burgeoning population

transforming forests, prairies, and

deserts to meet our needs and desires
Today the human
consuming Earth’s abundant but finite
species is the resources—rich topsoil, clean water,
most and breathable air
significant agent eradicating thousands upon thousands
of environmental of unique species as we destroy or
change on alter their habitats
our planet Evidence continues to accumulate that
human-induced climate change
is putting the natural environment at
risk.

The size of the world population over the long-run

TREND IN
INCREASE OF
HUMAN
POPULATION
 Human Population :
o 109biion —__ »,00
Three major factors account for population increase 10 bition /.

1. Humans developed the ability to - into almost &

Bilions of peof
all of the planet’s climate zones and habitats.

2. The emergence of early and modern SEfCUIRURE

allowed us to grow more food for each unit of land
area farmed.
3. Death rates dropped sharply because of [iprovedl
40 1000 40,1500 An.2000
and development of ‘ e
antibiotics and vaccines to help control infectious
diseases.

Figure 1: Logistic Growth of Population Size Over

A Time
Carrying capacity is the
‘amount of organisms within
a region that the environment
can support sustainably
Grrying Capaci Stable Equilibrium
R S Stable equilibrium
is met
when the population aligns
with the carrying capacity
line
Population

Slow growth occurs when

natality is slightly above
mortality, for fast growth
natality s drastically greater
Logistic S-shaped than mortality
curve
The S-shaped logistic curve
i formed when growth rate
decreases as carrying
capacity is approached by
the population

Time
 hese resources can be managed so th
do not run o

Whylisithisii=a=-x
Poverty is tied to

pressures on
releva nt? ::;u:::resour:es

environment
Population Size, Resource and
Consumption
*Consumption leads to the direct creation of environmental
pressures from the use of products and services, for example,
through driving a car or heating a house with fossil fuels.
*The ecological footprint is a measure of the resources necessary to
produce the goods that an individual or population consumes.
* It measures the demand vs. the supply of nature
* How fast we consume resources & replace it

Poverty & Overpopulation

*Two useful generalizations about the relationships among population growth, consumption of natural
resources, and environmental degradation
the amount of resources essential to an individual’s survival is small,
but rapid population growth (often found in developing countries)
tends to overwhelm and deplete a country’s soils, forests, and other
natural resources
in highly developed nations, individual demands on natural resources
are far greater than the requirements for mere survival. To satisfy
their desires as well as their basic needs, many people in more
affluent nations deplete resources and degrade the global
environment through increased consumption of nonessential items
such as televisions, jet skis, and cellular phones.
Poverty & Overpopulation
* It is instructive to note that the economic growth and development of
the United States and of other highly developed nations came about
through the exploitation—and in some cases the destruction—of their
resources. Continued growth and development in highly developed
countries now relies significantly on the importation of these resources
from less developed countries
* Poor people in developing countries find themselves trapped in a vicious
cycle of poverty. They use environmental resources unwisely for short-
term gain (that is, to survive), but this exploitation degrades the resources
and diminishes long- term prospects of economic development.
(stewardship)
 Sustainability Stabitzo Prevent pollution
human where possible degraded
Implies that the environment will function population environments
indefinitely without going into a decline from the
stresses that human society imposes on natural
systems (such as fertile soil, water, and air)
Protect Focus Use
*Meeting our own needs without compromising the natural resources
ability of future generations to meet their own
needs. In addition to natural resources, we also need ecosystems Sustainability efficiently
social and economic resources.
* Includes the actions we take to protect ecosystems
and their services Educate children Prevent and Eradicate
hunger and
*A system or process is sustainable if it can be JECUCECIIY reduce waste
continued indefinitely, without depleting any of the poverty
material or energy resources required to keep it
running

Human behaviors & sustainability

We are using nonrenewable resources such as
fossil fuels as if they were present in unlimited
supplies.
ECONOMY
We are using renewable resources such as fresh
water and forests faster than they are replenished P Consumption
Production ENVIRONMENT
naturally.
Accumulation ¥
We are polluting the environment—the land,
rivers, ocean, and atmosphere—with toxins as if
the capacity of the environment to absorb them
were limitless.
Our numbers continue to grow, despite Earth’s
finite ability to feed us and to absorb our wastes
Environmental sustainability
We must consider the effects of our actions on the health and well-being of
the natural environment, including all living things.
Earth’s resources are not present in infinite supply. We must live within limits
that let renewable resources such as freshwater regenerate for future needs.
We must understand all the costs to the environment and to society of
products we consume.
We must each share responsibility for environ

Environmental science
* Environmental science is the interdisciplinary study of humanity’s relationship with other
organisms and the nonliving physical environment

« Ecology is the discipline of biology that studies the interrelationships between organisms and
their environment
* basic tool of environmental science.

* Atmospheric science is a branch of environmental science that includes the study of weather
and climate, greenhouse gases, and other airborne pollutants.

* Environmental chemistry examines chemicals in the environment, including air, soil, and water
pollution
 Goal of Environmental Science
Environmental scientists try to establish general principles about how the natural world
functions.
They use these principles to develop viable solutions to environmental problems—solutions
that are based as much as possible on scientific knowledge.

™ r
o Scientific assessment: o Risk analysis:
Problem is defined, hypotheses are Potential effects of various.
tested, and models are constructed to interventions—including doing explaining the problem, presenting
‘show how present situation developed = nothing—are analyzed to determine s available alternatives for action, and
and to predict future course of events. risks associated with each particular revealing probable risks, results, and
course of action. cost of each choice.
Example:
Scientists ind higher-than-normal levels 1o action is taken, fishing resources Public is informed
of the
of bacteria are threatening a lake's major source of income in the ramifications—in
this case, loss of
native fish and determine the cause is region
—will be harmed. If pollutionis income—if
problem is not addressed.

il
© Long-term environmental © potical considerations:
‘management: Elected officials, often at urging of their
Results of any action taken should be constituencies, implement a course of
Think Critically Desphts hoving 8. carefully monitored 1o see if @mm= 5ction based on scientific evidence as
ooenvironmental
framework for addressing environmental
sy problem is being well as economic and social
-~

adequately. Offer at least one possible Water quality in lake is testod frequently, Elected offcials, supportedby the
Saan Tar el falies and fish populations are monitored to publc, pass legislation to protect lake
ensure they do not deciine. ‘and develop lake cleanup plan.