1-1 Sustainablility Notes

Chapter 1Chapter 1Environmentally Sustainable Environmentally Sustainable

SocietySocietyBy Mr. “hungry” ChapmanBy Mr. “hungry” Chapman

Environmental SustainabilityEnvironmental Sustainability• Sustainability – Ability of earth’s various

systems, including human cultural systems and economies, to survive and adapt to changing environmental conditions indefinitely.

• Human actions have put long-term sustainability in doubt

It’s All About SustainabilityIt’s All About Sustainability• Sustainability depends on three key principles• 1. Solar energy

– Warmth, Energy for plants to make food, Powers water cycle, creates wind

Principals’ of SustainabilityPrincipals’ of Sustainability• 2. Biodiversity (biological diversity)

– Variety of species, many ecosystems, renew soil and purify air and water

Principals’ of SustainabilityPrincipals’ of Sustainability• 3. Chemical Cycling

– Recycles nutrients because limited supply, cycle from organisms to environment and back, needed to sustain life

Fig. 1-1, p. 5

Solar Energy

BiodiversityChemical Cycling

What Is an Environmentally What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society?Sustainable Society?

• Our lives and economies depend on energy from the sun, natural resources, and natural services provided by the earth.

• Living sustainably means living off earth’s natural processes without depleting or degrading the natural resources.

Living More SustainablyLiving More Sustainably

• Natural Resources - resources and services that keep us and other forms of life alive.

• Natural resources – materials and energy in nature that are essential or useful to humans (air, water, soil)

• Natural services – process in nature that support life like purification of air and water, nutrient cycling.

Fig. 1-2, p. 7

Deadorganicmatter

Organicmatter inanimals

Organicmatter in

plants

Inorganicmatter in soil

Decomposition

Fig. 1-3, p. 8

1-2 How Are Our Ecological 1-2 How Are Our Ecological Footprints Affecting the Earth?Footprints Affecting the Earth?

• Perpetual resource – renewed continuously (Solar energy) • Renewable resource – days to centuries (water, air, forests,

soil, fish populations)• Nonrenewable – fixed quantities (fossil fuels, metals, minerals)• Environmental degradation - exceeds natural replacement

rate.

• As our ecological footprints grow, we deplete and degrade more of the earth’s natural capital.

Fig. 1-4, p. 10

Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

• Ecological footprint– The amount of biologically productive land and

water needed to indefinitely supply the people in a given area with renewable resources

– Also includes the land and water necessary to absorb and recycle wastes and pollution

• Per capita ecological footprint– Average ecological footprint of an individual in a

given area (takes into account number of people)• China – large ecological footprint because so many people

• China – small per capita footprint each person only contributes a little

Fig. 1-5, p. 11

Stepped Art

Ecological FootprintEcological Footprint

• Ecological deficit– Total ecological footprint greater than what

the earth can support

– 2008 study: at least 30% global excess

– Humans currently need 1.3 earths

– 88% for high-income countries

– Need 6 earths if everyone lived like Americans

Fig. 1-7, p. 13

Environmentalimpact of population

(I)

Developing Countries

Population (P)

Developed Countries

Consumptionper person

(affluence, A)

Technological impact per unit of

consumption (T)

Developed Countries Have Developed Countries Have Higher ImpactsHigher Impacts

• Developed countries–United States, Japan, New Zealand,

most of Europe, some others

–19% world population

–Use 88% of world’s resources

–Create 75% of world’s pollution

Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries

• 81% world population• Middle income: Brazil, China, India• Least developed: Haiti, Nigeria,

Nicaragua• Use far fewer resources per capita

(per person) than developed countries• Smaller per capita ecological footprint

Tragedy of the CommonsTragedy of the Commons

• Environmental degradation of openly shared renewable resources

• Users focus on their own selfish, short-term gain

• Works when only a small number of users

• Big part of why humans now live unsustainably