Title: Environmental Science and Sustainability
Course Code: GEOG 280
Module #: 2
Instructor: Dr. Giliane Rasbold
Contact: giliane.rasbold@wku.edu
Institution: Western Kentucky University (WKU)
Department: Department of Earth, Environmental, and Atmospheric Sciences
Humans as Hunter-Gatherers: Early human societies relied on hunting and gathering for sustenance.
Use of Fire: Early societies utilized fire, which altered habitats significantly.
Buffalo Herd Hunting: Hunters drove buffalo herds off cliffs, leading to excess deaths and environmental impacts.
Environmental Destruction by Early Settlers: Jackals on over-hunting led to extinction events for some creatures, significantly altering ecological balances in inhabited regions.
Settled Societies: Agriculture allowed humans to settle in one location, fostering longer community structures.
Cultural Advancements: Increased available time led to focuses on art, architecture, and religion, aiding the rise of cities and complex labor specializations.
Transition from local/regional environmental impact by agriculture to a broader planetary level marked a significant change in human-environment interaction.
Transformation: Occurred in Europe and America, shifting societies from agrarian to industrial and urban formats.
Technological Advancements: Introduction of powered machinery and mass production, significantly increasing manufactured goods.
Socioeconomic Impact: While the standard of living improved for some, it also led to vast environmental changes and challenges.
Human Impact: A shift noted after World War II denoted human activities as primary drivers of environmental change, leading to what is termed as "The Great Acceleration".
Key Literature: Steffen et al., "The Trajectory of the Anthropocene: The Great Acceleration" delineates these changes clearly.
Growth Patterns: Examination of population growth from hunter-gatherers (~2 million years ago to 12,000 years ago) leading into agriculture (~12,000 years ago).
Rate of Increase: Population growth remained slow until exponential increases began post-Industrial Revolution, especially around 1950.
Birth Rate: Number of live births per thousand people annually.
Influencing Events: Notable events influencing birth rates include the Great Depression, Baby Boom, and 1973 Oil Crisis in the U.S.
Measurement: Death rates measured as number of deaths per 1000 individuals per year.
Differences: Considerations include gender differences, biological factors, lifestyle behaviors, and cultural/social factors.
Growth Rate: This metric details the balance between birth and death rates without migration factor considerations.
Formula: Population Growth Rate (%) calculated by (Birth - Death) × 100 / Total Population.
Life Expectancy: Analysis of life expectancy involves various factors including health and lifestyle, typically averaged across demographics.
Doubling Time: Indicates the time required for a population to double in size.
Formula: DT = 70 ÷ r (where r is the growth rate).
Example: A population with a 2% growth rate would double in approximately 35 years.
Population Density: Number of individuals per unit area (e.g., #/mi² or #/km²).
Examples of Density: Census data examples include Puerto Rico and Taiwan, which have higher density compared to larger areas like Canada and the U.S.
Definition: This sector involves primary extraction of natural resources from the environment.
Examples: Activities include fishing, logging, mining, and agriculture.
Definition: The sector associated with the conversion of raw materials into finished goods.
Examples: Major manufacturing plants such as automotive facilities.
Definition: The sector that focuses on providing services vs. goods.
Examples: Includes retail, education, and healthcare services.
Current Dominance: The tertiary and quaternary sectors are currently dominant in developed economies.
Definition: This sector involves data-related activities including software development and data analysis.
Examples: Roles such as GIS analysts and data managers.
Developed Countries: More economically stable with higher education and healthcare access.
Developing Countries: Experience less economic stability, lower educational levels, and other socioeconomic challenges.
Developed: Higher incomes, better health access, and lower growth rates.
Developing: Lower incomes and educational levels, often reliant on the extractive economy.
Global North: Refers to economically developed countries.
Global South: Denotes economically less developed nations.
Terms: First World, Second World, and Third World were common in the past but are now considered outdated and less applicable.
Undeveloped: An older term once used for less developed nations, now less favored.
Urban Areas: Densely populated, mainly non-primary sector jobs.
Rural Areas: Low population density, often reliant on agriculture or extractive industries.
Definition: The trend of individuals moving from rural regions to urban areas, indicated by rates of urbanization.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The value of all goods and services in a country for a given time period.
Limitations: Focuses only on economic measures, omitting numerous relevant life dimensions.
Mean Income Measure: Average income per person, calculated as GDP divided by total population.
Comparative Examples: Shows disparities in economic statuses among countries, e.g., U.S. vs. Nigeria.
National Poverty Lines: Overview of poverty rates across various countries highlighting living standards.
Examples: Ethiopia’s poverty line and comparative rate of populations living under it versus other countries.
Dimensions: Includes life expectancy, education, and living standards.
Human Development Index (HDI): A holistic view of development indicating living standards.
Key Indicators: Lists top countries by HDI showing higher values correlate with better human development outcomes.
Sources: Data referenced from UNDP reports.