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Environmental Science

Environmental Science. 1-1 What Are Three Principles of Sustainability?. Concept 1-1A Nature has sustained itself for billions of years by using solar energy, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling.

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Environmental Science

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  1. Environmental Science

  2. 1-1 What Are Three Principles of Sustainability? • Concept 1-1A Nature has sustained itself for billions of years by using solar energy, biodiversity, and nutrient cycling. • Concept 1-1B Our lives and economies depend on energy from the sun and on natural resources and natural services (natural capital) provided by the earth.

  3. Core Case Study: A Vision of a More Sustainable World in 2060 • A transition in human attitudes toward the environment, and a shift in behavior, can lead to a much better future for the planet in 2060 Is it a story or can it be our future? sustainability: the capacity of the earth’s natural systems and human cultural systems to survive, flourish, and adapt into the very long-term future

  4. Environmental Science - What is it? • Interdisciplinary • Examines the role of humans on earth • Environment • External conditions that affect living organisms • “The environment is everything that isn’t me" • Ecology • Study of relationships between living organisms and their environment

  5. Goals of Environmental Science • Learn how nature works. • Understand how we interact with the environment. • Find ways to deal with environmental problems to live more sustainably. Different than environmentalism – social movement dedicated to protecting the environment  political/ethical (vs. science)

  6. What do we learn in Environmental Science? How the environment affects us How nature works How to live more sustainably How we affect the environment How to deal with environmental problems

  7. Sustainability • Ability of the earth’s various natural systems and human cultural systems and economies to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions INDEFINITELY

  8. Keeping Perspective… • How old is Earth? • 4.6 billion years old • Life has existed for how long? • 3.5 billion years • Persisted through catastrophes and change • How long have humans existed? • 200,000 years • To live sustainably, we have to understand how life has persisted

  9. First simple cells appear (about 3.5 billion years ago) First multicellular life appears (about 1 billion years ago) First major land plants appear (about 475 million years ago) Dinosaurs disappear (about 65 million years ago) Homo sapiens arrives (about 200,000 years ago) Fig. 1-2, p. 7

  10. From Simple Cell to Homo Sapiens How did the incredible variety of life on the earth sustain itself for at least 3.5 billion years in the face of catastrophic changes in environmental conditions? Fig. 1-2, p. 7

  11. Sustainability… or lack there of • We don’t intentionally degrade our environment • More people trying to meet their needs and wants by using more resources • Governments do this by expanding their national economies – often leading to environmental problems

  12. Solar Energy Chemical Cycling Biodiversity Fig. 1-3, p. 8

  13. Keys to Sustainability • Natural Capital the Natural resources and services that keep things alive and support our economy. • Natural resources • Useful materials and energy from nature • Natural services • Processes in nature which support life and economies • Capital • Money or other forms of wealth • Provides “income” if it’s used properly • Natural capital can support life if natural resources and services are used sustainably • BUT… many human activities can degrade natural capital

  14. Natural Capital Solar energy Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural Services Air Renewable energy (sun, wind, water flows) Air purification Climate control UV protection (ozone layer) Life (biodiversity) Population control Water Water purification Pest control Waste treatment Soil Land Nonrenewable minerals (iron, sand) Food production Soil renewal Natural gas Nutrient recycling Oil Nonrenewable energy (fossil fuels) Coal seam Natural resources Natural services Fig. 1-4, p. 9

  15. Organic matter in animals Dead organic matter Organic matter in plants Decomposition Inorganic matter in soil Fig. 1-5, p. 10

  16. Natural Capital Degradation Using normally renewable resources faster than nature can restore them Do we protect our rainforests or destroy them? Fig. 1-6, p. 10

  17. Keys to Sustainability – Understanding our Footprint • Your ecological footprint • Measurement of the amount of land and water needed to provide you with the resources you use and to absorb and recycle waste and pollution produced by that use • Calculate your ecological footprint tonight

  18. Keys to Sustainability – Avoid tipping points • Time delays exist between unsustainable use of a resource and the resulting harmful effects • Problems can reach threshold level (tipping point)  irreversible changes to natural systems

  19. Sustainable Solutions • Based on science and implemented through laws and regulations • Solutions must be socially, economically, and politically acceptable • Involves lots of compromises vs.

  20. Why should we care? Let’s ask the Lorax!

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