sustainability

1. SustainabilitySustainability

2. Core Case Study:Core Case Study:
Biosphere 2 - A Lesson in HumilityBiosphere 2 - A Lesson in Humility
 Biosphere 2 – designed to be self sustaining life-Biosphere 2 – designed to be self sustaining life-
supporting system for eight people sealed in thesupporting system for eight people sealed in the
facility in 1991 – failed – breakdown in its nutrientfacility in 1991 – failed – breakdown in its nutrient
cycling systemscycling systems

3. ENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWSENVIRONMENTAL WORLDVIEWS
AND VALUESAND VALUES
 YourYour environmental worldviewenvironmental worldview
encompasses:encompasses:

How you think the world worksHow you think the world works

What you believe your environmental role in theWhat you believe your environmental role in the
world should beworld should be

What you believe is right and wrongWhat you believe is right and wrong
environmental behavior (environmental behavior (environmental ethicsenvironmental ethics))

5. HUMAN-CENTERED AND LIFE-HUMAN-CENTERED AND LIFE-
CENTERED ENVIRONMENTALCENTERED ENVIRONMENTAL
WORLDVIEWSWORLDVIEWS
 The major difference among environmentalThe major difference among environmental
worldviews is the emphasis they put on theworldviews is the emphasis they put on the
role of humans dealing with environmentalrole of humans dealing with environmental
problemsproblems

Some view that humans are the planet’s mostSome view that humans are the planet’s most
important species and should become managersimportant species and should become managers
or stewards of the earthor stewards of the earth

6. ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL
WORLDVIEWS ANDWORLDVIEWS AND
VALUESVALUES
 EnvironmentalEnvironmental
worldviews lie on aworldviews lie on a
continuumcontinuum

7. Shifts in Environmental Values andShifts in Environmental Values and
Worldviews:Worldviews:
Some Encouraging TrendsSome Encouraging Trends
 Global and national polls reveal a shiftGlobal and national polls reveal a shift
towards the stewardship and environmentaltowards the stewardship and environmental
wisdom worldviewswisdom worldviews

8. Case Study: Stewardship of PublicCase Study: Stewardship of Public
Lands in the U.S.Lands in the U.S.
 35% of land in U.S. is managed by federal govt:35% of land in U.S. is managed by federal govt:

National Forests – U.S. Forest Service –National Forests – U.S. Forest Service – mining,mining,
logging, grazing, farming, oil and gas extraction, etc.logging, grazing, farming, oil and gas extraction, etc.

Bureau of Land Management Lands –Bureau of Land Management Lands – mining, logging,mining, logging,
oil and gas extraction, grazingoil and gas extraction, grazing

National Wildlife Refuges – U.S. Fish and WildlifeNational Wildlife Refuges – U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service –Service – protect habitat, hunting, fishing, mining, logging,protect habitat, hunting, fishing, mining, logging,
oil and gas development, grazing, farming, military activitiesoil and gas development, grazing, farming, military activities

National Parks and Recreation Areas – NationalNational Parks and Recreation Areas – National
Park Service –Park Service – mostly recreation, some mining and drillingmostly recreation, some mining and drilling

National Wilderness Preservation System –National Wilderness Preservation System – recreationrecreation
onlyonly

10. Case Study: Stewardship of PublicCase Study: Stewardship of Public
Lands in the U.S.Lands in the U.S.
 Four principles should govern use of publicFour principles should govern use of public
lands and their resources:lands and their resources:

Primary use for protecting biodiversityPrimary use for protecting biodiversity

No subsidies for using or extracting resourcesNo subsidies for using or extracting resources

Fair compensation for use of landFair compensation for use of land

Fully culpability for environmental damageFully culpability for environmental damage
caused by userscaused by users

11. Case Study: Stewardship of PublicCase Study: Stewardship of Public
Lands in the U.S.Lands in the U.S.
 Developers wish to open more federal lands:Developers wish to open more federal lands:

Sell public lands to private corporations orSell public lands to private corporations or
individualsindividuals

Slash federal funding related to public landsSlash federal funding related to public lands

Cut diverse old-growth forestsCut diverse old-growth forests

Open national parks to oil and gas drillingOpen national parks to oil and gas drilling

Eliminate the National Park ServiceEliminate the National Park Service

12. LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY
 Environmentally literate citizens and leadersEnvironmentally literate citizens and leaders
(and media) are needed to build more(and media) are needed to build more
environmentally sustainable and socially justenvironmentally sustainable and socially just
societiessocieties

This is the first step in living more sustainablyThis is the first step in living more sustainably

This is in troubleThis is in trouble
 In addition to formal learning, we need toIn addition to formal learning, we need to
learn by experiencing nature directlylearn by experiencing nature directly

13. LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY
 Follow ethical guidelines:Follow ethical guidelines:

Apply principles such as the principles ofApply principles such as the principles of
sustainability to mimic ways nature sustains itselfsustainability to mimic ways nature sustains itself

Protect the earth’s natural capitalProtect the earth’s natural capital

Use matter and energy resources efficientlyUse matter and energy resources efficiently

Protect biodiversityProtect biodiversity

Leave the earth in as good condition as we foundLeave the earth in as good condition as we found
it, or betterit, or better

14. LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY
 It is not easyIt is not easy

15. LIVING MORE SUSTAINABLYLIVING MORE SUSTAINABLY

16. Living More Sustainably on the Earth:Living More Sustainably on the Earth:
 Do not think:Do not think:

There is no hope, technology will save us, it’s notThere is no hope, technology will save us, it’s not
worth it if we can’t fix the whole world, we needworth it if we can’t fix the whole world, we need
all the scientific answers before we startall the scientific answers before we start
 No one can do everything, but everyone canNo one can do everything, but everyone can
do somethingdo something

17. Sustainability RevolutionSustainability Revolution
 Sustainability revolution:Sustainability revolution:

Increase energy efficiencyIncrease energy efficiency

Shift to renewable energy resourcesShift to renewable energy resources

Stabilize climate changeStabilize climate change

Stop destroying forestsStop destroying forests

Produce food more sustainablyProduce food more sustainably

Reuse or recycle 80% of the solid wastes weReuse or recycle 80% of the solid wastes we
produceproduce

Reconnect and work with the biosphereReconnect and work with the biosphere

18. Sustainability RevolutionSustainability Revolution

19.  ChangeChange
cancan
occuroccur
quicklyquickly