Natural Systems: Ecosystems

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Natural Systems Ecosystems
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Man-Made Systems Anthroposystem
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Explaining Change
The basic elements of life including carbon,
nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium are in constant
circulation between the earths major
environmental compartments atmosphere,
hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere. These
earths compartments remain in balance as long as
the rate of flow of matter and energy in and out
of the compartments is unchanged.
Changes in the environmental compartments will
occur if the circulation (in and out flow) of the
substances is perturbed. For example, the
concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere has been increasing because the
rate of input is larger than the rate of output
from the atmosphere.
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Ecological Intelligence

• But ecological intelligence is ultimately about
  more than what we buy. It's also about our
  ability to accept that we live in an infinitely
  connected world with finite resources. Goleman
  highlights the Tibetan community of Sher, where
  for millenniums, villagers have survived harsh
  conditions by carefully conserving every resource
  available to them. The Tibetans think
  ecologically because they have no other choice.
  Neither do we. "We once had the luxury to ignore
  our impacts," says Goleman. "Not anymore."

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TED Talk Norman Foster Building on the green
agenda
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2020 Challenge

• Reduce Wash. U. CO2 Emissions to 80 of 1990
• Danforth Campus projected to increase by 17

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• Limit growth
• Energy conservation
• Carbon-free energy sources
• Purchase carbon offsets