Lesson 3 - 4: Study of Environmental Science PDF

LESSON 03-04: STUDY OF ES–WHAT & WHY (goal, scope, importance)? 2.1. STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2.1.1. Objectives You will study environmental science to learn _ How nature and natural surroundings functions How the environment affects us (human being and other species) How we...

LESSON 03-04: STUDY OF ES–WHAT & WHY (goal, scope, importance)? 2.1. STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 2.1.1. Objectives You will study environmental science to learn _ How nature and natural surroundings functions How the environment affects us (human being and other species) How we (especially, human being) affects the environment and it’s system How to deal with the global environmental problems, and How to ensure sustainability and live more sustainably 2.1.2. What You Study You will study _ 1) How the different processes of earth work? a) How the spheres (Fig. 2.1) of our planet function naturally to maintain balance? i) Atmosphere iii) Lithosphere ii) Biosphere iv) Hydrosphe Figure 2.1: Earth’s spheres (Source: Mr. Fleming Science). 2) How we interact with earth? a) How do we upset the natural balance? i) We use resources ii) We produce waste 6|Page © 2024 Rahman, SMM 3) How to deal with the environmental problems? a) To reduce or eliminate our unbalancing effect, we can use i) decision making ii) problem solving 2.1.3. Scope As we look around at the area in which we live, we see that our surroundings are originally a natural landscape such as a forest, river, mountain, desert, or a combination of these elements. Most of us live in landscapes that have been heavily modified by us, in villages, towns or cities. But even those of us who live in cities get our food supply from the villages and these in turn are dependent on natural landscapes such as forests, grasslands, rivers, seashores, for resources such as water for agriculture, fuel wood, fodder, and fish. Thus our daily lives are linked with our surroundings and inevitably affects them. We use water to drink and for other day-to-day activities. We breathe air, we use resources from which food is made and we depend on the community of living plants and animals which form a web of life, of which we are also a part. Figure 2.2: Ecological Economic Model (Source: ResearchGate). Everything around us forms our environment and our lives depend on keeping its vital systems as intact as possible. Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot continue to live without protecting the earth’s environmental resources. Thus most traditions refer to our environment as ‘Mother Nature’ and most traditional societies have learned that respecting nature is vital for their livelihoods (Fig. 2.2). 1|Page © 2024 Rahman, SMM This has led to many cultural practices that helped traditional societies protect and preserve their natural resources. Over the past 200 years, modern societies began to believe that easy answers to the question of producing more resources could be provided by means of technological innovations. Such as, growing more food using fertilizers and pesticides, developing better strains of domestic animals and crops, irrigating farmland through mega dams and developing industry, led to rapid economic growth, the ill effects of this type of development, led to environmental degradation. 2.1.4. Importance Study of ES is important _ To realize that the environmental problems are global, not local To understand the impacts of development on the surrounding environment To discover sustainable ways of living on this planet earth To utilize natural resources efficiently and sustainably To shed light on contemporary concepts such as how to conserve biodiversity To learn and create awareness about environmental problems at local, national and international levels 2.2. INTERRELATION OF ES WITH OTHER DISCIPLINES Environmental science is an interdisciplinary area of study that includes both applied and theoretical aspects of human impact on the world. Since humans are generally organized into groups, environmental science must deal with politics, social organization, economics, ethics, and philosophy. Thus, environmental science is a mixture of traditional science, individual and societal values, and political awareness. Although environmental science as a field of study is evolving, it is rooted in the early history of civilization. Many ancient cultures expressed a reverence for the plants, animals, and geographic features that provided them with food, water, and transportation. These features are still appreciated by many modern people. Environmental science involves an understanding of scientific principles, economic influences and political action. Environmental decisions often involve compromise. A decision that may be supportable from a scientific or economic point of view may not be supportable form a political point of view without modification. Often political decision relation to the environment may not be supported by economic analysis. Environmental science is by nature an interdisciplinary field. 2|Page © 2024 Rahman, SMM