Lecture 3 - Sustainability PDF

Lecture 3 - Humans, the Environment, and Sustainability Building on Rubenstein (2023) Ch. 1 section 1.12 – 1.13 Scott Peters House Keeping + Quiz 1 is live, due by 11:59pm tonight Answers will be releases Thursday morning SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH...

Lecture 3 - Humans, the Environment, and Sustainability Building on Rubenstein (2023) Ch. 1 section 1.12 – 1.13 Scott Peters House Keeping + Quiz 1 is live, due by 11:59pm tonight Answers will be releases Thursday morning SCIENCE, ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH SCIENCES CO-OP INFO SESSION ADD WORK EXPERIENCE TO YOUR DEGREE September 19, 2024 | 12:30 PM – 1:20 PM | ZOOM events.sfu.ca SCAN TO REGISTER Outline + What is a System? + Different types of earth systems + What is Sustainability + Case Study What is a System? + A set of things working together as part of a mechanism or an interconnecting network + A way for us to organize the world + Simple + Complex + Closed / Open + Inputs and Outputs Examples of Systems + Biological – Digestive, Neurological, Immune… + Societal – Family, Kinships, Cultural… + Political – Governments, Provincial, Judicial… + Economic – Banking, Currency, Trade… + Environmental – Hydrological, Ecological, Management…  Systems Theory + Transdisciplinary + Boundaries + Context – Structure, Function and Role + Can be relational to other systems + More than the sum of its parts Ecological Systems Theory in Adolescent Residential Treatment Connolly (2024) Earth Systems + Abiotic and Biotic + 4 Interconnected systems Atmosphere Hydrosphere Lithosphere Biosphere Geographic Features Ecosystem + Interactions of biotic and abiotic systems + Ecology is the scientific study of ecosystems + Look at the relationships present in the image  Biomes Large-scale ecosystems Ecosystems change gradually between the Equator and the Poles Images Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zwh9j6f/revision/6  Climate + Weather vs Climate + Climate is influenced by geography + Climate influences people Environmental Determinism → Possibilism Physical Social + Cultural Map Source: Hasler et al., (2015) Climate Change + Increase 1.5°C (2.8°F) during the past century + Increase in severe weather events and associated risks + Change in food supply + Increase in migration Sea Level Rise + Global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimeters) since 1880 + Globally, 8 of the world’s 10 largest cities are near a coast + Two main causes: Ice Sheets are melting Ocean is expanding as water warms (Lindsey, 2023) Sea Level Rise and Vancouver + Eastern 1/3rd of False Creek was shallow tidal mud flats + By 1918 these were paved over for the railway terminal + Area continued to be paved and covered as development grew + Still remains a low basin https://www.shapeyourcity.ca/east-park/widgets/81236/photos/19560 Social- Ecological Systems Theory + Dualism + Based on the concept that humans are part of, not separate from, nature + Our practices influence the environment and the environment influences us Sustainability + “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (Brundtland Commission, 1987) Environmental Sustainability + Avoiding Threshold events + Management of negative impacts and outputs + Maintain biodiversity + Coexisting with ecosystems Social Sustainability + Cultural Preservation + Gender Equality + Health + Justice and Equity Economic Sustainability + Creating economic systems that do not require growth + Transitioning away from fossil fuels + Eliminate poverty + Universal welfare https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ The Sustainability Doughnut + Inner Ring = What people need for a decent life + If people don’t have these things, then they fall through the hole in the middle + Outer Ring = Ecological Boundaries Case Study of Applied Sustainability: TLR and Caiman, Pantanal + The Long Run (TLR) is a volunteer membership sustainability organization + Global Ecosphere Retreats + 4Cs Approach Conservation Community Culture Commerce  How to Measure Sustainability? + Design a system + Figure out boundaries + Goal Driven + Designate Indicators Results + Conservation ↑ Biodiversity monitoring ↑ Preservation efforts + Community Focus on hiring and training local communities ↑ Gender equality in the workplace + Culture Created the Annual Caiman Lasso Festival Heritage experiences to guests + Commerce Ecotourism model since 1985 Traditional livestock farming Questions