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Introducing Environment al Science and Sustainabil ity Chapter 1
Introducing Environmental
Science and Sustainability
Chapter 1
Do Now Essay:Please write a short essay answering the
following.
• Describe five ways that Highly developed countries differ from less developed countries.
Human Impacts on the Environment
Learning Objectives
–Define: Poverty
–Distinguish among
highly developed
moderately developed
less developed countries
Source: US Census Bureau, Global Population Profile: 2002
A. Human Impacts on the Environment1. Increasing Human Numbers
• Over the past 800 thousand years human population continues to grow despite Earth’s finite ability to support us.
Do Now Essay:Please write a short essay answering the
following question(s).
• What does the term “ environmental sustainability” mean to you?
• How can you realistically live a more sustaining lifestyle than at present?
A. Human Impacts on the Environment1. Increasing Human Numbers
Most populous countries:
1) China 1,374,853,000
2) India 1,155,011,000
3) United States 309,163,000
4) Indonesia 258,825,000
5) Brazil 195,580,000
Source: US Census Bureau, Global Population Profile: 2002
A. Human Impacts on the Environment1. Increasing Human Numbers
A. Human Impacts on the Environment1. Increasing Human Numbers
Poverty :
• per capita income of less than $1 a day
• 1.2 billion worldwide currently live at this level
Leads to . . . Lower life expectancy
Inadequate health care
Unsanitary water
Poor nutrition
Illiteracy
A. Human Impacts on the Environment1. Increasing Human Numbers
• per capita: [(puhr kap-i-tuh)]
A Latin phrase literally meaning “by heads,” and translated as “for each person.” It is a common unit for expressing data in statistics. A country's per capita personal income, for example, is the average personal income per person.
Population, Resources, and the Environment
The contrast between less developed and highly developed countries is great:
A. Human Impacts on the Environment2. Increasing Human Numbers
a. Highly Developed Countries
USA, Canada, Japan, Most of Europe20% of worlds populationHigh complex industrialization basesLow rates of population growthHigh per capita incomes
b. Moderately Developed Countries
Mexico, Turkey, South Africa, ThailandMedium levels of industrializationAvg. per capita income lower
c. Less Developed Countries (LDC)
Bangladesh, Mali, Ethiopia, LaosLow level of industrializationVery low per capita incomeVery fertility rates with a high infant mortality rate
Cheap, unskilled laborCapital for investment is scarceHunger, disease, Illiteracy common in LDC
B. Population, Resources, and the Environment
Types of resources:
Renewable, but only when managed in a sustainable way
B. Population, Resources, and the Environment
Resource Consumption:
• because of our greater consumption rates, 1 US child has the environmental impact of 12+ children in less developed countries.
B. Population, Resources, and the Environment
•People Overpopulation:
when excess # of people cause environmental damage.
•Consumption Overpopulation:
when people consume enormous amounts of natural resources.
B. Population, Resources, and the Environment
Ecological footprint
B. Population, Resources, and the Environment
IPAT Model
I = P A T
Environmental Impact
Number of people
Affluence per person
Environmental effect of
technologies
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability:
stewardship of natural resources leading to their perpetual availability for successive generations.
Environmental Sustainability
Sustainability and the Tragedy of the Commons
Garrett Hardin
Environmental Science
• Interdisciplinary study of the interconnected problems associated with the environment.
• Heavily leans upon ecology.
Environmental Science
The Process of ScienceProblem recognition or
question
Hypothesis development
Experimentation
Analysis
Share knowledge
Make predictions
Hypothesis supported? YESNO
Other scientistsNew knowledge
Environmental Science
Controls and Variables in Experimental Design
Variable:
Control group :• examined variable is left unaltered
• factors influencing processes being examined.
• hypothesis examines ONE variable, holding others constant.
This is the experimental group.
Environmental Science
Hypothesis: Burning will increase frequency of prairie wildflowers.
Which is the control group?
Environmental Science
How does the view of a theory differ between scientists and the public?
Environmental Science
Inductive and Deductive Reasoning
• Inductive examines a series of facts for commonalities that can be concluded.
Example:
Fact: an ant has six legs
Fact: a wasp has six legs
Fact: a beetle has six legs
Conclusion: all insects have six legs
Environmental Science
• Deductive examines for relationships among data moving from generalities to specifics.
Example:
General rule: all insects have six legs
Specific example: a grasshopper is an insect
Therefore: a grasshopper has six legs
Addressing Environmental Problems
Scientific Assessment
Risk Analysis
Public education and involvement
Political action
Evaluation
Addressing Environmental Problems
Case in Point: Lake Washington
•Scientific assessment
•Public education and involvement
•Political action
Addressing Environmental Problems
Case in Point: Lake Washington
Evaluation
Addressing Environmental Problems
Case in Point: Lake Washington
Evaluation
