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Science and the
Environment
An Introduction to Environmental
Science
Ch. 1
Section 1.1
UNDERSTANDING OUR
ENVIRONMENT
What is Environmental
Science?
The study of human interactions
with the environment
• The key goal of
Environmental Science is
to achieve sustainability
–Human needs are met in
such a way the
population can last
indefinitely
How can science help us
understand and solve
environmental
problems?
Goals of Environmental
Science
• To understand and solve
environmental problems
– study interactions
between people and the
environment
•Use of natural resources
•How we alter our env.
Fields of study involved in
Environmental Science
• Biology
– ZOOLOGY, BOTANY, MICROBIOLOGY, ECOLOGY
• EARTH SCIENCE
– GEOLOGY, PALEONTOLOGY, CLIMATOLOGY,
HYDROLOGY
• PHYSICS
– ENGINEERING
• CHEMISTRY
– BIOCHEM., GEOCHEM
• SOCIAL SCIENCES
– GEOGRAPHY, ANTHROPOLOGY, SOCIOLOGY
Is environmental
change a new
problem?
How have past civilizations
changed their environments?
• Hunter-gathers
– HUNTED ANIMALS TO EXTINCTION
– DESTROYED HABITAT
• Agricultural Revolution
– Overworked soil
– Increased pressure on local env.
• Industrial Revolution
– Increased use of fossil fuels
Affect of population growth
• Need more food
• Need more space
The Earth is a closed
system
What does this mean?
Main Environmental
Problems
• Resource depletion
–Renewable vs nonrenewable
• Pollution
• Loss of Biodiversity
Section 1.2
ENVIRONMENT AND
SOCIETY
Economics and the
Environment
What influences how we use
our natural resources?
• Supply and Demand
– States that the greater the demand for a
limited supply of something the more
the product is worth
– Costs and Benefits
• maintaining a healthy environment
and Fixing environmental problems
costs $$$
• Ex. Do we pay more a product that is
environmentally friendly or buy the
cheaper product without
environmental safeguards?
–Risk Assessment
•Cost of any action is the risk of an
undesirable action
Developed vs Developing
Countries
Actions by other countries affect our
environment
Developed countries- higher average income, slower
pop. Growth, strong economy (US, Canada, Japan)
vs.
Developing countries – lower incomes, high pop rates
(Brazil, China, India)
• Different consumption patterns affect the environment
differently
Which one causes greater harm to the environment?
Population and
Consumption
Almost all environmental
problems are caused by
- population increase
•Local Population
Pressures
– local resources cannot
support a growing
population
• Consumption Trends
– As a country develops they consume
more resources
• Developed nations use 75% of the world’s
resources
– Creates wastes and pollution
• Ecological Footprints
– The area of the earth’s
productive surface, both
land and sea, that it takes
to support a person’s or a
population's lifestyle
Ecological footprints include:
• Natural resources needed from the
environment
• Space for infrastructure
• Recreation
• Waste disposal
• What is your footprint?
• video
What impact does the food we eat have on
the environment??
• Raise your hand if you have eaten a
cheeseburger in the last week.
Read Hamburger, Fries, and a cola
Circle or highlight the following as you read:
• Resources required to produce the meal
• Impacts to the environment and people
• Cheeseburger footprint
Environment Science in Context
• Environmental problems are complex
• Rights of individuals and property owners
with the needs of society-is there a
balance?
• People are passionate on either side
• Be open to different view points
• The KEY is achieving sustainability!!