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Sustainability
capacity of earth’s natural systems that support life and human social systems to survive/adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely
Ex. Resources that are Sustainable (renewable) – air and fish in sea
Precautionary principle
choice of safety of humans and nature will overrule
The tragedy of the commons
degradation of open-access renewable resources, such as fishing boats removing fish from fishing grounds faster than they can replenish; air, water, topsoil, and species are subject to this phenomenon
Regulation and Enforcement: Implementing laws and regulations to limit resource use and ensure sustainable practices.
Privatization: Assigning property rights to individuals or groups, encouraging responsible management of resources.
Community Management: Promoting collective action and local governance to manage resources sustainably through community agreements and norms.
Environment
everything around you, including living (plants and animals) and nonliving (air, water, sunlight) things
ecology
focuses on how living organisms interact with living and nonliving parts of environment, study of interactions between organisms and environments
environmental science
broader than ecology, uses different sciences to study environment and solutions to environmental problems
Environmental Ethics
examines moral relationship between humans and environment and ethical implications of human actions affecting the world
Species
group of organisms that have unique set of characteristics that set it apart from other groups
ecosystem
set of organisms within a defined area of land or volume of water that interact with one another and with environment of nonliving matter and energy
biosphere
parts of earth’s air, water, and soil where life is found
environmentalism/environmental activism
social movement dedicated to protecting earth’s life and resources, more political and ethical than related to science
3 scientific principles of sustainability
1) Dependence on solar energy: sun’s energy warms planet, energy for plants to make nutrients and food for all other species
2) biodiversity: variety of genes, species, ecosystems, and ecosystem processes; provides ways for species to adapt to changing environmental conditions and replace species wiped out by environmental changes
3) Chemical cycling: circulation of chemicals and nutrients (ex. Through soil and water); energy from sun, waste and decayed bodies become nutrients
natural capital
natural resources and ecosystem services that keep humans and other species alive and support human economies (natural resources-renewable energy, life, air, water, nonrenewable minerals, etc.; ecosystem services-population control, food production, soil renewable, air purification, UV protection)
natural resources
materials and energy provided by nature that are essential to humans
inexhaustible resources <solar energy>
renewable resources <forest, fish, fresh water>
nonrenewable (exhaustible) resources <oil, coal, natural gas>)
sustainable yield
highest rate people can use renewable resource without reducing available supply
ecosystem services
natural services provided by healthy ecosystems that support life and human economies at no monetary cost (air purification, recycling nutrients by plants)
3 ADDITIONAL principles of sustainability
1)full cost pricing- give consumers information about harmful environmental impacts of products
2) win-win solutions- solutions that benefit the largest number of people + environment
3) responsibility to future generations- leave plant’s life support systems in a good condition as responsibility to future generations
MDC
high average incomes per person, use 70% of earth’s natural resources
LDC
include most of world’s population but only use 30% of earth’s natural resources
biomimicry
understand, mimic, and catalog the natural ways nature sustains life (ie. Shark skin,
environmental degradation/natural capital degradation
degradation of renewable natural resources and natural services from population growth and increased resource use per person; we are destroying forests, taking water, harvesting fish, littering, pollutants...
private lands
owned by individuals or business
public lands
owned jointly by citizens of country but managed by government (national parks, national forests, etc.)
ecological footprint
amount of biologically productive land and water needed to supply a population in an area with renewable resources and to absorb and recycle wastes and pollution such resource use produces
biocapacity
ability of earth’s ecosystems to regenerate resources used in a given year
per capita ecological footprint
average ecological footprint of individual in given area
IPAT
Impact (I)=Population (P) x Affluence (A) x Technology (T)
T: polluting factories, motor vehicles, pollution control, solar cells
culture affects ecological footprints
agricultural revolution (grow and breed plants and animals)
industrial-medical revolution (energy from fossil fuels and medical advancements)
information-globalization revolution (new technologies for gaining rapid access to information and resources)
sustainability revolution (live more sustainably)
exponential growth
quantity increases at fixed percentage per unit of time
poverty
people lack enough money to fulfill their basic needs for food, water, shelter, health care, and education
-poverty DOESN’T always lead to environmental degradation (some plant trees to conserve their soil) <GREENBELT MOVEMENT>
nature deficit disorder
urban environments and electronic devices isolate people from the natural world
economics
production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services to satisfy people’s wants and needs
Natural capital
resources and ecosystem services produced by earth’s natural processes that support life and economies
Human capital
physical and mental talents of people who provide labor, organization and management skills, and innovation
Manufactured capital
machinery, materials, and factories that people create using natural resources
economic growth
increase in capacity of nation, state, city, or company to provide goods and services to people
high-throughput economy
boost economic growth by increasing flow of matter and energy resources through system to produce more goods and services
low throughput economy
low waste, more sustainable
full cost pricing
include harmful environmental/health costs into prices
subsidies
tax breaks and payments given by government to companies; these can encourage depletion and degradation of natural capital
gross domestic product (GDP)
annual market value of all goods and services produced by all firms and organizations
per capital GDP
country’s economic growth per person (GDP divided by total population at midyear)
environmentally sustainable society
protects natural capital and lives on income, one that can meet needs of environment without compromising ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Biosphere 1 and Biosphere 2
Biosphere 1: Refers to Earth’s global ecosystem, where life exists, encompassing all living organisms and their interactions with the environment.
Biosphere 2: A man-made ecological system located in Arizona, designed for research on closed ecological systems. It was built to study the interactions within ecosystems and the potential for human life in space habitats.
Natural Capital
Natural Resources + Ecosystem Services
Environmental Worldviews
Planetary Management:
Belief that humans are the most important species.
Advocates for the use of technology to manage Earth's resources for human benefit.
Stewardship:
Emphasizes responsible management of the Earth.
Encourages sustainable practices to protect the environment for future generations.
Earth Wisdom:
Recognizes the intrinsic value of nature.
Promotes harmony between humans and the natural world, advocating for conservation and respect for ecosystems.
Linear vs. Circular Metabolism
linear- something that ends up as waste, circular: more sustainable bc u reuse/recycle
3 “natural sciences” and 3 “social sciences” part of EnviSci
Biology - Study of living organisms and ecosystems.
Chemistry - Analysis of chemical processes and pollutants.
Geology - Examination of Earth's materials and processes.
Sociology - Exploration of societal impacts on the environment.
Economics - Study of resource allocation and environmental policies.
Political Science - Analysis of environmental governance and policy-making.
Overall trend in human population growth over last 500 years
increasing rapidly but starting to soften due to medicine and technology
What has happened to the length of doubling time of the human population over the course of human history
decreased a little but majorly increased in past
Desc quick way to calculate doubling time
To calculate the doubling time (DT) of a population, you can use the Rule of 70:
Formula: DT = 70 / growth rate (%)
Example: If the growth rate is 2%, then DT = 70 / 2 = 35 years.
This provides a quick estimate of how long it will take for a population to double at a constant growth rate.
“economic growth”: basic ways this accomplished
increase in amount of goods produced per population, land, labor, capital, entrepreneurship
Which resources are considered “perpetual”
renewable
Relationship between potentially renewable resources and sustainable yield
there may not be a bigger supply of them so don’t deplete them
Justifications of placing value on environment
Utilitarian: benefits people, more products
Ecological: a tree has value bc of role in air purification
Aesthetic: for people to look at
Moral: respect for organisms’ right for life
Government approach that encourages pollution prevention
Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing laws and regulations that set limits on emissions and waste.
Incentives and Subsidies: Providing financial incentives for businesses to adopt cleaner technologies.
Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public and industries about the benefits of pollution prevention.
Research and Development Support: Funding for innovative technologies that reduce pollution.
Voluntary Programs: Encouraging companies to commit to pollution prevention practices through partnerships.
2 limitations/drawbacks of pollution cleanup strategies
High Costs: Cleanup operations can be extremely expensive, often requiring significant financial resources for technology, labor, and ongoing maintenance.
Incomplete Removal: Many cleanup methods may not fully eliminate pollutants, leading to potential long-term environmental impacts and health risks.
Julian Simon
what was the most value resource on earth? The human mind
Julian simon vs paul ehrlich: debate regarding human population growth
Julian Simon: Advocated for the idea that human ingenuity and technological advancement can overcome resource limitations. He believed that population growth could lead to economic growth and innovation.
Paul Ehrlich: Warned about the dangers of overpopulation, arguing that it leads to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and societal collapse. He is known for his book "The Population Bomb."
Resource Availability: Simon emphasized human creativity; Ehrlich focused on finite resources.
Economic Impact: Simon saw population growth as beneficial; Ehrlich viewed it as a threat.
Environmental Concerns: Ehrlich highlighted ecological risks; Simon argued for adaptability and solutions.
This debate continues to influence discussions on sustainability and population policies.
2 important changes that many environmental scientists think should take place in the decades ahead to truly experience global sustainability:
renewable energy sources, transportation, less pollution
Hunter gatherer societies
only took what they needed, no pollution
Industrialized Agriculture Societies
overuse resources, pollution
2 societal/environmental changes which occurred due to industrial revolution
air pollution, large scale production=more jobs
Conservationst
regulate human use/efficient use of resources
Preservationalists
eliminate human impact altogether
Hetch Hetchy
Hetch Hetchy is a glacial valley located in Yosemite National Park, California. It is known for its stunning natural beauty and was once considered for its potential as a national park. In the early 20th century, the valley was dammed to create a reservoir for San Francisco's water supply, leading to significant environmental controversy. The area is now a focal point for discussions on conservation and water rights.
How can environment be priced and sold/purchased
Ecosystem Services Valuation: Assign monetary value to services provided by ecosystems (e.g., clean air, water filtration).
Carbon Credits: Tradeable permits allowing companies to emit a certain amount of CO2, incentivizing reduction of greenhouse gases.
Biodiversity Offsets: Compensation for environmental damage by preserving or restoring habitats elsewhere.
Natural Resource Pricing: Market-based pricing for resources like timber, minerals, and water.
Environmental Impact Assessments: Evaluating potential environmental costs before development projects.
Green Bonds: Financial instruments to fund projects with positive environmental impacts.
Commons
forests, fisheries, groundwater resources
Tragedy of the commons
individuals access to public resource in own interest take and deplete resources
Garrett hardin
tragedy of the commons
Public service functions of nature
trees purify the air, bacteria decomposes waste, tree roots prevent erosion
Ecosystem services
natural services that environment provides
Direct costs
labor, direct materials, manufacturing supplies (expenses you directly apply to specific cost)
Indirect costs
rent, utilities, expenses (can’t assign expenses to specific object)
Externalities
environmental effects/social costs passed on to society
Positive externalities
Full-cost pricing
consumer pays for environmental impact of product
Marginal costs
cost added by producing one additional unit or product or service
Optimum level of pollution
intersection between marginal benefit and marginal cost
Policy instruments
techniques used by government to promote certain policies to achieve a predefined set of goals
Command and control:
exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander
Cap-and-trade
system that limits aggregate emissions from group of emitters by setting “cap” on maximum emissions
Sustainable fisheries
respects ecosystems and adapts to reproductive rate of fish to maintain balance
Risk-benefit analysis
comparison of risk of situation and benefits
Ecosystem valuation and landscape aesthetics
monetizing ecosystem benefit by using market price, enjoyment and pleasure felt through observation of scenery
Pigouvian tax
tax on mark transaction that creates negative externality borne by society
Pigouvian subsidy
used to encourage behavior that has positive effects on others who are not involved with society at large
Total economic value
provides all-encompassing measure of economic value of any environmental asset
