Environmental Science

Transcription

1 Richard T. Wright Environmental Science Tenth Edition CHAPTER 1 Introduction: Toward a Sustainable Future Copyright 2008 Pearson Prentice Hall, Inc. KEY TOPICS The global environmental picture The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment Three strategic themes Sustainability Stewardship Sound science Three integrative themes Ecosystem capital Policy/politics Globalization The environment in the 21 st century

2 The Lessons of Easter Island Discovered in 1732 Jacob Roggeveen (Dutch) Society fails to care for the environment and sustain it Population increase beyond carrying capacity Disparity between rich and poor widens Everything looks so wasted But signs of a glorious era subsist Huge Stone Statues WHERE DID 50% OF THE WETLAND IN THE USA GO? How to Prevent a Global Version of the Easter Island Disaster Understand how the natural world works Understand how human and natural systems interact Accurately assess the status and trends of crucial natural ecosystems Establish long-term sustainable relationships with the natural world

3 The Global Environmental Picture Population growth and economic development Decline of ecosystems Global atmospheric changes Loss of biodiversity Rapid Human Population Growth 76 million added per year 7.6 million added per year Basic needs must be met Most of the increase in developing world where 1.1. billion experience extreme poverty 850 million malnourished 20,000 death per day

4 Indicators of Decline of Vital Ecosystems Depleted water supplies Agricultural soils degraded Oceans over-fished Forests cut faster than they can grow Conceptual Framework for Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005) STRATEGIES INTERACTIONS 2001: Start 1360 scientists/ 95 countries

5 Global Atmospheric Changes Contributors to Loss of Biodiversity Habitat alteration Exploitation Pollution

6 Statement of the MA Board Living Beyond Our Means: Natural Assets and Human Well-being ( This statement was developed by the Board governing the MA process, whose membership includes representatives from U.N. organizations, governments through a number of international conventions, nongovernmental organizations, academia, business, and indigenous peoples. The statement identifies 10 key messages and conclusions that can be drawn from the assessment: Statement of the MA Board Everyone in the world depends on nature and ecosystem services to provide the conditions for a decent, healthy, and secure life. Humans have made unprecedented changes to ecosystems in recent decades to meet growing demands for food, fresh water, fiber, and energy. These changes have helped to improve the lives of billions, but at the same time they weakened nature s ability to deliver other key services such as purification of air and water, protection from disasters, and the provision of medicines

7 Statement of the MA Board Among the outstanding problems identified by this assessment are the dire state of many of the world s fish stocks; the intense vulnerability of the 2 billion people living in dry regions to the loss of ecosystem services, including water supply; and the growing threat to ecosystems from climate change and nutrient pollution. Human activities have taken the planet to the edge of a massive wave of species extinctions, further threatening our own well-being. Statement of the MA Board The loss of services derived from ecosystems is a significant barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals to reduce poverty, hunger, and disease. The pressures on ecosystems will increase globally in coming decades unless human attitudes and actions change. Measures to conserve natural resources are more likely to succeed if local communities are given ownership of them, share the benefits, and are involved in decisions.

8 Statement of the MA Board Even today s technology and knowledge can reduce considerably the human impact on ecosystems. They are unlikely to be deployed fully, however, until ecosystem services cease to be perceived as free and limitless, and their full value is taken into account. Better protection of natural assets will require coordinated efforts across all sections of governments, businesses, and international institutions. The productivity of ecosystems depends on policy choices on investment, trade, subsidy, taxation, and regulation Unifying Themes

9 Three Strategic Themes Conceptual framework for a sustainable future Sustainability: interactions with the natural world that we should be working toward Stewardship: the ethical and moral framework of our actions Science: the basis for our understanding of how the world works Sustainability Sustainable process: can be applied indefinitely without depleting resources or deteriorating their quality/viability. A sustainable society: a society in balance with the natural world, continuing generation after generation, neither depleting its resource base by exceeding sustainable yields nor producing pollutants in excess of nature s capacity to absorb the

10 Sustainable Development: An Ideal UN World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) Development: continued improvement of living standards by economic growth Sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs Developing countries economic development Developed/ rich countries environmental sustainability Four Dimensions to Sustainable Solutions Environmental Social Economic Political

11 Stewardship Recognition that a trust has been given Responsible care for something not owned Desire to pass something on to future generations Examples Annie Miller: River of Grass (19 / Rachel Carson: Silent Spring (1962) Stewardship at Work Green Belt Movement GBM has planted 30 million trees in Kenya Wangari Maathai receiving the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize

12 Environmental Justice or Racism? Placement of waste sites and hazardous facilities in nonwhite communities Stewardship-Equity and Justice Fight Environmental Racism with Professor Robert Bullard, Clark Atlanta University, Stewardship - International Justice Poverty in Developing Countries

13 The Nature of Science A Historical Overview Steps in the Scientific Method

14 Testing the Theory of Spontaneous Generation Rotting Meat Living Organisms Francesco Redi ( ) Observations Maggots appear on meat that is left uncovered. Maggots appear spontaneously on meat; life arises spontaneously in a variety of circumstances.

15 Hypothesis Life does not arise by spontaneous generation. Maggots on meat can be explained by some other mechanism. Experimentation Controls = natural situation Meat in open jars Experimental = alter one variable from the natural environment Meat in jars covered with cork or gauze

16 Observation Maggots do not develop when jars are covered Conclusions Maggots do not develop when jars are covered, therefore, spontaneous generation is not true. There must be another explanation. Flies lay eggs on the meat Eggs hatch Maggots come from the hatching fly eggs

17 The Cell Theory Introduction Pro to Experimental Design Testing the Hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation Introduction to Experimental Design Testing the Hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation

18 Introduction to Experimental Design Testing the Hypothesis of Spontaneous Generation Assumptions of the Process of Science We perceive reality with our five basic senses Objective reality functions according to certain basic principles and laws Causes and effects are explainable We have tools and capabilities to understand basic principles and natural laws

19 Components to the Structure of Sound Science Data: measurable Theories: explanations Shaping principles: uniformity of nature, quantifiability True or False Concerning the Process of Science? There are no controversies or arguments among scientists. Progress in science can be slow. We are continually confronted by new observations. Some observed phenomena may not lend themselves to simple experiments.

20 True or False Concerning the Process of Science Science is incapable of providing absolute proof for any theory. The process of science can be used to test value judgments. The validity of science is based on the ability to do experiments. Junk Science A thorough distortion of science that is meant to confuse issues such that the public, media, or policy makers are hard pressed to know what is true. Presentations of selective results Public distortions of scientific works Publication in quasi-scientific journals

21 Examples of Junk Science science used to further a special agenda, such as personal injury lawyers extorting deep-pocket businesses; the food police, environmental Chicken Littles, and gun-control extremists advocating wacky social programs; overzealous regulators expanding bureaucratic power/budgets; Examples of Junk Science cut-throat businesses attacking competitors; unethical businesses making bogus product claims; slick politicians; and wannabe scientists seeking fame and fortune.

22 Three Integrative Themes Current status of interactions between human systems and the natural world Ecosystem Capital Policy and Politics Globalization Ecosystem Services and Human Well-being

23 Policy and Politics Human decisions that determine what happens to the natural world and the political processes that lead to those decisions. Purpose of public policy is to promote the common good. Globalization The accelerating interconnectedness of human activities, ideas, and cultures. Health improvements Global markets Improved crop yields Dilution or destruction of cultural and religious ideals.

24 Globalization Environmentally friendly consumer goods Economic reorganization of the world Worldwide spread of emerging diseases Dispersion of exotic species Trade in hazardous wastes Spread of persistent organic pollutants The Environment in the 21 st Century The big issues Corporate accountability Globalization and WTO Trade and subsidies Climate and energy Development priorities and aid

25 The Environment in the 21 st Century If we do not change direction, we will end up where we are heading.