Download Lecture Outline for Environmental Problems

Lecture Outline for Environmental Problems
Group Discussion Issues for you to consider:
1. What are some indications of Global warming Speeding Up, and what are some of the possible consequences?
What are “feedback loops” (& examples) that speedup global warming (Eilperin et al. web rdg.)
2. What are some common views that downplay the dangers of global warming, and what are some responses to
those claims (McKibben et al web rdg.)
3. How might Climate Change (due to global warming) be a security threat and heighten conflicts – e.g., in over
water, in India (Broder & Wade web rdg.)?
4. What can and is being done to reduce global-warming causing pollution –e.g., in China & US & Europe, in wind,
solar, and energy efficiency? What is the role of govts. in promoting this? (Friedman & Brown, Connor et al web
rdgs., Hale rdg, in Eitzen)
5. Why is expensive gas a good thing in Norway? (Romero rdg. In Eitzen) How much oil is left in the major global oil
reserves, and what will things look like by 2030? (Connor web rdg.)
6. Overall, how are Vested Interests and Organizational Power (corporate & govt.) present in environmental problems?
A. Who pays for env. damage and who profits from it. How is pollution “cost-efficient”? (Parenti rdg. 53 in
C&V)
B. How is industrial capitalism based on flawed “accounting principles” re: the environment? What is Natural
Capital & why has it been wasted? (Hawken web rdg.)
C. How might we encourage less use of natural resources and more human labor instead of vce versa (tax
policy & changes in govt. subsidies)? (Hawken web rdg.)
7. What are 3 scenarios of the future: “Market world,” “Fortress World,” and “ Transformed World”? (Hammond,
52 in C&V)
 How is global warming related to “fortress world” scenario of the future?
 How are environmental issues handled in “transformed world”?
8. How is Population X Affluence (rate of resource consumption) X Technology related to environmental
damage? What happens to earth is developing countries follow our example in use of resources? What needs to
be done in next 50 years ? (McKibben rdg. 54 in C&V)
Lecture:
Showed Video excerpts from “An Inconvenient Truth” on Global Warming:
On Carbon Dioxide and Temperature changes over time in history, and in current era
On polar ice melt, and what more fresh melt water means for ocean conveyor system and for sea levels
On “scientific controversy” over global warming
On how to stop it / what can be done
--Brief lecture on a few key points about climate warming & dangers of (Elperin et al web rdg., McKibben et al
web rdg.) & Vested Interests by various types of organizations and institutions blocking action on global
warming
US rate consumption of natural resources (McKibben rdg. 54 in C&V & Eitzen Intro to Environment section)
Env. damage function of: Population X Affluence (resource use) X technology (McKibben rdg. 54 in C&V)
Which is more harmful to environment: Population growth or Increasing Rate of Resource Consumption?
US stats on resource consumption & population
Environmental Impact of US baby & lifetime Vs. that of child in poor country like Bangladesh...
Implications for earth if China and India implications following US econ. development model …
& how this Rate of resource Consumption issue compares to rising Population size as threat to
environment… -- McKibbon stresses importance of both, but I stressed one more so.
Lecture & group discussion report-in
Feed-back Loops & global Warming speed up – e.g. polar ice cap melt speeds up warming, methane gas release
speeds up warming (Elperin et al web rdg., & McKibben et al web rdg.) …
Natural Capital (ism) (Hawken web rdg) – definition
View of natural capital / natural resources, & view of labor in traditional Industrial Capitalism (Hawken web rdg)
Now, need for new view of nat. cap. / nat. resources, & of labor – since have less of former and more of latter
Policy suggestions to preserve Natural Capital:
Tax policy idea to encourage natural capital protection and to instead promote the use of labor (Hawken
web rdg)
[Consider how some readings points can be related to this: What is being done to reduce global-warming causing
pollution –e.g., in China & US & Europe, in wind, solar, and energy efficiency? What is the role of govts. in
promoting this? (Friedman & Brown, Connor et al web rdgs., Hale rdg, in Eitzen) Why bexpensive gas a good
thing in Norway? (Romero rdg. In Eitzen) ]
Other Things to be aware of for test (Some discussed in group discussion report-in):
What are 3 scenarios of the future: “Market world,” “Fortress World,” and “ Transformed World”?
What role do environmental issues play, esp in “Fortress World,” and “ Transformed World”? (Hammond, 52 in
Vested Interests (profits) of business encourage polluting (Parenti rdg. 53 in C&V)
Norway’s high gas prices (why? Govt. policy) & env. benefits… (Romero rdg. in Eitzen)
Alternative Energy – Wind (Hale rdg. in Eitzen) & Solar (Connor et al web rdg.) as beneficial to environment, & role of
govt. policy in promoting such energy (Friedman & Brown, Connor et al web rdgs., Hale rdg, in Eitzen)
Pollution / waste dumping as “cost effective” for companies, though increases birth defects & harms public health
(Parenti rdg. 53 in C&V)
Global Warming debate – debate over, role of media (or lack of positive role at times, promotes confusion) will not
(McKibben et al web rdg.)
How might Climate Change (due to global warming) be a security threat and heighten conflicts – e.g., in over
water, in India (Broder & Wade web rdg.)?