Page 1: Course Information

Course Overview

• 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

Page 2: Pre-history and History of Human Impact on the Environment

Early Human Societies

• 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.

Hunting Practices in North America

• 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.

Page 3: The Transition to Agriculture and Civilization

Agricultural Development

• 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.

Shifts in Production Scale

• Transition from local/regional environmental impact by agriculture to a broader planetary level marked a significant change in human-environment interaction.

Page 4: The Industrial Revolution (1760-19th Century)

Overview

• 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.

Page 5: The Great Acceleration (Post-1950)

Anthropocene Era

• 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.

Page 6: Population Dynamics and Growth

J-Curve Representation

• 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.

Page 7: Birth Rates

Definitions and Data

• 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.

Page 8: Death Rates

Overview

• 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.

Page 9: Population Growth Rate

Relationships & Calculations

• 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.

Page 10: Doubling Time (DT) of a Population

Definition and Calculation

• 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.

Page 11: Population Density and Distribution

Key Metrics

• 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.

Page 12: Economic Sectors - Primary Extractive Sector

Overview

• Definition: This sector involves primary extraction of natural resources from the environment.

• Examples: Activities include fishing, logging, mining, and agriculture.

Page 13: Economic Sectors - Secondary or Manufacturing Sector

Overview

• Definition: The sector associated with the conversion of raw materials into finished goods.

• Examples: Major manufacturing plants such as automotive facilities.

Page 14: Economic Sectors - Tertiary Sector

Overview

• 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.

Page 15: Economic Sectors - Quaternary Sector

Overview

• Definition: This sector involves data-related activities including software development and data analysis.

• Examples: Roles such as GIS analysts and data managers.

Page 16: Terms Describing Countries of the World

Development Categories

• Developed Countries: More economically stable with higher education and healthcare access.

• Developing Countries: Experience less economic stability, lower educational levels, and other socioeconomic challenges.

Page 17: Comparison of Developed vs. Developing Countries

Comparison Characteristics

• Developed: Higher incomes, better health access, and lower growth rates.

• Developing: Lower incomes and educational levels, often reliant on the extractive economy.

Page 18: Global North and Global South

Terminology in Economics

• Global North: Refers to economically developed countries.

• Global South: Denotes economically less developed nations.

Page 19: Outdated Terminology in Development

Historical Context

• Terms: First World, Second World, and Third World were common in the past but are now considered outdated and less applicable.

Page 20: Use of Undeveloped Terminology

Historical Perspective

• Undeveloped: An older term once used for less developed nations, now less favored.

Page 21: Urban vs. Rural Areas

Definitions

• Urban Areas: Densely populated, mainly non-primary sector jobs.

• Rural Areas: Low population density, often reliant on agriculture or extractive industries.

Page 22: Rural-to-Urban Migration

Movement Dynamics

• Definition: The trend of individuals moving from rural regions to urban areas, indicated by rates of urbanization.

Page 23: Economic Measures - GDP

Definitions

• 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.

Page 24: GDP per Capita

Definition

• 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.

Page 25: Poverty Rates and Incomes

Comparative Analysis

• 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.

Page 26: Measures of Human Well-Being

Human Development Indicators

• Dimensions: Includes life expectancy, education, and living standards.

• Human Development Index (HDI): A holistic view of development indicating living standards.

Page 27: Human Development Index Overview

HDI Rankings (2022)

• Key Indicators: Lists top countries by HDI showing higher values correlate with better human development outcomes.

• Sources: Data referenced from UNDP reports.