This document discusses several key topics in environmental science: - It introduces environmental problems like population growth, resource use, pollution, and biodiversity loss. Exponential population growth and limited resources are causing many of these problems. - Sustainability and living within the earth's limits to support all species are introduced as important concepts. Factors like poverty, overconsumption, and unsustainable economic growth are examined as root causes of environmental degradation. - Different perspectives on the environment - planetary management, stewardship, and environmental wisdom - are presented, with disagreement on whether current trends are improving or worsening the environment. Guidelines for sustainable resource use are outlined.

1. Shohail Choudhury Living in the Environment 14 th Edition Chapter 1 Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability Introduction to ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 1

3. Two Ancient Kings and Chess Exponential Growth A quantity increases at a constant rate per unit of time such as 2% a year. 1950: 2.5 2000: 6.4 2100: 8-12 Each doubling is more than the total of all earlier growth. Living in an Exponential Age 16 15 14 13 12 11 Billions of people ? ? ? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2-5 million years 8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100 Hunting and gathering Black Death–the Plague Time Industrial revolution Agricultural revolution B.C. A.D. 16 15 14 13 12 11 Billions of people ? ? ? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2-5 million years 8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100 Hunting and gathering Black Death–the Plague Time Industrial revolution Agricultural revolution B.C. A.D. 16 15 14 13 12 11 Billions of people ? ? ? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2-5 million years 8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100 Hunting and gathering Black Death–the Plague Time Industrial revolution Agricultural revolution B.C. A.D. 16 15 14 13 12 11 Billions of people ? ? ? 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 2-5 million years 8000 6000 4000 2000 2000 2100 Hunting and gathering Black Death–the Plague Time Industrial revolution Agricultural revolution B.C. A.D.

4. Environmental Science is how the earth works, how we interact with the earth, and how to deal with environmental problems. Environment is everything that affects a living organism. Ecology is a biological science that studies the relationships between living organisms and their environment. Environmentalism is a social movement dedicated to protecting the earth’s life support systems for us and other species. Living More Sustainably

5. What Keeps Us Alive? Energy from the sun (Solar Capital) Earth’s resources (Natural Capital) Solar Energy Air Water Soil Energy Minerals Natural Capital Population Control Nutrient Cycling Climate Control Pollution Control Waste Treatment Biodiversity Pest Control Services Resources Natural Capital

6. World’s Population is growing exponentially @ 1.25% a year About 211,000 people a day. Population Growth

7. Fig. 1.1, p. 6 Economic Growth: Increase in capacity to provide people with goods and services. Gross Domestic Product (GDP): the annual market value of all goods and services produced in a country by all firms, foreign and domestic. Economic growth is measured by GDP. Per Capita GDP: GDP divided by the total population at midyear. Economic Growth

15. Amount of land and water needed for individuals. 4 more planet earths required @ USA levels of consumption. Currently, each person’s ecological footprint is 20% greater. Ecological Footprint

19. Major problems Major Environmental Problems Biodiversity Depletion Air Pollution Water Pollution Waste Production Food Supply Problems Environmental and Resource Problems

20. Root Causes: The big five Environmental and Resource Problems

21. Poverty is a major threat to human health and environment. Poor people deplete and degrade forests, soil, grasslands, and wildlife for short-term survival. Don’t have the luxury of long-term sustainability. Affluenza denotes unsustainable addiction to consumption. Many consumers of developed countries have become addicted to buying more in their search for fulfilment and happiness. Environment, Poverty and Consumption

22. Environmental Problems and Causes

23. Our goal is to learn about these complex interactions. Environmental Interactions

29. Next Class Chapter 3 Science, Systems, Matter and Energy