1: Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability

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1 Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and
Sustainability
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1-1 Living More Sustainably
What is the Difference between Environment,
Ecology, and Environmental Science?
environment -- all external conditions factors
that affect living organisms ecology -- study of
the interactions between organisms their
environment environmental science --
interdisciplinary scientific study of the
relation between humans their environment
applied ecology
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What Roles Do Different Groups Play?

• Ecologists biological scientists studying the
  relationships between living organisms and their
  environment
• Environmental scientists use scientific
  information and concepts to understand how the
  earth works, learn how humans interact with the
  earth, and develop solutions to environmental
  problems
• Conservation biologists investigate human
  impacts on the diversity of life found on earth
  and develop practical plans for preserving
  biodiversity

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• Environmentalists people concerned about the
  impact of people on environmental quality and
  believe some human actions are degrading parts of
  the earths life-support systems
• Preservationists people concerned with setting
  aside or protecting undisturbed natural areas
  from harmful human activities
• Conservationists people concerned with using
  natural areas and wildlife in ways that sustain
  them for current and future generations of humans
  and other living things
• Restorationists people devoted to restoration
  of natural areas that have been degraded by human
  activities

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How would each role react to the following
scenarios?

1. Offshore drilling, such as drilling for oil right
   off the coast of the U.S. (like the Gulf of
   Mexico)
2. Clearing a forest to create a suburban housing
   development
3. The Giant Panda becoming extinct
4. An oil spill in the Chesapeake Bay
5. Spraying pesticides on a cornfield

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What would you do if you were given 1 million?
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What would you do with 1 million?

• If you invest it and receive 10 interest per
  year, thats 100,000 of income a year!
• This can last forever it is sustainable
• What if you spent more than 100,000 per year?
• You will eventually go bankrupt it is not
  sustainable

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What Keeps Us Alive?

• THE SUN!

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Natural Capital

• Capital is wealth used to keep a business running
  and to generate more wealth
• The first million is the hardest
• You can use capital without depleting it
• Natural capital support and sustain life on Earth
• You can use natural capital without depleting it
• Solar energy is our primary source of natural
  capital

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What Is an Environmentally Sustainable Society?

• 2 goals
• Satisfies basic needs of its people (food, clean
  water, clean air, and shelter) now and in the
  future
• It accomplishes these goals without depleting or
  degrading natural resources
• Living sustainably means that you are using
  natural resources in a responsible manner (using
  natural income without depleting the natural
  capital)

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How can we live sustainably?