Environmental Problems and Sustainability

Chapter 1 Chapter 1

What is environmental science?• What do environmental scientists do?What do environmental scientists do?• Environment is abiotic and biotic factors that Environment is abiotic and biotic factors that

affect a living organism. affect a living organism. • Ecology is a BIOLOGICAL science that studies Ecology is a BIOLOGICAL science that studies

relationships. It is part of environmental science. relationships. It is part of environmental science. • Other natural sciences are part of envs.Other natural sciences are part of envs.• Social sciences are part of envs because we are Social sciences are part of envs because we are

part of a living system and because we are altering part of a living system and because we are altering our own living system. Consequently, economics, our own living system. Consequently, economics, politics and ethics will shape some of the politics and ethics will shape some of the interactions we have with our environment. interactions we have with our environment.

capital

• Our solar capital is unlimited-perpetual Our solar capital is unlimited-perpetual resource.resource.

• Our natural capital is limited-some is Our natural capital is limited-some is renewable and some is nonrenewable.renewable and some is nonrenewable.

• How governments use their capital affects How governments use their capital affects growth; how peoples use their capital growth; how peoples use their capital affects growth.affects growth.

Fig. 1.1, p. 2

16

15

14

13

12

11 Billio

ns o

f peo

ple

?

?

?

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

02-5 million

years8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100

Hunting and gathering

Black Death–the Plague

Time

Industrialrevolution

Agricultural revolution

B.C. A.D.

World Population – J growth curve

World Population reached

1 billion in 1804

2 billion in 1927 (123 years later)

3 billion in 1960 (33 years later)

4 billion in 1974 (14 years later)

5 billion in 1987 (13 years later)

6 billion in 1999 (12 years later)

World Population May Reach

7 billion in 2013 (14 years later)

8 billion in 2028 (15 years later)

9 billion in 2054 (26 years later)Fig. 1.3, p. 5

SUSTAINABLE

• To use resources in such a way as to meet To use resources in such a way as to meet needs now and provide for needs in the needs now and provide for needs in the future.future.

• Sustainable society:Sustainable society:

• Meets basic needs-food, clean water and air Meets basic needs-food, clean water and air (SOIL?), shelter(SOIL?), shelter

Sustainable means providing for the indefinite future

• Without depleting or degrading the earth’s Without depleting or degrading the earth’s natural resources natural resources

• PROTECT CAPITALPROTECT CAPITAL

• Balance capital w growth-current and future Balance capital w growth-current and future growthgrowth

RULE of 70• (you should KNOW this)(you should KNOW this)• Way to estimate population growth Way to estimate population growth • Doubling time is years for population to Doubling time is years for population to

double its sizedouble its size• Rule of 70: 70/percentage growth rate = Rule of 70: 70/percentage growth rate =

doubling time in yearsdoubling time in years• US: 70/0.92 (2005 est.) = 76 yearsUS: 70/0.92 (2005 est.) = 76 years• India: 70/1.4= 50 yearsIndia: 70/1.4= 50 years• Sweden: 70/.17 = 412 yearsSweden: 70/.17 = 412 years

What is the current world population?

• About 6 billion. You should know this.About 6 billion. You should know this.

• If our growth rate is 1.28%, when will the If our growth rate is 1.28%, when will the world population double? Is it within your world population double? Is it within your life time?life time?

Fig. 1.2, p. 4

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

10

750

1,000

1,250

$70,000

$1,024,000

Linear growth(saving $1,000

Per year)

Exponential growth($1,000 invested at 10%

Per year interest)

Th

ou

san

ds

of

do

llar

s

Years

Economic growth

• Increase in capacity to provide people with Increase in capacity to provide people with goods and servicesgoods and services

• Population growth (more consumers and Population growth (more consumers and producers)producers)

• More consumption per capitaMore consumption per capita

Economic growth indices

• GNI: gross national income (was GNP: GNI: gross national income (was GNP: gross national product)gross national product)

• GNI PPP: gross national income in GNI PPP: gross national income in purchasing power parity purchasing power parity

• GDP: gross domestic productGDP: gross domestic product• GWP: gross world productGWP: gross world product• Per capita GNI (calculated at midyear)Per capita GNI (calculated at midyear)• Per capita GNI PPPPer capita GNI PPP

Economic growth

• Increase in capacity to provide people with Increase in capacity to provide people with goods and servicesgoods and services

• Population growth (more consumers and Population growth (more consumers and producers)producers)

• More consumption per capitaMore consumption per capita

Economic development

• Improvement of living standards by Improvement of living standards by economic growtheconomic growth

• Developed and developing countriesDeveloped and developing countries

Developed countries

• US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, all countries in Europeall countries in Europe

• Highly industrializedHighly industrialized• Per capita GNI PPP > $10,750/yearPer capita GNI PPP > $10,750/year• 19% of world population19% of world population• 85% of world’s wealth85% of world’s wealth• Use 88% of world’s resourcesUse 88% of world’s resources• Generate 75% of pollution and waste of Generate 75% of pollution and waste of

worldworld

Developing countries• Africa, Asia and Latin American countriesAfrica, Asia and Latin American countries• Middle income per capita GNI PPP ~$3-Middle income per capita GNI PPP ~$3-

11K11K• Low income per capita GNI PPP <$3KLow income per capita GNI PPP <$3K• 81% of population81% of population• 15% of world wealth15% of world wealth• 12% of world resources12% of world resources• 25% of world pollution and wastes25% of world pollution and wastes• Increase by 1 million people every 5 days-Increase by 1 million people every 5 days-

why?why?

GNP per capita, 1998

Low income (Under $1,000)

Middle income ($1,000–

$10,000)High income (Above $10,000)

Fig. 1.5, p. 9Economic Development

World total

Developingcountries

Developedcountries

Po

pu

lati

on

(b

illi

on

s)

12

11

10

9

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

1950 2000 2050 2100

YearFig. 1.6, p. 9

Past/project Population Size

More people, more disturbance

• Natural resources support all lifeNatural resources support all life• Currently natural resources are being used Currently natural resources are being used

unsustainablyunsustainably• Premature extinction of growing number of Premature extinction of growing number of

the world’s plant and animal species (100-the world’s plant and animal species (100-1000x faster)1000x faster)

• Destruction or degradation of ecosystemsDestruction or degradation of ecosystems• Depletion of aquifersDepletion of aquifers

Human disturbance

Tropic of Capricorn

Equator

Predominantly naturalPartially disturbedHuman dominated

AntarcticCircle

Tropic ofCancer

ArcticCircleArcticCircle

Fig. 1.4, p. 8

Human Disturbance of Land Area

Anthropogenic changes contribute to global change• 73% of habitable land has been disturbed73% of habitable land has been disturbed• Gases emitted into atmosphere largely from burning Gases emitted into atmosphere largely from burning

fossil fuels also from other anthropogenic sources fossil fuels also from other anthropogenic sources have altered climate: global warming at in increased have altered climate: global warming at in increased raterate

• Alterations in climate include shifting arable areas Alterations in climate include shifting arable areas or reduction in arable landor reduction in arable land

• Alteration of precipitation by amount, location, and Alteration of precipitation by amount, location, and phasephase

• Alteration of community structureAlteration of community structure• Sea level riseSea level rise

50

Fig. 1.7, p. 9

45

40

30

25

20

15

10

5

1900 1920 1940 1960 1980 2000 2020

Gro

ss w

orl

d p

rod

uct

(tri

llio

ns

of

do

llar

s, 1

997

do

llar

s)

0

Year

Global Economic Growth

globalization

• Integrated world view and environmental Integrated world view and environmental world change as a function of social and world change as a function of social and economic forceseconomic forces

Economic Globalization

• GNPGNP

• >international trade>international trade

• >transnational corporations>transnational corporations

Information and Communication

• InternetInternet

Environmental Effects

• Global transmission of infectious diseasesGlobal transmission of infectious diseases

• Invasive aliensInvasive aliens

• Global transport of natural and chemical Global transport of natural and chemical pollutants-air and waterpollutants-air and water

Resources

• Anything from environment to meet our Anything from environment to meet our needsneeds

• Food, water, air, soil, shelter, good, Food, water, air, soil, shelter, good, transportation, communication and transportation, communication and recreationrecreation

• 3 categories: perpetual, renewable, 3 categories: perpetual, renewable, nonrenewablenonrenewable

Perpetual resource

• Singular-sunSingular-sun

• On human time scale renewed continuouslyOn human time scale renewed continuously

Renewable Resources

• Replenished within our life time (less than Replenished within our life time (less than decades, less than 100 years)decades, less than 100 years)

• Not sustainable if used more rapidlyNot sustainable if used more rapidly

• Forests, grasslands, wild animals, fresh Forests, grasslands, wild animals, fresh water, fresh air, arable soilwater, fresh air, arable soil

• Depletion vs degradationDepletion vs degradation

• Highest rate at which it can be used Highest rate at which it can be used INDEFINITELY without depleting or INDEFINITELY without depleting or degrading resource is sustainable yielddegrading resource is sustainable yield

Environmental degradation

• Urbanization of productive landUrbanization of productive land

• Waterlogging or salinizationWaterlogging or salinization

• DeforestationDeforestation

• Aquifer depletion/contaminationAquifer depletion/contamination

• Overgrazing grasslandsOvergrazing grasslands

• Reduction of biodiversityReduction of biodiversity

• pollutionpollution

NONrenewable resources

• Fixed quantityFixed quantity

• Energy resources: coal, oil, natural gasEnergy resources: coal, oil, natural gas

• Metallic and nonmetallic mineralsMetallic and nonmetallic minerals

What are alternatives once a nonrenewable resource becomes economically depleted?• Costs of extraction and using what is left Costs of extraction and using what is left

exceed its economic value.exceed its economic value.

• Find moreFind more

• Recycle or reuse existing suppliesRecycle or reuse existing supplies

• Waste less; use lessWaste less; use less

• Try to develop substituteTry to develop substitute

• Wait millions of years for more to be madeWait millions of years for more to be made

Recycle versus reuse

• Recycling: products collected and Recycling: products collected and reprocessed into new productsreprocessed into new products

• Reuse: products are used over and over Reuse: products are used over and over again-like refilling a water bottle instead of again-like refilling a water bottle instead of making a new water bottle from recycled making a new water bottle from recycled products or newly acquired resourcesproducts or newly acquired resources

Fig. 1.11, p. 11

Resources

Perpetual Nonrenewable

Renewable

Freshair

Freshwater

Fertilesoil

Plants andanimals

(biodiversity)

Directsolar

energy

Winds, tides,

flowing water

Fossilfuels

Metallic minerals

Non- metallic

minerals

(iron, copper,

aluminum)

(clay, sand,

phosphates)

Time

Pro

du

ctio

n r

ate

of

reso

urc

e

Area under curveequals the totalamount of the

resource. Economic depletion(80% used up)

Fig. 1.12, p. 13

Traditionaldecision making

Environmental

Social Economic

Fig. 1.8a, p. 10

Decision making in asustainable society

Social Economic

Environmental

SustainableSolutions

Fig. 1.8b, p. 10

Ecological footprint

• Amount of land needed to produce Amount of land needed to produce resources needed by an average person in a resources needed by an average person in a countrycountry

• It is a way to express environmental impactIt is a way to express environmental impact

• Hectare metric = 100 acresHectare metric = 100 acres

Relative ecological footprints per person

Slide 11

United States

The Netherlands

India

CountryPer Captia Ecological Footprint(Hectares of land per person)

10.9

5.9

1.0

Fig. 1.10a, p. 11

Relative ecological footprints by country

Slide 12

CountryTotal Ecological Footprint

(Hectares)

United States

The Netherlands

India

3 billionhectares

94 million hectares

1 billion hectares

Fig. 1.10b, p. 11

pollution• Any addition to air, water, soil, or food Any addition to air, water, soil, or food

that threatens the health, survival or that threatens the health, survival or activities of living organisms activities of living organisms

• Point sources of pollution emanate Point sources of pollution emanate pollution from a single, identifiable sourcepollution from a single, identifiable source

• Nonpoint pollution emanates from many Nonpoint pollution emanates from many possible sources and are dispersed over a possible sources and are dispersed over a large area land or in water or airlarge area land or in water or air

• Most regulations apply to point pollution Most regulations apply to point pollution sourcessources

Pollution Prevention

• Once pollutants have entered water, soil, or Once pollutants have entered water, soil, or air in harmful levels, it is usually too costly air in harmful levels, it is usually too costly to reduce the pollutants to an acceptable to reduce the pollutants to an acceptable level (superlevel (superfundfund sites) sites)

• The best solutions would be to prevent The best solutions would be to prevent pollutants from reaching environment or to pollutants from reaching environment or to reduce the amount of pollutants reduce the amount of pollutants

5 R’s

• Refuse: do not useRefuse: do not use

• Replace: find a less harmful substituteReplace: find a less harmful substitute

• Reduce: use lessReduce: use less

• ReuseReuse

• RecycleRecycle

Tragedy of the commons

• Degradation of common property or free Degradation of common property or free access resourcesaccess resources

• Air, water, migratory birds, wildlife species, Air, water, migratory birds, wildlife species, publicly owned lands, spacepublicly owned lands, space

• Everyone contributes to degradation and no Everyone contributes to degradation and no one feels responsible for conservation or one feels responsible for conservation or restorationrestoration

Major Environmental Problems

• Air pollutionAir pollution

• Water pollutionWater pollution

• Food supply problemsFood supply problems

• Waste productionWaste production

• Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity

Main Causes of Environmental Problems• Rapid population growthRapid population growth

• Unsustainable resource useUnsustainable resource use

• PovertyPoverty

• Not including the environmental costs of Not including the environmental costs of economic goods and services in their market economic goods and services in their market pricesprices

• Trying to manage and simplify nature with Trying to manage and simplify nature with too little knowledge about how it workstoo little knowledge about how it works

Environmental Wisdom Worldview• Nature does not exist for use and we are not Nature does not exist for use and we are not

in charge.in charge.• There is not always more.There is not always more.• Some forms of technology and economic Some forms of technology and economic

growth are environmentally beneficial. growth are environmentally beneficial. Those that are not should be discouraged.Those that are not should be discouraged.

• Our success depends on learning how the Our success depends on learning how the earth sustains itself and adapting to that earth sustains itself and adapting to that pattern.pattern.

Environmentally Sustainable Economic Development

• Economic rewards (gov. subsidies, tax Economic rewards (gov. subsidies, tax incentives, emissions trading) to encourage incentives, emissions trading) to encourage environmentally beneficial and sustainable environmentally beneficial and sustainable forms of economic developmentforms of economic development

• Economic penalties to discourage env Economic penalties to discourage env harmful economic growthharmful economic growth

Shifting the dominant paradigm

• From pollution clean up to preventionFrom pollution clean up to prevention

• From waste disposal to waste preventionFrom waste disposal to waste prevention

• From protecting species to protecting placesFrom protecting species to protecting places

• From env degradation to env restorationFrom env degradation to env restoration

• From increased resource use to more From increased resource use to more efficient resource useefficient resource use

• From population growth to population From population growth to population stabilization by decreasing birth ratesstabilization by decreasing birth rates

Air Pollution

• Global climate change• Stratospheric ozone

depletion• Urban air pollution• Acid deposition• Outdoor pollutants• Indoor pollutants• Noise

Biodiversity Depletion

• Habitat destruction• Habitat degradation• Extinction

Water Pollution

• Sediment• Nutrient overload• Toxic chemicals• Infectious agents• Oxygen depletion• Pesticides• Oil spills• Excess heat

Waste Production

• Solid waste• Hazardous waste

Food Supply Problems

• Overgrazing• Farmland loss

and degradation• Wetlands loss

and degradation• Overfishing• Coastal pollution• Soil erosion• Soil salinization• Soil waterlogging• Water shortages• Groundwater depletion• Loss of biodiversity• Poor nutrition

MajorEnvironmental

Problems

Fig. 1.13, p. 14

• Rapid population growth

• Unsustainable resource use

• Poverty

• Not including the environmental costs of economic goods and services in their market prices

• Trying to manage and simplify nature with too little knowledge about how it works

Fig. 1.14, p. 15

Developing Countries

Population (P)Consumptionper person

(affluence, A)

Technological impact perunit of consumption (T)

Environmentalimpact of population (I)

Developed Countries

X

XX

XX

X =

=

=

Fig. 1.15, p. 15

Earth’s Life-Support System Human Culture Sphere

Air(atmosphere)

Water(hydrosphere)

Soil and rocks(lithosphere)

Life(biosphere)

Population Technology

Economics Politics

Fig. 1.16, p. 16