CHAPTER 1 - Introduction to Environmental Science

Environment

The surrounding external conditions influencing development or growth of people, animal or plants: living or working conditions, etc. (Singh, 2006)

Living things, non-living things, built environment, social relationships and institutions

All things around us with which we interact (4)

Lithosphere

Solid earth

Atmosphere

Gases (the air)

Hydrosphere

All water

Biosphere

All life

Physical, biological, cultural

Elements of the Environment (3)

The Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy

what law states that "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations."

Environmental Science

Is defined as the interdisciplinary study of humanity's relationship with other organisms and the nonliving physical environment.

Environmental Science

It is the academic field that takes physical, biological, and chemical sciences to study the environment and discover solutions to environmental problems.

Interdisciplinary

Environmental science and the issues that it studies are complex and _________________. It Includes concepts and ideas from multiple fields of study. Decisions have impacts in all these fields of study.

anthropogenic

Environmental science teaches us how to protect our environment in the face of rising human population and _____________ activities that degrade natural resources and ecosystems.

Environmental Ethics

The discipline that studies the moral relationship of human beings to the environment.

Anthropocentrism, ecocentrism

Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History

Anthropocentrism

one of the Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History. The view or belief that human beings are superior to all other organisms

Anthropocentrism

one of the Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History. This set of ethics protects and promotes of human interests or well-being at the expense of all other factors.

Anthropocentrism

one of the Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History. Often places an emphasis on short-term benefits while disregarding long-term consequences.

Ecocentrism

one of the Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History. A perspective that places importance on the ecosystem as a whole.

Ecocentrism

one of the Two Main Categories of Ethics in Human Culture in Modern History. The preservation of ecosystems or other living things takes priority over human needs.

Hetch Hetchy Debate

The debate about whether to build a dam in the Hetch Hetchy valley was one of the first big debates between these two philosophies.

Hetch Hetchy Valley

When the growing city of San Francisco, California proposed building a dam in the _____ ______ ______ to provide a steady water supply, Congress debated whether to make a water resource available or preserve a wilderness between 1908 and 1913.

Gifford Pinochet

the first man in charge of the U.S. Forest Service. He stated that "Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run."

Greatest good, greatest number, long run

Gifford Pinochet, the first man in charge of the U.S. Forest Service, stated that "Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the ________ ____ of the ________ ______ in the ____ ___."

Resources Conservationist

Their focus is to protect open land. The National Parks system, and the National Forest system were both created during this time.

Modern Environmentalism

A movement that began a public awakening to threats of pollution and toxic chemicals to humans as well as other species

Rachel Carson

published a book in 1962 entitled Silent Spring about the effects of pesticides on large predatory birds, particularly the bald eagle.

Silent Spring

documented the impacts that pesticides like DDT were having on wildlife. DDT is persistent, meaning it is not biodegradable and will not breakdown naturally.

Global Environmentalism

explores issues and problems over the entire world, not just within the local community.

1970

Following the ____s, environmentalism began to consider issues that affected the entire planet:

○ Biodiversity loss

○ Food production

○ Climate Change

○ Human population growth

○ Economic inequality between nations

Biodiversity loss, Food production, Climate Change, Human population growth, Economic inequality between nations

5 issues that began to be considered in environmentalism following the 1970s

Demographic Divide

Countries are classified across an economic spectrum: developing and developed countries

Developing countries

economically poor, less educated, higher fertility rates, lower standard of living, lower rates of consumption

Developed countries

economically wealthy, more educated, lower fertility rates, higher standard of living, higher rates of consumption

Systematic principle of environment, Principle of environmental capacity, Symbiosis principle between human and environment, Entropy principle

4 Basic Principles of Environmental Science