MODULE 1:

Environmental Science
and
Human exist with Environment
Humans change the environment, often in ways not
fully understood
We depend completely on the environment or
survival
• Increased wealth, health, mobility, leisure
time
• But natural systems have been degraded
⚬ i.e., pollution, erosion and species
extinction
• Environmental changes threaten long-term
health and survival
Environmental Science
is a field that deals with the study of the
interaction between human systems and
natural systems.
• Natural systems involve the earth itself and life
(atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and
hydrosphere)
• Human systems are primarily the populations of
the earth.
Environmental Science
is the study of natural system and how
human both affect and are affected by
those system
study of the environment and the
environmental impacts of human
activities.
Environmental Science
The goal of ES is to…
• Learn how nature works
• Learn how the environment affects us
• Learn how we affect the environment
• Learn how to deal with environmental
problems and live more sustainably.
What is natural
resources?
Natural resources: vital to human survival
Global Human Population Growth
More than 8.1 billion humans
Why so many humans?
• Agricultural revolution
o stable food supplies
• Industrial revolution
o Urbanized society
o Powered by fossil fuels
o Sanitation and medicines
o More food
Thomas Malthus and human population
Thomas Malthus
• Population growth must be
restricted, or it will outstrip food
production
• Starvation, war, diseases

Neo-Malthusians
• Populations growth has
disastrous effects
• Paul and Anne Ehrlich, The
Population Bomb (1968)
Tragedy of Common
refers to a situation in which
individuals with access to a public
resource (also called a common) act
in their own interest and, in doing so,
ultimately deplete the resource
Garrett Hardin’s Tragedy of Common
Unregulated exploitation leads to resource depletion.
o Soil, air, water
Resource users are tempted to increase use until the
resource is gone.
Solutions?
o Private ownership?
o Voluntary organization to enforce responsible use?
o Governmental regulations?
The “Ecological Footprint”
The environmental impact of a
person or population
o Amount of biologically productive
land + water
o For raw materials and to
dispose/recycle waster
Overshoot: humans have surpassed
the Earth’s capacity.
We are using 30% more of the
planet’s resources than are available
on sustainable basis!
Environmental Science
… can help us avoid mistake made by past civilizations.

The lesson of Easter Island: people annihilated their

culture by destroying their environment. Can we act
more wisely to conserve our resources?
Environmental Science:
How does the natural world work?
Environment impacts Humans

• Therefore, the goal of environmental science

is to develop solutions to environmental
problems
HOWEVER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARE
USUALLY COMPLEX AND SOLUTIONS ARE NOT
SIMPLE!!!
Environmental Science is Multisciplinary
Multidisciplinary means that problems posed by
environmental scientist must be approached with
knowledge of multiple academic disciplines.
• natural sciences (chemistry, biology, ecology, geology,
physics)
• social sciences (geography, economics, political
science, anthropology, and demography)
• humanities (philosophy, and ethics)
Environmental Science is Multisciplinary

understanding the
phenomenon of eutrophication
requires understanding of
biology, chemistry, geology,
agriculture, geography and
economics
Environmental Science is Multisciplinary
Air pollution from burning fossil
fuels. Environmental scientists
study the product of combustion,
and to address this, they consider
the economic and political value of
fossil fuels and the biological
understanding of the effects of air
pollution on health.
Environmental Science is Multisciplinary
Economics - study of scarcity and its implications for the use of
resources, production of goods and services, growth of production
and welfare over time, and a great variety of other complex issues of
vital concern to society.
Biology - study of life
Chemistry -the branch of science that deals with the identification of
the substances of which matter is composed
Geology - science that studies the Earth's physical structure and
substances, the history of rocks, the processes that act on them and
the most economic way to use the world's resources
Environmental Science is Multisciplinary
Agriculture - the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing
crops and raising livestock.
Ethics -moral principles that govern a person's behavior
Ecology - the branch of biology that deals with the relations of
organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings.
Sociology - the study of the development, structure, and
functioning of human society and the study of social problems.
Geology - science that studies the Earth's physical structure
and substances, the history of rocks, the processes that act on
them and the most economic way to use the world's resources
Environmental Science is Interdisciplinary
Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field
because it requires input from other sciences, such as
biology, geology, physics, chemistry and even sociology
and psychology.
Interdisciplinary fields require the input from other
disciplines.
Multidisciplinary vs Interdisciplinary
Multidisciplinary: people from different disciplines
working together, each drawing on their
disciplinary knowledge.
Interdisciplinary: integrating knowledge and
methods from different disciplines, using a real
synthesis of approaches.
 Is Environmental
Science differ from
Ecology ?
How does Environmental Science differ
from Ecology ? QUESTION

Ecology is the study of the interactions between

organisms and their environment.
• One important foundation of ES is Ecology
ES is an interdisciplinary study of how humans
interact with living and nonliving parts of their
environment.
• It integrates information and ideas from the natural sciences
such as biology, chemistry, and geology; the social sciences
such as geography, economics, political science; and the
humanities, including philosophy and ethics.
Is Environmental Science
the same with
Environmentalism?
 Environmental science is not
QUESTION

Environmentalism
Environmental Science is not the same thing as
Environmentalism
• ENVIRONMENTALISM is a social and political
movement that advocates protecting the
natural world from the negative effects of
human activity.
 Environmental science is not
EnvironmentalismQUESTION

People with an environmentalist worldview may or

may not be involved in environmental activism
• ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVISM includes direct action
and life style changes to reduce humanity's
negative impact on the environment
 Environmental science is not
Environmentalism QUESTION

Although that they are not the same thing, environmental science
and environmentalism often overlap.
• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST often hold environmentalist political
views and participate in environmental activism.
⚬ Scientists try to remain objective
• ENVIRONMENTALISTS often use the findings of environmental
scientists to supports their arguments
⚬ social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world
Importance of Environmental Science
To Realize That Environmental Problems are Global
Environmental science lets you recognize that environmental problems
such as climate change, global warming, ozone layer depletion, acid
rains, and impacts on biodiversity and marine life are not just national
problems, but global problems as well. So, concerted effort from across
the world is needed to tackle these problems.
To Understand the Impacts of Development on the Environment
Environmental science seeks to teach the general population about the need
for decentralization of industries to reduce congestion in urban areas.
Decentralization means many people will move out of urban centers to
reduce pollution resulting from overpopulation.
Importance of Environmental Science
To Discover Sustainable Ways of Living
• Environmental science is more concerned with discovering ways to live
more sustainably. This means utilizing present resources in a manner that
conserves their supplies for the future.
To Utilize Natural Resources Efficiently
Environmental science teaches us to use natural resources
efficiently by:
⚬ Appropriately putting into practice environmental conservation
methods
⚬ Using the right tools to explore resources
⚬ Adding value to our resources
⚬ Making sure machines are maintained appropriately
⚬ Thorough training of human resources
⚬ Provision of effective and efficient supervision
⚬ Using the right techniques to minimize exploitation
⚬ To understand the behavior of organisms under natural conditions
Importance of Environmental Science
To Shed Light on Contemporary Concepts Such as How to
Conserve Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth. The present rate of biodiversity loss is
at an all-time high. Environmental science aims to teach people how to
reverse this trend by:
⚬ Using sustainable wood products
⚬ Using organic foods
⚬ Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse, and recycle
⚬ Purchasing sustainable seafoodSupporting conservation campaigns
at local levels
⚬ Conserving power
⚬ Minimizing the consumption of meatUtilizing eco-friendly cleaning
products
⚬ To understand the interrelationship between organisms in population
and communities
Importance of Environmental Science
To Learn and Create Awareness About
Environmental Problems at Local, National and
International Levels

Environmental problems at local, national, and

international levels mostly occur due to lack of
awareness. Environmental science aims to educate
and equip learners with the necessary
environmental skills to pass to the community in
order to create awareness.
 As an Environmental Science
student, how is Environmental
Science important in taking
care of our environment?
LEARNING TASK 1.1: ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
Humans and the environment are interrelated wherein the
environment influences and sustains the life of the human
while the human is the one that modifies the environment.
The environment provides the energy and materials that
we need for our survival. However, we took advantage of it
and unsustainably use our environment for our benefit in
which it resulted in several environmental problems that we
are currently facing right now. Create a short video
presentation, with a minimum of 3 minutes, discussing at
least 1 environmental problem showing the cause and
effect of it. At the same time, as an Environmental Science
student, provide a solution to this environmental problem.
 CRITERIA POOR (5pts) FAIR (10pts) GOOD (15pts) EXCELLENT (20pts)

Content is minimal OR there Includes essential Includes essential Covers topic in-depth with
Content are several factual errors. information about the topic knowledge about the details and examples.
but there are 1-2 factual topic. Subject Subject knowledge is
errors. knowledge appears to excellent.
be good.
Pictures are incorrect. Pictures are incorrect. Pictures are correct. Pictures are correct.
Audio is too loud or too quiet. Audio is too loud and Audio is at appropriate Audio is at appropriate
Video Quality Video is shaky, blurry or distracting volume to understand; it volume to understand; it is
otherwise hard to see Audio is too quiet to is not distracting. not distracting.
clearly. understand. Video is steady, in focus Video is steady, in focus
No text added. Video is shaky, blurry or and easy to see. and easy to see.
otherwise hard to see clearly. Some text added. Text added is appropriate
No text added. and helpful to viewer.
No evidence of original Some evidence of original Unique idea that is eye- Excellent incorporation of
Creativity/Origina thinking. thinking. catching and utilizes multiple ideas. Original and
lity specific talents. broad use of media that is
eye-catching.

Information is not clearly Some parts are clear, others The student made a few Exceptional wording.
worded. are not. mistakes in vocabulary The student communicated
Clarity It was hard to understand The student made some and grammar but there well using correct
due to incorrect use of mistakes in vocabulary and were no patterns of vocabulary and grammar.
vocabulary and grammar. grammar. errors.
Length of Video <1 minute long Between 1-2 minutes Between 2-3 minutes Between 3-5 minutes

TOTAL: ___ /100

3 Main Categories of Environmental Problem
Resource Depletion
Pollution
Loss of Biodiversity
 Resource Depletion
• Any natural materials that are used by humans
• Few Examples:
o water, petroleum, minerals, forests, and animals

• Renewable Resources
o can be replaced relatively quickly through natural processes
o Sun, water, wood, soil, air
• Non-renewable Resources (greater than 1 lifetime ≈ 80 yrs)
o replenished extremely slowly, if at all. These can be used up.
o Coal, oil, minerals.
 Resource Depletion
• A great deal of resources are needed to support the human
population (8.1 billion).

Happens when a large fraction of the

resource has been used up.
 Resource Depletion
• Coal is a nonrenewable resource. Over time, it will become
more difficult and expensive to extract.

• This graph represents world coal reserves as of 2008. It is estimated we

have about 250 years of the resource remaining at current rates of use.
 Pollution
• is a degradation or an undesired
change in air, water, or soil that
affects the health of living things.

Caused by :
• the introduction of substances that
are harmful to living organisms or
• Excessive waste, heat, noise, or
radiation
 Pollution
Much of the pollution is produced by
• Human activities and
• the accumulation of wastes.
• Pollution, whether in air or water,
can move and affect ecosystems
far away from the source.

• This map shows the areas with

the highest concentrations of air
pollution.
 Pollution
Biodegradable pollutants
• can be broken down by natural processes,
such as human sewage and food waste.
• problem when the wastes build up faster
than they can be broken down.
Non-biodegradable pollutants
• Can’t be broken down by natural processes,
• can build up to dangerous levels in the
environment.
• Examples: mercury, lead, & and some
plastics.
Pollution
Loss of Biodiversity
• is the number of different species present in one specific
ecosystem.
• NATURAL RESOURCES (All life forms)
Many species are important to humans in terms of :
1. potential economic,
2. ecological,
3. scientific,
4. aesthetic, and
5. recreational value.
Asian Ginseng (Panax ginseng)

i.e. many plants from the rainforest have

important medicinal purposes
 Loss of Biodiversity
• Only a fraction of all the species that once roamed the
Earth are alive today
• Many species are extinct.

• or the complete loss of a species, is a natural event

that can be accelerated by human actions.
 Loss of Biodiversity
• There are five known major extinction events in Earth’s
history.
• The most recent major extinction, about 65 million
years ago, caused 75% of all species to disappear from
the Earth.
• Believed to have been caused by a meteor impact.
 Loss of Biodiversity
• Assuming no catastrophic events occur,
extinctions normally occur at a pretty slow rate,
called the background rate.
• The normal background extinction rate for
mammals is 1 every 200 years.
• Scientists believe we may be in the midst of the
next major extinction event, due to human
influences.
 Loss of Biodiversity
• Threatened species
- Likely to become endangered

• Endangered Species
- In danger to extinction
 Environmental Problems
• Local
- A community discussing where to build a new landfill.

• Regional
- a polluted river 1000 miles away affecting the region’s
drinking water.

• Global
- the depletion of the ozone layer.
5 Basic Causes of Environmental Problems
1. Population Growth
2. Unsustainable resource use
3. Poverty
4. Excluding environmental costs from market
prices
5. Trying to manage nature without knowing
enough about it
 Economy and Environment
SO DO economic pressure
LAW OF SUPPLY AND DEMAND: The greater the demand for the
limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth.
OIL- As the price of oil continues to rise,
WHAT CHOICES DO WE HAVE?
 Economy and Environment
Cost-Benefit Analysis: balances the cost of the action
against the benefits one expects from it
The cost of environmental solutions can be HIGH.
A cost-benefit analysis balances

• How much will it cost

to clean it up?
• Is it worth it?
 Economy and Environment
The Result …
• Depend on who is doing the analysis.
• For example,
o Pollution control may be too costly to an industry,
o but to a nearby community, the price may well be
worth it.
o Often, environmental regulations are passed on to
the consumer or taxpayer.
Economy and Environment
RISK ASSESSMENT: How does the public perceive the
risk of the environmental problem … if we think there
is no risk or danger involved then why should we
change
If we don’t think global warming is real then why should we
worry?

If we don’t think fossil fuels cause a problem then why

should we worry?
Indicators of Development
Developed and Developing Countries
The unequal distribution of wealth and
resources around the world
influence
the environmental problems and
solutions a society can make.
Developed and Developing Countries
Developed and Developing Countries
The unequal distribution of wealth and
resources around the world
influence
the environmental problems and
solutions a society can make.
 Developed and Developing Countries

• Highly industrialized • Less industrialized

• High incomes • Average income is low
• High standards of living • Standard of living is low
• Slower population growth • Agriculture based
• Good medical care economies
• Faster population growth
• Poorer medical care.
 Population and Consumption
Almost all environmental problems can be traced back to
two root causes:
GROWTH AND SUPPORT
• The human population in some areas is growing too
quickly for the local environment to support.
USAGE AND REPLACEMENT
• People are using up, wasting, or polluting many
natural resources faster than they can be renewed,
replaced, or cleaned up.
 Population and Consumption

When the population in an area grows

rapidly, there may not be enough natural
resources for everyone to live a healthy,
productive life.
 Population and Consumption

• Forests are stripped bare,

• Topsoil is exhausted, and
• Animals are driven to extinction.

In these areas,
• malnutrition,
• starvation, and
• disease can be a constant threat.
 Population and Consumption
To support a higher quality of life,
• developed countries are using much more of
Earth’s resources.
• use about 75 percent of the world’s
resources,
• although they make up only 20 percent of the
world’s population.
Population and Consumption
Population and Consumption
Population and Consumption Drive Impact
• Erosion and other impacts from agriculture
• Deforestation
• Toxic substances
• Fresh water depletion
• Fisheries declines
• Air and water pollution
• Waste generation
• Mineral extraction and mining impacts
• Global climate change
• Loss of Earth’s biodiversity
o Once a species is extinct, it is gone forever
 Sustainability
Meeting the needs of the present
without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their
own needs
-United Nations World Commission of
Development and Environment
 Sustainability
A guiding principle of environmental science.
Living within our planet’s means…
o The Earth can sustain humans AND other
organisms for the future
o Leaving our descendants with a rich, full world
o Developing solutions that work in the long term
o Requires keeping fully functioning ecological
systems
 Sustainability
• We are increasing our burden on the planet
each year
o Population growth, affluence, consumption
• Natural capital: The accumulated wealth of
Earth
o We are withdrawing our planet’s natural
capital 30% faster than it is being
produced.
• Human population growth amplifies all environmental
problems
o The growth rate has slowed, but we still add over 200,000
people to the planet each day.
• Our consumption of resources has risen even faster.
o Life has become more pleasant for us so far.
o However, rising consumption increases the demands we
make on our environment.
o The rise in affluence has not been equal. The gap between
rich and poor has doubled in the past 40 years.
 Sustainability
• Sustainability involves:
o Renewable energy sources
o Soil conservation, high-efficiency irrigation,
organic agriculture
o Pollution reduction
o Habitat and species protection
o Recycling
o Fighting global climate change
 Sustainability
• Sustainable solutions must meet:
o Environmental goals
o Economic goals
o Social Goals
• Requires that humans limit our impact while
promoting economic well-being and social equity
-Apply science to solve problems
Sustainability
Sustainability
 Sustainability

+ +

People Prosperity Planet

 Four Principle of Sustainability
• Nature has sustained itself for billions of years
by using solar energy, biodiversity, population
regulation, and nutrient cycling-lessons from
nature that we can apply to our lifestyles and
economies.
Four Principle of Sustainability
Learning to Live More Sustainably
The main idea is that we must act
responsibly so that resources on the
planet will able to support many
generations to come
• Why Environmental Science is an
interdisciplinary study?
• What are some branches of Science that
are included within the Environmental
Science? Cite at least 3.
• Why Environmental Science differs from
Environmentalism?
3. What is the main goals of
Environmental Science?
4. Explain how Environmental
Science helps in the protection and
conservation of our mother Earth.
• Environment is everything around us which includes living and the
non-livings with which we interact.
• Environmental science helps us understand our relationship with
the environment and informs our attempts to solve and prevent
problems.
• The goal of ES is to understand how nature works, how
environment affects us, how we affect the environment, how we
can live more sustainably without degradingour life support
system and find a solution to environmental problems that we
face.
 Choose the letter of the correct answer:
1. Environmental science deals with the study of
___________
A. the study of natural systems and how
humans both affect and are affected by
those systems
B. the study of interactions between organisms
and their environment.
C. the study of life
D. the study of matter
2. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary field of
study. This means that…

A. It is limited to only one branch of science: ecology.

B. Each environmental issue is specific to only one type
of science.
C. Multiple branches of science only (biology, chemistry,
etc.) are covered.
D. Many science and non-science fields of study, such as
economics and politics, are included
3. Which of the following sciences contribute to
the field of environmental science?

A. Physics and Chemistry

B. Biology and Earth Science
C. Social Sciences
D. All of the above
4. Which of the following is correct about the term
“environmentalism”?

A. It is very science-oriented
B. It is a social movement to protect the
environment
C. It usually does not include advocacy for the
environment
D. It involves scientists trying to solve
environmental problems
5. The ecological footprint measures ______.

A. how much of the planet Earth we have

uncovered
B. The number of solar panels on a house
C. human demand on nature, i.e., the quantity of
nature it takes to support people or an
economy
D. the biologically productive area needed to
provide for everything a family uses
6. Which human activity has had the most
positive environmental impact on the
environment?

A. use of pesticides to regulate insect

populations
B. import of various invasive species
C. reforestation and crop rotation to prevent soil
erosion
D. overhunting of many predators to prevent the
death of prey animals
7-10. Enumerate
the 4 goals of ES