ENVS200-wk1.2

Course Introduction

• Course Title: Environmental Science ENVS 200

• Instructor: Professor Kane

Student Learning Outcomes

• By the end of the week, students will be able to:

  • Explain the scientific method

  • Create a testable hypothesis

  • Define environment and sustainability

  • Outline the importance and goals of environmental science

  • Explain the three scientific principles of sustainability

  • Identify environmental problems caused by human activities

Understanding the Environment

Definition of Environment

• Environment (noun): Circumstances surrounding an organism or group, including social and cultural conditions.

• Components:

  • Living and non-living elements, such as air, water, and energy.

  • Etymology: "environner" meaning to encircle or surround in French.

Environmental Science

• Definition: The interdisciplinary study of all aspects of the environment.

• Focus: Understanding interactions between living and non-living parts of our surroundings.

Importance of Environmental Science

• Major Themes:

  • Resource consumption

  • Climate change

  • Hunger

  • Biodiversity

  • Energy

  • Pollution

• Future of Earth: Dependent on understanding human actions and making informed decisions to protect surroundings.

Sustainability

• Definition: Fulfillment of current generations' needs without compromising future generations.

• Components of Sustainability:

  • Balancing economic growth, environmental care, and social well-being.

Three Scientific Principles of Sustainability

1. Dependence on Solar Energy

• Provides warmth and light.

• Supplies nutrients directly and indirectly.

• Fuels natural cycles (e.g., water cycle, carbon cycle).

2. Biodiversity

• Provides ecosystem services and adaptability.

• Vital for maintaining a healthy environment.

• Different species collaborate to sustain ecosystems.

3. Chemical/Nutrient Cycling

• Necessary for life; resources are naturally replenished.

• In nature, waste is transformed into useful resources.

• Emphasizes interdependence in sustaining life.

Understanding Carrying Capacity

• Carrying Capacity: Maximum population size supportable without environmental degradation.

• Overuse of resources leads to exceeding carrying capacity.

• Many resources are finite, consumed rapidly as populations grow.

Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services

• Natural Capital: The sum total of resources and ecosystem services that sustain life and human economies.

  • Includes natural resources (renewable and non-renewable).

  • Ecosystem services are naturally provided at no cost and support life.

Human Impact on Natural Capital

• Degradation Factors:

  • Overuse of renewable resources faster than nature can replenish.

  • Pollution and waste overload on natural resources.

Global Population Trends

• Current global population: 8.1 billion people.

• Population growth projections:

  • Expected to reach 11 billion by 2100.

• Historical growth data:

  • Dramatic increases in life expectancies and declines in mortality rates since the 19th century.

Human-Induced Global Change

• Major changes linked to:

  • Industrial revolution and mechanization.

  • Population growth and resource consumption.

  • Introduction of artificial chemicals and materials into environments.

Sustainability Practices

• Necessity to live within Earth's carrying capacity.

• Sustainable Development: Ensuring present needs are met without compromising future generations.

• Popularized in the 1980s and 1990s through frameworks like the World Conservation Strategy.

Indigenous Sustainability Practices

• Indigenous peoples play a crucial role in achieving global environmental sustainability.

• Their cultures include sustainable practices that maintain balance with the natural world geared towards protecting future generations.

Environmental Ethics

• Definition: Moral principles governing individual actions and behaviors.

• Ethics impact how environmental issues are interpreted and decisions are made.

Main Causes of Environmental Problems

• Primary Factors:

  • Population growth

  • Unsustainable resource use

  • Poverty

  • Excluding environmental costs in market pricing

  • Isolation from natural environments

Concept of Environmentally Sustainable Society

• A society that utilizes natural resources without depleting natural capital.

• Economic activities must be balanced with the capacity of Earth's ecosystems to regenerate.

Strategies for Increased Sustainability

• Begin with enhancing understanding of environmental systems and interactions.