SW

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.