Environmental Problems Their Causes & SustainabilityAUA

7/30/2019 Environmental Problems Their Causes & SustainabilityAUA

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Environmental Problems,Environmental Problems,

Their Causes, andTheir Causes, and

SustainabilitySustainability

Environmental Problems, Their Causes,Environmental Problems, Their Causes,

and Sustainabilityand Sustainability

Main themes:Main themes:--

What keeps us alive? What is anWhat keeps us alive? What is an

environmentally sustainable society?environmentally sustainable society?

What is the difference between economicWhat is the difference between economic

growth, economic development, andgrowth, economic development, and

environmentally sustainable economicenvironmentally sustainable economic

development?development?

Environmental Problems, Their Causes,Environmental Problems, Their Causes,

and Sustainabilityand Sustainability (cont(contd)d)

What are the harmful environmental effects ofWhat are the harmful environmental effects of

poverty and affluence?poverty and affluence?

What three major human cultural changesWhat three major human cultural changes

have taken place since humans arrived?have taken place since humans arrived? What are the four scientific principles ofWhat are the four scientific principles of

sustainability and how can we use them andsustainability and how can we use them and

shared visions to build more environmentallyshared visions to build more environmentally

sustainable and just societies during thissustainable and just societies during this

century?century?


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Fig. 1-1, p. 6

IndustrialRevolution

?

Agricultural revolutionHunting andGathering

Bi

llion

so

fp

eo

ple

Time

Black Deaththe Plague

LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY

the study of how the earth works, how wethe study of how the earth works, how we

interact with the earth and how to deal withinteract with the earth and how to deal withenvironmental problems.environmental problems.Figure 1Figure 1--22

What is Environmental Science?What is Environmental Science?

The goals of environmental science are toThe goals of environmental science are to

learn:learn:

how nature works.how nature works.

how the environment effects us.how the environment effects us. how we effect the environment.how we effect the environment.

how we can live morehow we can live more sustainablysustainably withoutwithout

degrading our lifedegrading our life--support system.support system.


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Sustainability, is the ability of earthSustainability, is the ability of earths variouss varioussystems to survive and adapt tosystems to survive and adapt toenvironmental conditions indefinitely.environmental conditions indefinitely.

The steps to sustainability must beThe steps to sustainability must besupported by sound science.supported by sound science.

Figure 1Figure 1--33

Sustainability: The Integrative ThemeSustainability: The Integrative Theme

Environmentally Sustainable SocietiesEnvironmentally Sustainable Societies

meets basic needs of its people in a justmeets basic needs of its people in a just

and equitable manner without degrading theand equitable manner without degrading thenatural capital that supplies these resources.natural capital that supplies these resources.Figure 1Figure 1--44

Fig. 1-4, p. 9

+=NATUR AL RESOURCES N ATUR AL S ERVICES

NATURAL CAPITAL NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES

Air Air purification

Water purification

Water storage

Soil renewal

Nutrient recycling

Food productionConservation ofbiodiversity

Wildlife habitat

Grassland andforest renewal

Waste treatment

Climate control

Population control(species interactions

Pest Control

NATURAL CAPITAL = +

Water

Soil

Land

Nonrenewableminerals(iron, sand)

Life (Biodiversity)

Renewable energysun, wind, waterflows

Nonrenewableenergy (fossil fuels,nuclear power)

NATURAL RESOURCES NATURAL SERVICES


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POPULATION GROWTH,POPULATION GROWTH,

ECONOMIC GROWTH, ANDECONOMIC GROWTH, AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Economic growth provides people with moreEconomic growth provides people with more

goods and services.goods and services.

Measured in gross domestic product (GDP) andMeasured in gross domestic product (GDP) and

purchasing power parity (PPP).purchasing power parity (PPP).

Economic development uses economicEconomic development uses economic

growth to improve living standards.growth to improve living standards.

The worldThe worlds countries economic statuss countries economic status

(developed vs. developing) are based on their(developed vs. developing) are based on their

degree of industrialization and GDPdegree of industrialization and GDP--PPP.PPP.

Comparison of developed and developingComparison of developed and developing

Fig. 1-5, p. 11

Percentage of World's

Population

Developing countriesDeveloped countries

Pollution

and waste

Resource

use

Wealth andIncome

PopulationGrowth

18

82

0.1

1.5

85

15

12

75

25

88

Fig. 1-6, p. 11


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RESOURCESRESOURCES

PerpetualPerpetual:: On a human time scale areOn a human time scale are

continuous.continuous.

RenewableRenewable:: On a human time scale can beOn a human time scale can be

replenished rapidly (e.g. hours to severalreplenished rapidly (e.g. hours to several

decades).decades).

NonrenewableNonrenewable:: On a human time scale areOn a human time scale are

in fixed supply.in fixed supply.

Nonrenewable ResourcesNonrenewable Resources

Exist as fixed quantityExist as fixed quantity Becomes economically depleted.Becomes economically depleted.

Recycling and reusing extendsRecycling and reusing extends

supplysupply Recycling processes waste material intoRecycling processes waste material into

new material.new material.

Reuse is using a resource over again inReuse is using a resource over again in

the same form.the same form.


Our Ecological FootprintOur Ecological Footprint

HumanityHumanitys ecologicals ecological

footprint has exceededfootprint has exceeded

earths ecologicalearths ecological

capacity.capacity. Figure 1Figure 1--77


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Fig. 1-7a, p. 13

Total Footprint (million hectares) andShare of Global Ecological Capacity (%)

United States2,810 (25%)

European Union2,160 (19%)

China2,050 (18%)

India 780 (7%)

Japan 540 (5%)

Fig. 1-7b, p. 13

Footprint Per Person

(hectares per person)

United States 9.7

4.7European Union

1.6China

India

Japan

0.8

4.8

Fig. 1-7c, p. 13

Numbe

rofEarths

Huma

nity's

Ecologica

lFootp

rint

Earths

EcologicalCapacity

Year


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POLLUTIONPOLLUTION Found at high enough levels in theFound at high enough levels in the

environment to cause harm toenvironment to cause harm to

organisms.organisms.

Point sourcePoint source NonpointNonpoint sourcesource


PollutionPollution

Pollutants can have three types of unwantedPollutants can have three types of unwanted

effects:effects:

Can disrupt / degrade lifeCan disrupt / degrade life--support systems.support systems.

Can damage health and property.Can damage health and property.

Can create nuisances such as noise andCan create nuisances such as noise and

unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.unpleasant smells, tastes, and sights.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:

CAUSES AND CONNECTIONSCAUSES AND CONNECTIONS

The major causes of environmentalThe major causes of environmental

problems are:problems are:

Population growthPopulation growth

Wasteful resource useWasteful resource use

PovertyPoverty

Poor environmental accountingPoor environmental accounting

Ecological ignoranceEcological ignorance


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Fig. 1-10, p. 17

Depletion ofnonrenewable resources

SOLAR

CAPITAL

Human Capital HumanEconomic

andCulturalSystems

Pollution and waste

Degradation ofrenewable resources

Heat

Goods and services

Natural Capital

EARTH

Natural capital degradationNatural capital degradation

The exponential increasing flow of materialThe exponential increasing flow of materialresources through the worldresources through the worlds economics economic

systems depletes, degrades and pollutes thesystems depletes, degrades and pollutes theenvironment.environment.Figure 1Figure 1--1111

Solutions: Prevention vs. CleanupSolutions: Prevention vs. Cleanup

Problems with relying on cleanup:Problems with relying on cleanup:

Temporary bandage without improvements inTemporary bandage without improvements in

control technology.control technology.

Often removes a pollutant from one part of theOften removes a pollutant from one part of the

environment to cause problems in another.environment to cause problems in another.

Pollutants at harmful levels can cost too much toPollutants at harmful levels can cost too much to

reduce them to acceptable levels.reduce them to acceptable levels.


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Poverty and Environmental ProblemsPoverty and Environmental Problems

1 of 3 children1 of 3 children

under 5, sufferunder 5, suffer

from severefrom severemalnutrition.malnutrition.

Figure 1Figure 1--12 and 112 and 1--1313

Fig. 1-12, p. 18

1.1 billion (17%)

1.1 billion (17%)

1.1 billion (17%)

Enough foodfor good health

Adequatehealth care

Clean drinkingWater

Enough fuel forheating and

cooking

Electricity

AdequateSanitation

Number of people

(% of world's population)Lack ofaccess to

1.6 billion (25%)

2 billion (31%)

2.4 billion (37%)

Resource Consumption andResource Consumption and

Environmental ProblemsEnvironmental Problems

UnderconsumptionUnderconsumption

OverconsumptionOverconsumption

AffluenzaAffluenza: unsustainable addiction to: unsustainable addiction tooverconsumptionoverconsumption and materialism.and materialism.


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Connections between EnvironmentalConnections between Environmental

Problems and Their CausesProblems and Their Causes


CULTURAL CHANGES AND THECULTURAL CHANGES AND THE

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolution

Allowed people to stay in one place.Allowed people to stay in one place.

IndustrialIndustrial--medical revolutionmedical revolution

Led shift from rural villages to urban society.Led shift from rural villages to urban society.

Science improved sanitation and disease control.Science improved sanitation and disease control.

InformationInformation--globalization revolutionglobalization revolution

Rapid access to information.Rapid access to information.

Which singleWhich single

advantage andadvantage and

disadvantage aredisadvantage arethe most important?the most important?



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SUSTAINABILITY ANDSUSTAINABILITY AND

ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWSENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS

Technological optimists:Technological optimists:

suggest that human ingenuity will keep thesuggest that human ingenuity will keep theenvironment sustainable.environment sustainable.

Environmental pessimists:Environmental pessimists:

overstate the problems where our environmentaloverstate the problems where our environmental

situation seems hopeless.situation seems hopeless.

How Would You Vote?How Would You Vote?

Is the society you live in on an unsustainableIs the society you live in on an unsustainablepath?path? a. Yes: Without readily available green productsa. Yes: Without readily available green products

and services, converting to a sustainable societyand services, converting to a sustainable societyis unrealistic.is unrealistic.

b. Not entirely: I'm doing what I can to improveb. Not entirely: I'm doing what I can to improvesustainability, including recycling and using lesssustainability, including recycling and using lessenergy.energy.

Four Scientific Principles ofFour Scientific Principles of

Sustainability: Copy NatureSustainability: Copy Nature

Reliance on SolarReliance on Solar

EnergyEnergy BiodiversityBiodiversity

Population ControlPopulation Control

Nutrient RecyclingNutrient Recycling



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Aldo LeopoldAldo Leopolds Environmental Ethicss Environmental Ethics

Individuals matter.Individuals matter.

land is to be lovedland is to be lovedand respected is anand respected is an

extension of ethics.extension of ethics.

We abuse landWe abuse land

because we regard itbecause we regard it

as a commodityas a commodity

Figure 1Figure 1--AA

Implications of the Four Scientific Principles ofImplications of the Four Scientific Principles of

SustainabilitySustainability

Figures 1Figures 1--17 and 117 and 1--1818

Fig. 1-18, p. 25

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