Introduction to Environmental Science (3).pptx

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1. Introduction to Environmental Science In every deliberation, we must consider our impact on the next seven generations . - Great Law of the Iroquois

2. Environmental science is the study of the interaction of humans with the natural environment. Climate, soil, water, air, other organisms. 2

3. 1. Environmental History Fertile crescent through present day.

4. During the agricultural revolution in the fertile crescent, humans began farming. In Sumeria , similar grain production to modern agriculture: 30 bushels/acre. Sumerians heavily relied on irrigation, the application of water to soil from nearby rivers.

5. 5 When the irrigation water evaporated, minerals were left behind, causing salinization or an increase in salt content. Few crops could be grown in the salinized soil. Sumeria collapsed.

6. The salinization of Sumeria is an example of: The Law of Unintended Consequences: Decisions often have unexpected effects. Resource Depletion: Consuming natural materials faster than they can replenish. 6

7. The Industrial Revolution marked the transition to coal power, electricity, and factory production. What unintended consequences and resource depletion took place?

8. Tragedy of the Commons Pamphlet published by an economist in 1833 describing a major cause of resource depletion: Greed; individuals pursuing personal wealth at the expense of the society as a whole. Commons are resources that are shared and not owned.

9. Two small villages both consist of sheep farmers who raise and sell sheep to a nearby city. The first village has an unregulated, shared pasture for grazing. The second village passes a law assigning each farmer a fenced section of the pasture. Which is more likely to experience resource depletion?

10. Two small villages both consist of sheep farmers who raise and sell sheep to a nearby city. The first village has an unregulated, shared pasture for grazing. Which is more likely to experience resource depletion? The first village due to people overgrazing (tragedy) the shared pasture (commons).

11. Overexploitation of natural resources, pollution, and climate change are all modern examples of the tragedy of the commons.

12. The Progressive Era The Progressive Era began at the turn of the 20 th century. Greater emphasis on conserving resources and protecting land.

13. Inexhaustible Cannot be used up. Sunlight Natural Resource Classifications Renewable Will be replaced, but often at a slower rate than they are used. Soil, timber. 13 Nonrenewable Not replaced within the human time scale. Single-use Coal, oil, natural gas Recyclable Nonrenewable Not replaced within the human time scale. Can be reused repeatedly Minerals, metals

14. The Progressive Era During the progressive era, the Antiquities Act was passed, allowing the federal government to protect cultural and natural resources.

15. National Land Designations National Parks are to be kept unaltered from their original state. No fishing, logging, hunting, or livestock grazing. National Forests allow commercial logging and recreational hunting and fishing. Permit required to prevent overexploitation. National Wildlife Refuges allow hunting and fishing with a permit, but no commercial activities.

16. About 92% of public land is in the 12 Western states.

17. The same year the antiquities act passed, San Francisco experienced a massive earthquake and fire. As the city was rebuilt, a new water supply was needed.

18. The city applied to the federal government to build dams and reservoirs in the Hetch Hetchy and Lake Eleanor valleys in Yosemite. As a national park, a law would have to be passed granting the exemption.

19. Anthropocentrism Human-centered philosophy Human interests and well-being come first Advocated to build the dam Ecocentrism Nature-centered philosophy Preserving ecosystems comes first Advocated to leave the valley untouched

20. The dam was built in 1914 and is still in use today. “Where conflicting interests must be reconciled, the question shall always be answered from the standpoint of the greatest good of the greatest number in the long run .” -Gifford Pinchot, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service

21. Modern Environmentalism The modern environmental movement , starting in the 1960s, ushered in a wave of public awareness and legislation… Reducing air and water pollution Preserving ecosystems and biodiversity Promoting sustainability This movement was triggered by a series of environmental disasters in the previous decades. 21

22. In 1946, nuclear bomb testing in the Marshall Islands exposed native islanders and Navy sailors to radioactive fallout. This material was carcinogenic , meaning it increased the risk of cancer.

23. In 1948, air pollution from a zinc and steel plant caused a dense smog that sickened thousands in Donora, Pennsylvania. Air pollution is the introduction of harmful particles and gases into the atmosphere.

24. In 1962, Rachel Carson published Silent Spring , documenting the impacts that pesticides like DDT were having on wildlife. DDT is persistent , meaning it is not biodegradable and will not break down naturally. Many species of birds, including the bald eagle, nearly went extinct. Extinction is the complete loss of a species from the Earth.

25. In 1968, The Population Bomb is published, blaming many environmental problems on human overpopulation and predicting a global famine. A famine is an extreme shortage of food.

26. In 1969, oil-soaked debris caught fire in the Cuyahoga River, bringing the problem of water pollution to the public’s attention. Water pollution is the contamination of lakes, rivers, oceans, and groundwater.

27. In 1978, the city of Love Canal, New York was abandoned and demolished due to a leaking hazardous waste dump buried underneath it. Hazardous waste includes chemicals known to be dangerous to human health.

28. 28 Antiquities Act Enabled creation of National Parks Clean Water Act Restricts pollution of surface waters Clean Air Act Restricts pollution of the atmosphere Safe Drinking Water Act Testing and treatment standards for tap water. Endangered Species Act Identifies species at risk of extinction and makes plans for their recovery Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Requires safe transport and storage of hazardous waste Environmental Policy Act All federal projects must assess environmental impacts. 1906 1968 1970 1970 1973 1974 1980 1980 CERCLA Funds the cleanup of hazardous waste sites

29. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established in 1970 to enforce federal environmental laws.

30. Global Environmentalism Following the 1970s, environmentalism began to consider issues that affected the entire planet: Biodiversity loss Food production Climate Change Human population growth Economic inequality between nations

31. 2. Developed and Developing Countries The economic and demographic divide.

32. The Demographic Divide Countries are classified across an economic spectrum: Economically poor Less educated Higher fertility rates Lower standard of living Lower rates of consumption Economically wealthy More educated Lower fertility rates Higher standard of living Higher rates of consumption Underdeveloped Developed Developing Transitioning

33. Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is the monetary value of the goods and services produced per person per year. Haiti $1272/year Dominican Republic $8282/year Gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is the monetary value of the goods and services produced per person per year.

34. Total fertility rate is the number of children born to an average woman over her lifetime. Haiti $1272/year 2.94 births Dominican Republic $8282/year 2.35 births

35. Life expectancy is the number of years an average person will live. Haiti $1272/year 2.94 births 63.4 years Dominican Republic $8282/year 2.35 births 73.9 years

36. Consumption is the amount of materials, energy, and services used per person. Haiti $1272/year 2.94 births 63.4 years 36 kWh 0.28 tons CO 2 / person / year Dominican Republic $8282/year 2.35 births 73.9 years 1,456 kWh 2.15 tons CO 2 / person / year

37. Consumption is estimated with an ecological footprint , the amount of land needed to support a person or country. Forest products Carbon pollution Cropland and pastureland Build-up land Fisheries

38. Economics and the Environment Supply and demand predicts that the price of a resource will… Increase when supply is low and/or demand is high. Decrease when supply is high and/or demand is low. A cost-benefit analysis measures the expense of an action with the benefits it will bring. Hidden costs are “paid for” by people other than the sellers and buyers and are usually not included in these analyses.

39. Case Study: Bhopal Watch this clip about the 1984 Bhopal pesticide plant explosion and 2004 “prank” played by the Yes Men to raise awareness of it. Where on the developed/developing spectrum was India in 1984? What costs and benefits did Union Carbide consider in building the plant in India? Would the chemicals released from the accident be considered persistent ? Hazardous ? Why? Explain the change in DOW’s stock price using principles of supply and demand . What costs and benefits did DOW consider when creating the Human Element ad campaign instead of sending money to Bhopal?

40. 3. Worldviews The way you look at the world: attitudes, values, and expectations.

41. Environmental Worldviews Planetary Management Humans “rule” the Earth. Technology and ingenuity will prevent the loss of resources. Economic potential is unlimited. Stewardship Human needs come first but we must care for other species too. Conserve resources for future generations when possible. Prefer economic growth that does not harm the environment. Environmental Wisdom Humans are no more important than any other species. Resources are finite, wastes do not “go away”. Our survival depends on sustaining the Earth. Anthropocentric Ecocentric

42. Government policy is driven by these worldviews, and is implemented through three primary tools: Laws Explicitly permit or prevent certain actions. Taxes Require payments to discourage certain behaviors or fund other programs. Tax breaks can encourage other behaviors. Subsidies Direct payments to reward certain actions.

43. Planetary Management worldview policies prioritize short-term economic growth. Permitting drilling in Alaska National Wildlife Refuge Expansion of oil pipelines Reduction in automotive fuel standards. Removal of caps on carbon emissions.

44. Stewardship worldview policies try to balance economic growth with sustainability. Winding down fossil fuel subsidies in favor of wind, solar, and geothermal ones. Revision of Clean Air Act regulations to include new pollutants. Subsidies for public transit and efficient building construction.

45. Environmental Wisdom policies prioritize environmental protection over economic growth. Carbon neutrality for electricity generation by 2050. Banning of certain types and applications of plastics. Taxing all carbon emissions.