Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed for survival

Transcription

1 Chapter 1 BIOL 101 The meaning of the term environment The importance of natural resources That environmental science is interdisciplinary The scien=fic method and how science operates Some pressures facing the global environment Sustainability and sustainable development All the things around us with which we interact: Living things Animals, plants, forests, fungi, etc. Non- living things Con=nents, oceans, clouds, soil, rocks Our built environment Buildings, human- created living centers Social rela=onships and ins=tu=ons 1

2 Humans Part of nature Fundamental insight of environmental science Survival depends on a healthy, func=oning planet Our interac=ons have a great impact Humans Enriched and longer lives increased wealth, health, mobility, leisure =me But natural systems have been degraded Pollu=on, erosion, and species ex=nc=on Environmental changes threaten long- term health and survival. Environmental science is the study of: How the natural world works How the environment affects humans and vice versa With environmental problems come opportuni=es for solu=ons. Natural resources = substances and energy sources needed for survival Renewable resources: Perpetually available: sunlight, wind, wave energy Rela=vely quick renewal: =mber, water, soil These can be destroyed Non- renewable resources: can be depleted Oil, coal, minerals 2

3 More than 7 billion humans 6.7 in 2009 (text) Why so many humans? Agricultural revolu=on Stable food supplies Industrial revolu=on Urbanized society powered by fossil fuels Sanita=on and medicines More food Thomas Malthus Popula=on growth must be controlled, or it will outstrip food produc=on Starva=on, war, disease Neo- Malthusians Popula=on growth has disastrous effects Paul and Anne Ehrlich, The Popula+on Bomb (1968) Agricultural advances have only postponed crises. Garret Hardin s Tragedy of the Commons (1968) Unregulated exploita=on causes resource deple=on Grazing lands, forests, air, water No one has the incen=ve to care for a resource Everyone takes what they can un=l the resource is depleted Solu=on? Private ownership? Voluntary organiza=on to enforce responsible use? Governmental regula=ons? 3

4 The environmental impact of a person or popula=on Amount of biologically produc=ve land + water For resources and to dispose/ recycle waste Overshoot: humans have surpassed the Earth s capacity to support us We are using 30% more of the planet s resources than are available on a sustainable basis! Can we learn from history? Human survival depends on how we interact with our environment Our impacts are now global Many great civiliza=ons have fallen aber deple=ng their resources The lesson of Easter Island: people annihilated their culture by destroying their environment. Can we act more wisely to conserve our resources? Environment ç impacts è Humans Goal of environmental science Developing solu=ons to environmental problems An interdisciplinary field Natural sciences: informa=on about the natural world Environmental Science programs Social sciences: study human interac=ons and behavior Environmental Studies programs 4

5 Environmental science The pursuit of knowledge about the natural world Scien=sts try to remain objec=ve Environmentalism Environmental ac=vism A social movement dedicated to protec=ng the natural world Science: A systema=c process For learning about the world Tes=ng our understanding of it The accumulated body of knowledge Results from a dynamic process of observa=on, tes=ng, and discovery Science is essen=al: To sort fact from fic=on Develop solu=ons to the problems we face Policy decisions and management practices Technology Energy-efficient methanolpowered fuel cell car from DaimlerChrysler Restora+on of forest ecosystems altered by human suppression of fire 5

6 Scien=sts examine how the world works By observing, measuring, and tes=ng Involves cri=cal thinking, skep=cism, and OBJECTIVITY! Observa8onal (descrip8ve) science Scien=sts gather informa=on Something not well known, or Cannot be manipulated in experiments Astronomy, paleontology, taxonomy, molecular biology Hypothesis- driven science Research that proceeds in a structured manner Using experiments to test hypotheses Through the scien=fic method A technique for tes=ng ideas make an observa8on ask ques8ons of some phenomenon Formulate a hypothesis A statement that ahempts to answer the ques=on. Used to generate predic8ons Specific statements that can be tested. results support or reject the hypothesis Repeatability! Experiment An ac=vity that tests the validity of a hypothesis Variables: condi=ons that can be manipulated and/or measured Independent variable: a condi=on that is manipulated Dependent variable: a variable that is affected by the manipula=on of the independent variable Controlled experiment: one in which all variables are controlled Control: the unmanipulated point of comparison Treatment: the manipulated point of comparison Data: informa=on that is generally quan=ta=ve (numerical) 6

7 Manipula8ve experiments Yield the strongest evidence May reveal causal rela=onships Changes in independent variables Cause changes in dependent variables But many things can t be manipulated: long- term or large- scale ques=ons (i.e., global climate change) Natural experiments show real- world complexity Only feasible approach for ecosystem or planet- scale Results are not so neat and clean So answers are not simply black and white Peer- review: other scien=sts provide comments and cri=cism Guards against faulty science Conference presenta=ons improve the quality of the science Scien=sts interact with their colleagues Grants and funding come from private or government agencies. Can lead to conflict of interest if the data show the funding source in an unfavorable light The scien=st may be reluctant to publish or may doctor the results. FOLLOW THE MONEY! 7

8 Theory A consistently supported hypothesis Widely accepted explana=on of one or more cause- and- effect rela=onships Been extensively and rigorously tested Therefore confidence is extremely strong Theory of evolu=on, atomic theory, cell theory, big bang theory, plate tectonics, general rela=vity, GRAVITY! Differs from the popular meaning of theory Conjecture Paradigm shij: With enough data, a change in the dominant view Ethics: study of good/bad, right/wrong Set of moral principles or values held by a person or society Tells us how we (think we) ought to behave People use criteria, standards, or rules when making judgments Different cultures or worldviews lead to different values, which lead to different ac=ons. Rela8vists: ethics vary with social context hhp:// e.g. Arranged marriage, suicide Universalists: right and wrong remains the same across cultures and situa=ons Murder? Ethical standards: criteria that help differen=ate right from wrong Classical standard (Aristotle): Virtue Moral excellence in character through reasoning and modera=on Categorical Impera=ve (Kant): The golden rule Treat others as you want to be treated U=litarian perspec=ve (Bentham and Mill): U=lity Something is right if it produces the most benefits for the most people 8

9 Environmental ethics Applica=on of ethical standards to rela=onships between human and non- human en==es Hard to resolve; depends on the person s ethical standards domain of ethical concern Should we conserve resources for future generations? Is it OK to destroy a forest to create jobs for people? Should we drive other species to extinction? Is it OK for some communities to be exposed to excess pollution? Anthropocentrism: only humans have rights Costs and benefits are measured only according to their impact on people Anything not providing benefit (define?) to people has no value Biocentrism: certain (all?) living things also have value All life has ethical standing Development is opposed if it destroys life even if it creates jobs Ecocentrism: whole ecological systems have value Values the well- being of species, communi=es, or ecosystems Holis=c perspec=ve, stresses preserving connec=ons 9