Introduction to environmental studies

1. Environmental Studies and Sustainability
Systems LS123
LECTURER: MS. SHANEKA PEAT

2. MODULE 1:
INVESTIGATION OF
ENVIRONMENT
AND
SUSTAINABILITY
Explore the definition of
environment
Discuss factors affecting the
environment
Explore the concept of
sustainable development

4. EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT
• The term ‘environment’ originated from the French word environner or
environ meaning ‘to surround’.
• Environment is defined as the social, cultural and physical conditions that
surround, affect and influence the survival, growth and development of
people, animals or plants.
• The environment consists of four segments: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere,
Lithosphere and Biosphere

5. WHAT IS
ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE?
Environmental science is an
interdisciplinary field
A Study of Interrelationships incorporates
all these sources of information when
discussing any environmental issue.
Environmental science is also a global
science
While some environmental problems may
be local in nature, other problems are
truly global

6. An Ecosystem Approach
• The idea of interrelatedness is at the core of
the ecosystem concept
• Within an ecosystem there is a complex
network of interrelationships
• Large ecosystems always include smaller ones
• A forest ecosystem may cover hundreds of
square kilometers and include swampy areas,
openings, and streams as subsystems within it
• The task of an environmental scientist is to
recognize and understand the natural
interactions that take place

7. Emerging Global Issues
• Some people experience extensive flooding, while others endure
intense droughts
• Species extinction occurs at rates never before witnessed. Safe water
is increasingly limited, hindering economic activity
• Land degradation endangers the lives of millions of people. This is the
world today
• Yet, as the World Commission on Environment and Development
(Brundtland Commission) concluded in its 1987 report, Our Common
Future, “humanity has the ability to make development sustainable.”

8. Population Growth
People have the ability and tools to make decisions about how many
children they will have but for a variety of cultural and economic reasons
they often have large families
This growth puts pressure on resources and leads to the degrading of the
environment and often locks people in a cycle of poverty
The economically developed countries generally have stable or falling
populations and many encourage immigration from the less-developed
parts of the world to provide the labour needed for their economies

9. Maintaining Functional Ecosystems
We are beginning to recognize that biodiversity and functional ecosystems have
economic value, and their loss can have profound economic consequences
There is consensus among scientists that the current rate of extinction is like
that which occurred in the mass extinctions of the geologic past.
A related concern is that the loss of ecosystems results in a loss or reduction in
the services they provide.

10. Food Security
The world is divided into those who have
abundant food, those who have adequate
food, and those who often lack food
Environmental disasters such as droughts,
floods, or outbreaks of disease in their animals
or crops often result in a lack of food and
malnutrition
When people face a food shortage, food can
be shipped from those that have a surplus to
those that need food
A related problem is that the people who need
food often must migrate to areas where food is
being distributed

11. Environmental
Governance
Despite a greater understanding of the
ties between environment and
development, real progress toward
sustainable development has been slow
A good example of this disconnect is the
continued building of housing on
coastlines and floodplains that are
subject to flooding
If environmental disasters affect crops,
people go hungry. the link between
destruction of coastal wetlands and the
increased vulnerability of coastal
communities to storms

12. Environment and Health
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), almost one-quarter of all
diseases are caused by environmental exposure
WHO estimates that 13 million deaths worldwide could be prevented every year
by environmental improvement
Environmental risks including air and water pollution, hazards in the workplace,
traffic-related injuries, ultraviolet radiation, noise, and climate and ecosystem
change all need to be addressed to generate better global health.

13. Air Pollution
A serious problem in much of the developing world
In many urban areas the general public is exposed to
poor air quality that results from unregulated
industrial sources and vehicles with poor pollution
control devices
In addition, many people are exposed to high levels of
air pollution in their workplaces, and people are
exposed in their homes because burning of wood for
cooking and heating releases wood smoke
Common diseases related to air pollution are
pneumonia, emphysema, and bronchitis, which are
responsible for about 6 million deaths per year

14. Water
Pollution
Results from industrial and municipal releases of
pollutants into waterways.
When untreated human wastes contaminate
water, disease organisms are easily spread from
person to
Diarrhea that results from contaminated drinking
water causes dehydration and malnutrition and
leads to nearly 2 million deaths per year.
The majority of deaths occur in children.

15. Malaria
Is caused by a protozoan parasite carried by
mosquitos
Programs to protect people from being bitten by
infected mosquitos have eliminated the disease in
much of the developed world
However, it still results in over half a million deaths
per year primarily in children in Sub-Saharan Africa
Breaking the cycle of disease involves altering the
environment so that mosquitos have fewer breeding
places and preventing people from being bitten by
mosquitos.

16. Accidents
In the home and workplace and those that result
from traffic cause about 900,000 deaths per year
Over half the accidental deaths result from traffic
accidents.
In much of the less-developed world, road
conditions are poor
Vehicles are poorly maintained
The mix of pedestrians, bicycles, animals pulling
carts, and motor vehicles on roads and streets
results in many accidents

17. Cancer and
Coronary
Heart
Disease
Causes about 4 million deaths per year
They are common throughout the world but are most
prevalent in developed countries
The environmental causes of these diseases are varied
but include exposure to cigarette smoke, exposure to
ultraviolet light, and the kinds and amounts of foods
eaten
Obesity is a contributing cause

18. Emerging
Diseases
Result from new organisms or those that become a
problem because of environmental changes
Since 1980, more than 35 infectious diseases have
emerged or taken on new importance
Often these diseases result from interactions
between animals and humans that result in the
transfer of animal diseases to humans
The AIDS virus and several flu viruses are examples
In other cases, human changes to the environment
lead to changes in organisms that make them more
deadly

19. Environment
and Security
A person’s security incorporates
economic, political, cultural, social, and
environmental aspects
Environmental resources are a critical
part of the livelihoods of millions of
people
When these resources are threatened
through environmental change, people’s
security is also threatened
Human migration and urbanization have
complex relationships with
environmental change

20. Environment
and
Globalization
Countries may be reluctant to enforce strict
environmental laws, fearing that companies
will relocate
However, it is often forgotten that the
environment itself can have an impact on
globalization
Resources fuel global economic growth and
trade
Solutions to environmental crises, such as
climate change, require coordinated global
action and greater globalization of governance

21. Energy and
the
Environment
The world is facing twin threats: inadequate and
insecure supplies of energy at affordable prices, and
environmental damage due to overconsumption of
energy
During the 10-year period from 2003 to 2012, world
energy consumption increased by 25 percent
Most of this increase came from countries with
developing economies in Asia and South America
Traditional biomass (firewood and dung) remains an
important energy source in developing countries,
where 2.1 billion people rely on it for heating and
cooking

22. Objectives of
Environmental
Studies
Acquire the skills for identifying and solving environmental
problems
Acquire
Participate in improvement and protection of the environment
Participate
in
Develop the ability to evaluate measures for the improvement
and protection of environment
Develop
Acquire an attitude of concern for the environment
Acquire
Gain a variety of experiences and acquire a basic understanding
and knowledge about the environment and its allied problems.
Gain

23. Importance of Environmental Studies
(i) It directs attention towards the unlimited exploitation of environment (nature) by humans for greed
or for the sake of development
(ii) It generates concern for the changing environment, population explosion and throws light on the
methods of solution
(iii) It helps to understand different food chains and to find ways and means to maintain ecological
balance
(iv) It helps in the maintenance of healthy life. Through improved health of people, economic
productivity gets increased
(v) It imparts knowledge about conservation of energy and reducing material dependence
(vi) It helps in developing social responsibility towards protection of environment and control of
environmental pollution.
(vii) It helps in appreciating and enjoying nature and working towards sustainable development

24. FACTORS AFFECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
• Humans impact the physical environment in many ways:
overpopulation, pollution, and deforestation.
• Changes like these have triggered climate change, soil erosion,
poor air quality, and undrinkable water.

25. Overpopulation
The term overpopulation is used to describe a situation in which the
world or area has a population so large that the people there are
suffering as a result.
In other words, the population exceeds the region or planet's
carrying capacity--the number of people, other living organisms, or
crops that can be supported without environmental degradation.
Their suffering may include a shortage of food, limited access to
healthcare and other public services, overcrowding, and high
unemployment.

26. • A growing agricultural base to feed an
expanding world population comes
with its own complications
• As the global population increases,
more food is needed
• Such measures may be met through
more intensive farming, or through
deforestation to create new
farmlands, which in turn can have
negative outcomes
• Agriculture is responsible for about 80
percent of deforestation, worldwide
Farming Impacts

27. Pollution
Air pollution
Water pollution
Soil pollution
Noise pollution

28. Air Pollution
The impact of air pollution
ranges from:
• Increased risk of respiratory
illness and cardiovascular
problems
• Increased risk of skin diseases
• May increase the risk of cancer
• Global warming
• Acid rain
• Ozone depletion
• Hazards to wildlife

29. Water
Pollution
Significant causes
of water
pollution include:
Dumping solid
wastes in water
bodies
Disposing
untreated
industrial sewage
into water bodies
Human and
animal wastes
Agricultural
runoff containing
pesticides and
fertilisers
Disruption of the
ecosystem
Threats to
marine life
Increased risk of
water-borne
diseases
Increases toxic
chemicals (such
as mercury) in
water bodies

30. Soil Pollution
Improper
industrial waste
disposal
Oil Spills
Acid rain which is
caused by air
pollution
Mining activities
Intensive farming
and agrochemicals
(like fertilisers and
pesticides)
Industrial
accidents

31. Noise Pollution- Contributors
Industry-oriented
noises such as heavy
machines, mills,
factories, etc.
Transportation
noises from
vehicles,
aeroplanes, etc.
Construction noises
Noise from social
events
(loudspeakers,
firecrackers, etc.)
Household noises
(such as mixers, TV,
washing machines,
etc.)

32. Noise Pollution- Effects
Hearing loss
Sleeping
disorders
Hypertension
(high BP)
Communication
problems

33. Deforestation
• Deforestation in turn leads to a reduced ability to capture
CO2, thus exasperating the greenhouse gas problem
• Deforestation is also strongly associated with loss of
habitat and extinctions
• Another 14 percent is attributed to logging, 5 percent to
firewood collection, and the balance resulting from other
causes
• Human population increase is related to all these
deforestation pressures
•

34. SUSTAINABILITY
• The Brundtland Commission first defined sustainable development as
development that “meets the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs”
(WCED 1987)
• The National Academy of Sciences states that sustainability science
addresses “the interactions between natural and social systems and
how those interactions affect the challenge of sustainability:
meeting the needs of present and future generations while
substantially reducing poverty and conserving the planet’s life
support systems”

35. Sustainability
Component
• “There is enough in the world
for everyone’s need, but not
enough for everyone’s greed.”
• Three Ps (people, prosperity,
and the planet)
• We cannot have a healthy,
sustainable economy without
a sustainable society

36. Sustainability
Component
One measure of well-being is the accumulated
amounts of economic capital, social capital, and
natural capital
All three types of capital provide for our well-being
and help meet our needs, and therefore are critical
components of sustainability
Therefore, to meet present needs without
compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs, we must preserve economic,
social, and natural capital for future generations
Preserving capital requires maintaining or increasing
economic, environmental, and social security, which
reduces risk and increases resilience

37. Sustainability
Component
A system is a set of interacting or
interdependent components forming an
integrated whole. Examples of systems include
national and global economies, social
communities and civilizations, and ecosystems
For example, a coastal community can increase
its resilience by evaluating current and future
risks from hurricanes and then implementing
policies that ensure future development does not
increase risks
They can also develop emergency plans, build
hurricane shelters, expand the capacity of
evacuation routes, purchase hazard insurance for
government assets, and set up an emergency
fund to cover economic costs.

38. Sustainability
Component
Full cost accounting (FCA), also known as triple
bottom line accounting, is used to keep track of all
three forms of capital and to identify sustainable
purchasing and policy options
Keeping the rate of capital consumption (demand)
less than or equal to the rate of capital production
(supply) grows or preserves capital
Sustainable strategies maintain economic, social,
and natural capital through effective use,
protection, and diversification of assets
For example, we can increase social capital by
building effective social institutions such as schools
and hospitals

39. Types Of Sustainability
Weak sustainability assumes that
substituting one form of capital for
another is possible, that is, we can
compensate for a reduction in one
type of capital (typically natural
capital) with an increase in
another type of capital (typically
e.g., economic capital)
Strong sustainability argues that
substitution is not always possible
between different types of
capital, and therefore that we
must maintain economic, social,
and natural capital stocks
independently