Env sci
- 1. What is Environmental Science? The study of how humans interact with their environment Our environment is everything that surrounds us, both natural and manmade.
- 2. Environment: the total of our surroundings • All the things around us with which we interact: • Living things • Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc. • Nonliving things • Continents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks • Our built environment • Buildings, human-created living centers • Social relationships and institutions
- 3. Natural resources: vital to human survival = substances and energy sources Natural resources needed for survival Renewable resources: Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy Renew themselves over short periods: timber, water, soil These can be destroyed Nonrenewable resources: can be depleted Oil, coal, minerals
- 4. “…the earth enables our people to survive, the environment must be respected and maintained. As long as the earth remains healthy, the people remain healthy.” ( Long and Fox, 1996)
- 5. Global human population growth More than 6.7 billion humans Why so many humans? Agricultural revolution Stable food supplies Industrial revolution Urbanized society powered by fossil fuels Sanitation and medicines More food
- 6. Human population growth exacerbates all environmental problems The growth rate has slowed…but we still add more than 200,000 people to the planet each day We depend completely on the environment for survival Life has become more pleasant for us so far (Increased wealth, health, mobility, leisure time) But…natural systems have been degraded and environmental changes threaten long-term health and survival
- 7. Environmental science: how does the natural Environment impacts world work? Humans • It has an applied goal: developing solutions to environmental problems An interdisciplinary field Natural sciences: information about the world Social sciences: values and human behavior, politics, economy, etc.
- 8. What is an “environmental The perception of what problem”? varies constitutes a problem between individuals and societies Ex.: DDT, a pesticide In developing countries: welcome because it kills malaria-carrying mosquitoes In developed countries: not welcome, due to health risks
- 9. Environmental science is not environmentalism •Environmental science • The pursuit of knowledge about the natural world • Scientists try to remain objective •Environmentalism • A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world
- 10. Environmental science is not environmentalism •Environmental science • The pursuit of knowledge about the natural world • Scientists try to remain objective •Environmentalism • A social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world