Chapter 1 Environmental problems

Environmental Science by Cunninghman 1. Clean Water

2. Food Supplies
Environment 3. Energy
4. Climate Change
Environment (from the French environner: to encircle or surround) can be 5. Air Pollution
defined as 6. Biodiversity Loss

(1) the circumstances or conditions that surround an organism or group of

Signs of Hope
organisms, or
Health
(2) the complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or
community. Since humans inhabit the natural world as well as the “built” or Habitat Conservation
technological, social, and cultural world, all constitute important parts of our
environment. Renewable Energy

Environmental Science Calculating Ecological Footprint

is the systematic study of our environment and our proper place in it. a nongovernmental environmental organization, has developed a measure
called the ecological footprint to compute the demands placed on nature by
a discipline that draws on many kinds of knowledge to understand these individuals and nations. A simple questionnaire of 16 items gives a rough
problems and to help find solutions estimate of your personal footprint.

● Ed Abbey said, “It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more Freedom of Information
important to enjoy it.
International Cooperation
 ● This is that we are dependent on nature for food, water, energy, fiber, waste
disposal, and other life support services.
Basis of Roosevelt’s and Pinchot’s policies was pragmatic utilitarian conservation.
● Development means improving people’s lives.
● They argued that the forests should be saved “not because they are beautiful or
because they shelter wild creatures of the wilderness, but only to provide Sustainable development, then, means progress in human well-being that can be
homes and jobs for people.” extended or prolonged over many generations rather than just a few years.

Ethics, or your sense of what is right and wrong.

Inherent value an intrinsic right to exist,

● Pinchot said, “that conservation means nothing but husbanding of resources
for future generations. Instrumental value they have value because they are useful to someone who matters.

Ethical and moral values are often rooted in religious traditions, which try to guide
us in what is right and wrong to do.
Aesthetic and spiritual values formed the core of his philosophy of nature protection.
This outlook has been called biocentric preservation Stewardship, or taking care of the resources we are given, inspires many religious
leaders to promote conservation.
● It emphasizes the fundamental right of other organisms to exist and to pursue
their own interests. “Creation care” is a term that has become prominent among evangelical Christians
in the United States.
The movement she engendered might be called environmentalism because its
Environmental justice combines civil rights with environmental protection to
concerns are extended to include both environmental resources and pollution.
demand a safe, healthy, life-giving environment for everyone.
One of the core concepts of modern environmental thought is sustainable
Toxic colonialism the practice of targeting poor communities of color in the
development
developing nations for waste disposal and/or experimentation with risky technologies
● the idea that economic improvement for the world’s poorest populations is has been described.
possible without devastating the environment. Environmental racism is inequitable distribution of environmental hazards based on
● “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future race.
generations to meet their own needs.”
LEARNING OUTCOMES ● Ethical and aesthetic concerns inspired the preservation movement.

1. Define environmental science and identify some important environmental ● Rising pollution levels led to the modern environmental movement.
concerns we face today.
● Global interconnections have expanded environmentalism.
● Environmental science is the systematic study of our environment and
4. Explain sustainable development and evaluate some of its requirements.
our proper place in it.
● Sustainable development meeting the needs of the present without
● China is a good case study of environmental concerns including
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
population growth, poverty, food supplies, air and water pollution,
needs.
energy choices, and the threats of global climate change.
● Can development be truly sustainable?
2. Think critically about the major environmental dilemmas and issues that shape
our current environmental agenda. Development can be sustainable, but it’s challenging. It requires
● We live on a marvelous planet of rich biodiversity and complex balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social
ecological systems. equality.

● We face many serious environmental problems including water ● What is the role of international aid?
supplies, safe drinking water, hunger, land degradation, energy, air To provide support to countries in need, especially developing or
quality, and biodiversity losses. crisis-affected nations. It aims to reduce poverty, promote economic
● There are many signs of hope in terms of social progress, development, improve healthcare and education, and respond to
environmental protection, energy choices, and the spread of emergencies like natural disasters or conflicts.
democracy. International aid helps build infrastructure, strengthen institutions, and
3. Discuss the history of conservation and the different attitudes toward nature at promote stability, ultimately contributing to global peace and
various times in our past. prosperity. It also fosters cooperation and partnership between
countries.
● Nature protection has historic roots.
● Indigenous people are important guardians of nature.
● Resource waste inspired pragmatic, utilitarian conservation.
 5. Explain some key points of environmental ethics.

● We can extend moral value to people and things. 2. Describe four stages in conservation history and identify one leader associated
with each stage.
Inherent value an intrinsic right to exist,
Pragmatic Resource Conservation
Instrumental value they have value because they are useful to
someone who matters. Efficient use of natural resources for the benefit of present and future
generations. This approach emphasized sustainable management and
Environmental justice combines civil rights with environmental preventing waste. Gifford Pinchot
protection to demand a safe, healthy, life-giving environment for
everyone. Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation

Stewardship, or taking care of the resources we are given, inspires Protecting nature for its intrinsic value, beauty, and spiritual
many religious leaders to promote conservation. significance. This movement recognized the inherent worth of nature,
regardless of its usefulness to humans. John Muir
6. Identify ways in which faith-based groups share concerns for our
environment. Growing Concern About Pollution and Ecological Damage

● Many faiths support environmental conservation. Addressing the growing problems of pollution, resource depletion, and
ecological damage caused by industrialization. Rachel Carson
● Environmental justice combines civil rights and environmental
protection. Global Environmental Citizenship

● Environmental racism distributes hazards inequitably Recognizing the interconnectedness of global environmental issues
and promoting international cooperation to address them. Wangari Maathai

PRACTICE QUIZ

1. Define environment and environmental science.

● Environment, the circumstances or conditions that surround an

organism or group of organisms.
3. List six environmental dilemmas that we now face and summarize how each We should be worried about economic growth in China because it affects the
concerns us. global economy. As one of the world's largest economies, a slowdown in
China can reduce global trade, impact supply chains, and lower demand for
Clean Water commodities, which can hurt other countries' economies, especially those that
Food Supplies rely heavily on exports to China.
Energy
Climate Change 7. Define sustainable development.
Air Pollution
Biodiversity Loss Sustainable development is about meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
4. Identify some signs of hope for solving environmental problems. 8. How much would it cost to eliminate acute poverty and ensure basic human
Health needs for everyone?
Habitat Conservation Helping farmers: Providing tools and training to improve food production.
Renewable Energy
Education: Making sure everyone has access to school.
5. What is extreme poverty, and why should we care?
Healthcare: Improving healthcare access for everyone.
Extreme poverty is a state of severe deprivation of basic human needs,
Renewable energy: Investing in clean energy sources.
including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, healthcare, shelter,
education, and information. 9. Why are indigenous people important as guardians of nature?
We should care about extreme poverty because it's morally wrong for people Stewards of Biodiversity: Indigenous communities have often lived in
to live in such hardship, and it impacts everyone globally. It leads to harmony with nature, developing sustainable practices that protect
instability, disease, and economic problems. We need to help because biodiversity and maintain ecosystem health. They possess extensive
everyone deserves a chance at a decent life, and a better world for all starts knowledge about local plants and animals, their uses, and their role in the
with fighting poverty. ecosystem.
6. Why should we be worried about economic growth in China?