Environmental Science and Sustainability Lecture 1 PDF

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY Table of contents 01 02 Recapitulation Ecological Principles Definition of Environmental Science, Goals, Human- Environment Interaction 03 04 Global Environmental Environmental...

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND SUSTAINABILITY Table of contents 01 02 Recapitulation Ecological Principles Definition of Environmental Science, Goals, Human- Environment Interaction 03 04 Global Environmental Environmental Problems Science Solutions Natural Capital Degradation Sustainable Development Ecological Footprint Goals ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Interdisciplinary study of how the earth works, how we interact with the earth, and how we can deal with the environmental problems we face 3 GOALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Learn how nature works Understand how we interact with the environment Find ways to deal with environmental problems and live more sustainably  HUMAN-ENVIRONMENTAL INTERACTION 1. Dependence on the 2. Modification of the 3. Adaptation to the Environment Environment Environment Humans depend on Humans modify their Humans can change the environment for environment to fulfill and adapt to various survival their own goals and environmental needs conditions for survival and to meet their needs FOUR ECOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING MUST GO SOMEWHERE EVERYTHING ELSE THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A FREE NATURE KNOWS BEST MEAL GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Natural Capital Natural resources + ecosystem services Processes in Renewable and nature that non-renewable supports life GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Natural Capital Degradation Using resources faster than nature can renew them  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS Individuals have access to a shared resource and act on their own interest, at the expense of other individuals “If I do not use this resource, someone else will. The little bit that I use or pollute is not enough to matter, and anyway, it’s a renewable resource”.  ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT The amount of biologically productive land and water needed to indefinitely supply the people in a particular area with renewable resources and to absorb and recycle the waste and pollution produced by such resource use.  ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT Per capita ecological footprint - average ecological footprint of an individual in a given country or area ECOLOGICAL DEFICIT ECOLOGICAL RESERVE/CREDIT Ecological footprint > Biological Ecological footprint < Biological capacity to replenish capacity to replenish GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS Contamination of the environment by a chemical or other POLLUTION agents that is harmful to health, survival, or activities of humans or other organisms  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OVERPOPULATION TODAY’S POPULATION: 8 billion and counting… If we are living beyond the earth’s renewable biological capacity, why do you think the human population are still growing rapidly?  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS POVERTY 1.4 Billion people live in extreme poverty Desperate for short-term survival, some of these individuals degrade forests, soils, grasslands, fisheries, and wildlife, at an ever-increasing rate.  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS RESOURCE DEPLETION Due to unsustainable use of natural resources which may lead into ECOLOGICAL TIPPING POINT – irreversible shift in the behavior of natural systems  GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING Changes in earth’s temperature from 1900s to 2022 GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY  ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SOLUTIONS: sustainability sustainability The ability of the earth’s various systems to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions and meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs  Principles of sustainability 1. Reliance on solar energy 2. Biodiversity 3. Chemical Cycling How can we live more sustainably? 1. Rely more on renewable energy from the sun 2. Protect Biodiversity 3. Prevent pollution and reducing wasteful use of resources References: Miller, G. T., & Spoolman, S. (2010b). Environmental science : problems, concepts, and solutions. Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. United Nations. (2015). THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development. Un.org. https://sdgs.un.org/goals#:~:text=At%20its%20heart%20are%20the%2017%20Su stainable%20Development%20Goals UN Sustainable Development Goals - Overview (youtube.com)