convention on Biological Diversity
  • Signed by 153 countries to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels.
  • Translated into a shift into energy that creates less emissions.
• Millenium Development Goals: MDGS/2000:
  • Set of eight goals that countries agreed to meet by 2015.
  • Adopted by 189 Member countries of United Nations
  • Focused on poverty reduction, health, and environmental protection.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - 2015

• Replaced MDGS, established 17 goals for 2030.
• Goals cover people, planet, prosperity, peace, and partnerships and urge action from government, business, and citizens.

The Paris Agreement - 2015

• It is a global treaty that works under UNFCCC to fight climate change.
• Key targets are to limit global warming to 1.5–2°C, reduce emissions, protect human rights and vulnerable groups, and have rich nations fund climate action for poor nations.

Sendai Framework

• Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015–2030):
  • Reduces disaster risks (natural & man-made)
  • Is a shared responsibility of the Government, private sector, and community.
  • Follows Hyogo Framework (2005-2015)

Philippine Initiatives

• Climate Change Act (RA 9729, 2009): Established Climate Change Commission (CCC) to coordinate and evaluate climate programs.
• National Climate Change Action Plan (NCCAP): 7 Priority Areas:
  • Food security, water sufficiency, ecosystem stability, human security, climate-smart industries, sustainable energy, and knowledge & capacity building.

Sustainable Use of Natural Resources

• Sustainable Development Socio-economic development meets for current basic human needs & preserves the resources for future generation needed.
• Natural Resources -Raw materials on and below the Earth’s surface, formed without intervention (naturally). -Land, forests, water, fisheries, minerals, and air and help humanity to survive.

Clasification of Natural Resources

• Renewal and inexhaustible in abundance as they can be replaced.
• Nonrenweable/Exhaustible: can be present in a limited amount and does not get replenished themselves through recycling.

Types of Natural Resources

• Water Resources
• Mineral Resources
• Soil Resources
• Forest Resources
• Fossil Fuels
• Marine Resources
• Air Resources

Challenges for Sustainble Resource Use

• Overexplotation and depletion.
• Pollution and Environmental Degradation.
• Climate Change implications.
• Economic and political barriers.

Three R's for Sustainability

• Reduce
• Recycle
• Reuse

Sustainable Resource Use

• Sustainable Resource Use is important to:
  • Economic Growth (ensuring a steady supply)
  • Social Equity (fairly distributing resources)
  • Environmental Protection (reducing waste)

Resource conservation & managment

• "conservation" helps preservation of quality while "management" ensures a continuous yield through a balanced renewal cycle.

NIPAS Act

• National Integrated Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act. is officially Republic Act No. 7586, put into action in 1992
• Created to manage + protect the Philippines’ natural resources and biodiversity.

Expansion of NIPAS

• Enforced as law in 2018, was strengthened through the Expanded NIPAS Act (RA 11038) to add a total of 94 new protected areas and put into conservation rules.
• Salient Features: -Establish National Protected System Area -Classify Protected Areas

Protected Area Classification

• NIPAS has specific categories on classifying different types of protected areas that each have there own conservation objectives such as: - National Parks - Natural Monuments - Wildlife Santuaries - Protected Landscapes and Seascapes - Resource Reserves - Natural Biotic Areas - Other Categories

Protected Area Management Board (PAMB)

• Governed by a PAMB, serving as the managing and policy-making body that overlooks planning, conservation programs and enforcing designated/protected area laws. - Consists of: LGUs, lPs, NGOs, National Government Agencies

Protected act and Prohibited act/Activitie sin protected

    - Mining logging, and quaryying
    - Pouching and hunting engangered species.
    - Dumping waste/checmicals/Pollutants.
    - Converting Land and unauth Dev.
    - Disrupting eco system

Recognition of indeginious people

• helps sustain enviromental conservation that allows aligment with idengious people sustainbility preservaton. -Key provisions for indigenous peoples include:Traditional resource use, instrument such as ancestral domain claims grants over territory, and protected area managment.

Funding and Support Mechanisms

• The NIPAS Act also has support that allows country's protected areas effecitvness to support long term viability which includes these 4 outside allocations: 1)NGOS: offers, funds, advice and advocacy to projects with conservations. 2)Private Sector+ International Org- Partners with the globe and enterprise too reach goal of substainility. 3)Ect toursim that helps improve communities through base conservation income

Important of NIPAS

• 1. Protection on biodiversity: conservation on eco system species. 2) Promotes econ stability: 12)climatechange: helps mitgate the affect. 4)Preserve culture 5) Envorcen law

IPRA law

• The indegingious peoples Rights act of 1997: landmark law in the Philippines that supports their rights/integrity, and also gives the indegious pop. power to make decisions regaurding land and resources
• Passed in September that year (approved by Pres. Veron after wards)

Nipa law salients/and main features

Grants control own land but, do not get ri transfer it out of com The right to govern, culture intergrity/right, and need concern from the govern.

Law responsibility/GOV

• Must Preserve envierment
• up hold custom
• and participate

GOverning Role

• is to protect people and implement land titles.

law to to promote protection

• supports sustability
• prevenrt explo
• empower the communities.
• strenghtn equal rights

International Conventions

• International Conventions are treaties signed between multiple nations serving as international agreements and treaties as a binding agreement forming the basis for international law.
• Core: -International Covenent of political rights - Intl Covenent of Economic cultural rights -internation con on all forms of racial discrim - conven for right to child - con for Torture and cruel -Con of protection rights for workers(migrant)

International Treaties

• Plays very big role in sustaining resouces as well as establishing frameworks/ setting laws on environmental factors/promoting collaboration - Help countries work with the info and best way to do resource and enviormental challenges

Relevant Examples

            - conven on bio: which conserves, promotes usage,ensure equity and access to resources 
           -United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: prevent the anthorpgenic atmosphere
             -Regulate trades so there are no engangered species

Basel

Conserve Transboundary

Stockholm- persistent Pollutants: restrict to relase world- heritage: Protect universal vlaues

Bonn

Conserve throughout range and under the unites states

other conventions in place

• Afreement on European Conservation bats
• Memorandum on Birds
• memorandom for turtels

Appendicies/BONN

1. Conservations biological Deversity.

2. migrant species

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

• Three-main goal:
• The conservation of biological diversity.
• Promote the sustanability
• Fair share in the use for genetic resource

(CMS)Bonne Convention

• conservation and established coorperations to safeguard animals/habitat
• Influence on resources:Legal Framework/ Habitat protection and broader benifits/ InterCooperation/ Sustanible Project

barca convention

• agreements to protect sea/marine from pollution.
• was was set into placed In 1976, but was updated in 1995

countries that have partakes and coastline that bord mediterranean

• Albania
• Herze
• Croatia
• Cyprs,france
• Greese,
• Lebabnon, libyal

Purpose of Barcelona

• Prevent assess, elim pollu, conserve land scape, raise awarness increase emerg, protect biod, monitor ,cooptechnolgy, apply environment

goals

• reduce poluation
• environment
• sustainable dev
• strength coo
• improve quality

meeting

• Cop= decision making body for Barca and Portoculs = every year protocol, implment decions

bureau

• The buerau in the contract parties of all the different groups
• provides implmentation guidance for prog

PartnerShips

• MAP has solid foundation, and CO opp with the global institutions and shares vision
• INTER orgs- Active in fieds that maybe be admmed that have revalence ti the Baracellona
• non organizations partners- help in map and partipation in all goals

Barcelona/other provide expertise and suppport

• dumpin and safety

Philippine Law

• similar to Barce Protocol republic act 9275 phillippine clean water act/ other acts
• Pollution Marine Decree, Mangemtn and Resource code for the environment.

prevention marines

• first convention made to protect ocean activictes since 1975 objective: effective measure

timeline

awareness-London, permits/damage,

Under London- Protocols

• dumpin is allowed only for accepted waste on reversed list -24 mar-2006, that 53 paritcipate

The main object and reasons for london

-control pollution/prevents. sea waste/black list(harzard to enviroment)

###minniamata

• from the city of Japan which experienced seere mercury polluatiion due to checmical company dumping into the bay system
• This caused a high amount of shellfish and fish to conntaminated over time which led to toxication in the population.

Minniamata disease

-heavy methylmercury lead to large consumption of fish/shellfish.

• discovered in japa kumamato and led to the relase from chisoo core from 1932

long term cons of pollution

• Deaths in humans and animals due to govt and companies doing litter to prevent

TREATMENT FOR DISEASE: CHEMS USED to REMOVE Mercury Mecury is major health concern since exposure has been proven has cuase health issue, losses/climae chanage

Mercary key for control/Trade

• eliminating the use of New product and phase out mercanary

benzen conventions

• measures were provided in 1954- ILO concenrns for protection
• benzone 646 itswelf/ product >1 % BY volume

Provisions

• substitution exposure limits

Full arcitlss

• arcitles define rules impltation, by 39 countries, shows global impact and awareness.
• continouta monitor

Contemporary Issues and Problems

• Overpopulation: too many people -In india 14, -Phillip[ines 116 million- issues=Education unemploymetm /health climate versues global

Global/Clim

- temeprature
 - climate
     -encompass more shift in weather- patterns

causes/effec

= ctting down tree/ riising levels climate issues heat levels role of Arctic

• ice regulators, reflects the sun Philippine-accelerartion of gree, and cyclone/flood

• wild Fires- uncontrol

• Record breakers- ty[hhooon hurricane

• BIODECOLLAP

ending fossel enerfy sustainable

• conservatin
• choices

Bio

-variety on earth

• declide in genes

causes

habitat looss pollution Climate

effects

• Extinct decline SDG

Phopsperous Cycl

• chem conponent w/P key to cells/animals rain and weathering animals get nutrients bacteria

Nitrogen cycle

-natural process of atmosphere and organisms

• Issues: N pollutin- waters and causes algal blooms and acid rain

• Soil deg

• Fertilization

• the Harber bosch- which double the nitrogen

water supply,ocean acidification, pollution#

• Water Is essential, and very important water problems
• water insufficient - climate/population

physical/ economic water - health, economy

• water is polluted by microorganims,exrement animal etc
• reduce water usage/commun participation
• rainwater
• deslination 3improve water
• preventing leakage

Pollution in generel

• wazewater treatment
• dispose to waste

absibtion is through perciptation form Carbonate Causes: Urbanization Effects: shell gets weak reduce mission.

POLLUTANT

• Natural + trasha nd runoff transby pollution- and across nations
• share resources. pacific garabge
• causes rain

Types,effects,soycres

Sources volcanic,industrail, fossil, and chemicals and that have affect with life, health, enviromenty lights

darksky

movement to reduce LIGHT and se clear planetation

plastics accumalations of plastic solution/recycle

microplastics , synthics or irregualr

in water