The Natural Environment

Human exceptionalism paradigm

the belief that social progress, prosperity, class mobility and economic growth will happen for all

social construct

the social concept that most people take as natural and for granted but to which it is in fact invention of a certain society

risk society

• concept characterized a modern society as being highly prone to accidents

human being shape the enviro in highly meaningful ways

not as the best and most times negative

• many people ignore the environmental and social costs of economic growth

poisonous water

• in walker ton Ontario the water was contaminated with e. coli

• this was due to heavy rainfall, excessive cow manure , failed system and incompetent workers

• 2,500 people were sick to which 30% got IBS

  • 7 died

Examples of risk societies

Japan as they had 2 nuclear bombs

normal accidents

• the inevitability and normality of accident in complex social systems

Risk of humans outgrowing the earth

• at this rate we will outgrow earth by 2072

• population grows exponentially and food production grows geometrically

• The MALTHUSIAN TRAP: prediction that population growth would outpace food production = diaster

ozone

gas that protects earth from UV

• depleted by CFC, chlorine, halons

the antarctic region is the most vulnerable to ozone depletion due to thinner air

success of 1987 Montreal Protocol

1. Data on ozone depletion

2. broad-based consensus on problems, solution and costs

3. few producers

4. the protocol included trade sanctions

5. cheap alternatives to CFC

6. industrialized countries agreed to pay costs of change for developing countries

global warming

the gradual warming of the earths average temperature in both the atmosphere and the ocean

greenhouse effect

certain gases rise into the atmosphere and stay there trapping the heat that reflects off the earths surface and warming the earth

resource management

• effective use and allocation of resources

overfishing

• unsustainable fishing occurring faster than the fish population can reproduce

• high demand and low supply

short-term interests overrule

smart environmental policies

Cap and Trade

• financial market that limits the GHG effects

  • set emission caps

  • companies get permit

  • they can use up to the cap and those who emit less can trade unneeded for profits

  • over pollutants must purchase unneeded amounts from other companies

why do we need government intervention

• to change the behaviors of people to degrade less of enviro

• giving incpentives and making pay really changes behaviour