Environmental Issues. Approaches to Environmental Science. Environmental Issues, natural capital degradation. Approaches to Environmental Science

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Claude Maxwell
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1 Environmental Issues Approaches to Environmental Science UW Environmentally-Related Undergrad Programs: The Program on the Environment Environmental Studies Certificate In Restoration Ecology College of Forest Resources Environmental Science and Resource Management Paper Science and Engineering College of Ocean and Fishery Sciences The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences School of Oceanography Approaches to Environmental Science Environmental Issues, natural capital degradation UW Environmentally-Related Undergrad Programs: College of Architecture and Urban Planning Community and Environmental Planning Landscape Architecture College of Arts and Sciences Atmospheric Sciences Earth and Space Sciences Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Environmental and Conservation Biology Geography: Emphasis in Society and Environment College of Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering School of Public Health and Community Medicine Environmental Health NATURAL CAPITAL NATURAL RESOURCES Air Water Soil Land Biodiversity Nonrenewable minerals Renewable energy sources Nonrenewable energy sources + NATURAL SERVICES Air purification Water purification Water storage Soil renewal Nutrient cycling Food production Wildlife habitat Waste treatment Climate control Pest control 1. Population 1. Population Sources: IPCC Special Report, CIA factbook Sources: IPCC Special Report, CIA factbook 1

Approaches to Environmental Science Environmental Issues, natural capital degradation UW Environmentally-Related Undergrad Programs: College of Architecture and Urban Planning Community and

2 2. Poverty 95% of people live on <$10/day 2. Poverty Income difference, richest and poorest countries 3:1 in :1 in :1 in :1 in :1 in 1992 Lack of access to, # people (% world s population) Adequate sanitation, 2.4 billion (37%) Enough fuel for heating, cooking, 2 billion (31%) Electricity, 1.6 billion (25%) Clean drinking water, 1.1 billion (17%) Adequate health care, 1.1 billion (17%) Enough food for good health, 1.1 billion (17%) Source: World Bank Source: World Bank Total Footprint (million hectares) and Share of Global Ecological Capacity (%) US, 2,810 (25%) EU, 2,160 (19%) China, 2,050 (18%) India, 780 (7%) Japan, 540 (5%) Source: Prentice Hall Source: World Bank Global hectares per person Biocapacity Footprint Average per person Ecological Footprint (world) 2

4 billion (37%) Enough fuel for heating, cooking, 2 billion (31%) Electricity, 1.6 billion (25%) Clean drinking water, 1.1 billion (17%) Adequate health care, 1.

3 Ecological footprint (# of Earths) World biocapacity Demand Ecological Creditor (countries with reserves) > 50% of biocapacity < 50% of biocapacity Ecological Deficit (countries in debt) < 50% of biocapacity > 50% of biocapacity World Ecological Footprint Insufficient data UN threshold for high human development 4. Environmentally degrading economic policies Failing to include externalities in the cost of products and services Global average available biocapacity per person (with nothing for other species) Ecological Footprint Accounting: The extent to which human economies stay within the regenerative capacity of the planet, and who uses which portion of this capacity. Source: Footprint network 5. Technological impact 5. Technological impact Population + Consumption + Technological impact per unit of consumption Environmental impact of population Population + Consumption + Technological impact per unit of consumption Environmental impact of population Industrial-medical revolution! Mass production of useful/affordable products! Higher average standard of living! Increased agricultural production! Lower infant mortality! Longer life expectancy! Lower rate of population growth 3

Environmentally degrading economic policies Failing to include externalities in the cost of products and services Global average available biocapacity per person (with nothing for other species)

4 5. Technological impact What is sustainability Population + Consumption + Technological impact per unit of consumption Industrial-medical revolution! Mass production of useful/affordable products! Higher average standard of living! Increased agricultural production! Lower infant mortality! Longer life expectancy! Lower rate of population growth - Increased air/water pollution - Increased waste production - Soil/groundwater/biodiversity depletion - Habitat destruction Environmental impact of population What is sustainability Sustainability World Commission on Environment and Development Report Our Common Future, 1987 "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." ideas, aspirations and values that inspire public and private organizations to become better stewards of the environment promotes positive economic growth and social objectives stimulates technological innovation, advances competitiveness, and improves our quality of life Current emphasis Pollution cleanup Waste disposal Protect species Increased resource use Population growth Sustainability Pollution prevention Waste reduction/prevention Protect habitats Less wasteful resource use Population stabilization Source: EPA Do individuals matter? The Olmstead Legacy in Seattle Olmstead Brothers firm designed 37 parks beginning in 1884: Colman, Frink, Green Lake, Interlaken, Jefferson, Mt. Baker, Seward, Volunteer, Washington Park and Aboretum, Woodland Parks, Bobby Morris playfield, Hiawatha playground, Lake Washington Blvd, Magnolia Blvd, Ravenna Blvd Park planners recognize the park system in Seattle as one of the best preserved and best designed in the US 4

Lower rate of population growth - Increased air/water pollution - Increased waste production - Soil/groundwater/biodiversity depletion - Habitat destruction Environmental impact of population What is

5 The Olmstead Legacy in Seattle Comprehensive System of Parks and Parkways, 1903 to secure and preserve for the use of the people these advantages of water and mountain views and of woodlands... to push to acquire as much land as possible on all the borders of the different bodies of water Seattle citizens actively supported the plan (passed today s equivalent of $57 million) pushed for parks/playgrounds for young children and women with babies within a half mile of every home Olmstead Legacy Legacy of land protection Legacy of the importance of natural spaces on a psychological level Legacy of child development through nature Legacy of a method of land protection: interconnected wild places Legacy of looking to the future Markham, north of Toronto 5

.. to push to acquire as much land as possible on all the borders of the different bodies of water Seattle citizens actively supported the plan (passed today s equivalent of $57 million)

6 Place: Seattle Color Land Use Dark green - Thick forest Light green - Vegetation Pinkish - Urban areas Bright blue - Ice and snow Source: NASA 6

Amherst County Public Schools. AP Environmental Science Curriculum Pacing Guide. College Board AP Environmental Science Site

Amherst County Public Schools. AP Environmental Science Curriculum Pacing Guide. College Board AP Environmental Science Site Amherst County Public Schools AP Environmental Science Curriculum Pacing Guide College Board AP Environmental Science Site REV: 8/12 1 st 9 weeks AP Objectives Energy Resources and Consumption A. Energy