In your opinion, what is the most important environmental problem the world is facing right now? Explain your choice. Global warming, population growth.

In your opinion, what is the most important environmental

problem the world is facing right now? Explain your choice.

Global warming, population growth (food competition), pollution,

waste removal, resource depletion (mining), land use,

loss of biodiversity

Ecology v. Envi. Sci.

• Ecology: study of how organisms interact with each other and nonliving components.

• Environmental Science: study of how HUMANS interact with their environment (biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components)– Specific to humans

Environmental Science

• The science of studying how we (humans) affect the environment

• We don’t always have a positive affect – Environmental Science is also focused on finding solutions for the ways that humans negatively affect the environment

Environmental Science relies on a lot of other sciences…

Biology - ecology, chemistry, Earth Science, Geology

Ecology

• How does ecology inform environmental science?

Chemistry

• How does knowledge of Chemistry connect to environmental science?

Earth Science

• How does earth science play a role in environmental science?

Geology• How can geology helps us in Environmental

Science?

So what is a major force driving the conflicts between humans and their environment?

What are some of the stresses human population growth can put on the

environment? Finish the sentence…• Habitat Destruction-with more people, habitats get destroyed because…..

• Pollution-with more people, …….because…..

• Resource Depletion-with more people, …….because…..

• Disruption of Ecosystems-with more people, …….because…..

• Food Shortageswith more people, …….because…..

• Competition for landwith more people, …….because…..

• Loss of Biodiversitywith more people, …….because…..

Top Environmental Issues

• Pollution- air, water, soil• Resource Depletion• Biodiversity Loss• Land Use• Climate Change / Global Warming

Think…Who’s to blame for all these?

Pollution

Source: sap.einaudi.cornell.edu

Resource Depletion

en.wikipedia.org

Loss of Biodiversity

king.portlandschools.org

Climate Change

www.sott.net 

What is a natural resource?

• With a partner….– Create a list of natural resources humans need to

survive in the 21st century– Put a (*) next to any resources that can be

regenerated naturally (renewable)– Put a (^) next to any resources that can only be

used once and do not regenerate naturally (nonrenewable)

Tragedy of the Commons

Examples of “Common” Resources

• Air, Water, Fish of the Ocean• Consequences of “Fouling” the Commons– Pollution– Over-fishing– Overpopulation (human)

• Is there a solution?

The Environment and Society

Supply and Demand

• When supply decreases, demand (and costs) increase

• Gas Prices Over time

Developed vs Developing

Developed• Wealthier• Slower population growth• Industrialized• Social Support Systems in

place

Developing• Not as wealthy• Higher population growth• Agricultural• No social support systems,

government instability

Ecological Footprint

Lowering Our Ecological Footprint

• Ecological Footprint: The amount of land/sea it takes to sustain your current lifestyle

• With a partner, write down a list of 10 ways you can lower your ecological footprint

“Home”

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxENMKaeCU&feature=mv_sr

“Home” Discussion Questions

• How has agriculture changed humanity?Industrial revolution – many farmers lost their jobs to machines

• How has the discovery and utilization of fossil fuels changed humanity? More convenient but we are pollution the earth and we are running out of fossil fuels.

• How have both changed the Earth?

So what is the goal?

Sustainability

• Using resources in such a way that human populations can survive indefinitely.

• Now, our society is NOT sustainable– Environmental Science advocates for WISE USE of

resources

Exit Question

• The fundamental environmental issue isA. Air PollutionB. Water PollutionC. Loss of habitatD. Non-renewable resourcesE. Human population growth

The Answer is…E. Human population growth

ecology2011tamara2011sp.wordpress.com