Expanded Explanations for

Environmental Science 1st Lesson

Environmental Challenges We Face
Humans are now the most powerful force driving environmental change. Our intelligence
and technology allow us to alter ecosystems, extract resources on a massive scale, and even
travel into space. Seeing Earth from space reminds us of its fragility and uniqueness in the
solar system. However, this great power comes with responsibility. Human activities cause
deforestation, climate change, water shortages, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The
challenge of our time is finding ways to balance human progress with the protection of
Earth’s life-support systems.

Human Impacts on the Environment

The core environmental problem today is rapid population growth. In just a few decades,
the human population skyrocketed from 3 billion in 1960 to more than 6.8 billion by 2009
—and it continues to grow. This exponential increase puts tremendous pressure on natural
resources. Each person requires food, clean water, energy, and shelter, and produces waste
and pollution. The more people there are, the more strain is placed on Earth’s ecosystems.
This population growth is a major factor linking nearly all environmental issues.

Poverty
Poverty is not only the lack of money but also the inability to meet basic needs such as food,
shelter, clean water, healthcare, and education. Billions of people live under these harsh
conditions. Poverty forces people to use fragile environments for survival, such as farming
on steep hillsides, cutting down forests for firewood, or overfishing rivers. This worsens
environmental degradation, which in turn deepens poverty, creating a destructive cycle.
Addressing poverty is essential if we want to ensure both human welfare and
environmental sustainability.

Rich and Poor Countries (Highly Developed Countries)

Countries are often divided into “haves” and “have-nots.” Highly developed countries—such
as Norway, Japan, the United States, and Switzerland—are industrially advanced, have slow
population growth, and high incomes. Citizens of these nations enjoy access to healthcare,
education, and technology. However, their high standard of living comes at an
environmental cost. These countries consume large amounts of energy and raw materials,
produce huge amounts of waste, and generate most of the world’s pollution.
Rich and Poor Countries (Moderately Developed Countries)
Moderately developed countries—like Turkey, South Africa, Thailand, and Mexico—have
medium levels of industrialization and moderate per-person incomes. Their citizens often
face fewer opportunities for education, employment, and healthcare compared to highly
developed nations. While they are more advanced than the poorest nations, they still
struggle with poverty and inequality. Rapid population growth in these countries further
stresses their limited resources and development capacity.

Rich and Poor Countries (Less Developed Countries)

Less developed countries, such as the Philippines, Bangladesh, Haiti, and Laos, face the
greatest challenges. They experience high rates of population growth, high infant mortality,
and widespread poverty. Industrialization is very limited, and many people rely on farming,
fishing, and natural resources for survival. Because of limited infrastructure, education, and
healthcare, these countries are highly vulnerable to environmental crises such as
deforestation, flooding, and food shortages.

Population, Resources, and the Environment

People in highly developed countries consume far more resources per person than those in
developing nations. Even though developing countries face rapid population growth, the
sheer level of consumption in rich countries has just as much, if not greater, impact on
global ecosystems. This means that both overpopulation and overconsumption are key
environmental challenges. The use of resources must be managed carefully to ensure a
balance between human needs and environmental health.

Population Growth and Resource Use (Generalizations)

Two general truths can be made:
1. In developing countries, rapid population growth overwhelms resources. Soils, forests,
and water supplies are often overused, leading to land degradation and food shortages.
2. In highly developed countries, individuals consume far more than necessary for survival.
Luxury goods and excessive lifestyles contribute to environmental destruction, even when
population growth is low.
Both situations show that whether through population increase or overconsumption,
human actions degrade natural systems.

Nonrenewable Resources
Nonrenewable resources are natural resources available in limited supply. Once used up,
they cannot be replenished within a human lifetime. Examples include fossil fuels (oil, coal,
natural gas) and minerals (copper, iron, aluminum). Heavy reliance on these resources
causes environmental damage, air pollution, and climate change. As populations grow and
consumption rises, the depletion of these resources becomes a critical concern for future
generations.

Here are some examples of non-renewable resources:

1. Coal – A fossil fuel used for electricity generation and industrial processes.
2. Petroleum (Oil) – Used to produce gasoline, diesel, plastics, and many other
products.
3. Natural Gas – Commonly used for cooking, heating, and electricity.
4. Nuclear Fuels (Uranium, Plutonium) – Used in nuclear power plants to produce
energy.
5. Metals and Minerals – Such as gold, silver, copper, aluminum, and iron (limited
supply and take millions of years to form).

Renewable Resources
Renewable resources, such as forests, freshwater, fish, and fertile soil, can regenerate
naturally if used wisely. However, if they are exploited faster than they can recover, they too
can become depleted. For example, overfishing reduces fish populations beyond recovery,
while cutting down forests faster than they regrow leads to desertification. Sustainable
management of renewable resources is essential for long-term survival.

Here are some examples of renewable resources:

1. Solar Energy – Power from the sun, used in solar panels.

2. Wind Energy – Harnessed using wind turbines to generate electricity.
3. Water (Hydropower) – Energy from flowing water, like dams.
4. Forests / Trees – Can regrow through replanting and natural growth.
5. Crops / Agricultural Products – Such as rice, corn, and vegetables, which can
be replanted each season.
6. Geothermal Energy – Heat from beneath the Earth’s surface.
7. Biomass – Energy from organic materials like wood, crop waste, or animal waste.

Population Growth and Resource Exploitation

In developing countries, poverty often forces people to exploit natural resources
unsustainably. Farmers may cultivate steep slopes or tropical rainforests, leading to erosion
and habitat loss. Governments often encourage the export of natural resources to earn
foreign exchange, but this creates a dilemma: should countries exploit their natural wealth
to survive today, or conserve it for future generations? This conflict highlights the deep
connection between poverty, population growth, and environmental degradation.
Population Size and Resource Consumption
A country may be considered overpopulated in two ways:
- People overpopulation – too many people for the available resources, common in
developing nations.
- Consumption overpopulation – where each individual consumes more than their fair share
of resources, common in wealthy nations.
Although developed countries have fewer people, their high consumption levels generate
more pollution and resource depletion than poorer nations with larger populations.

Ecological Footprint
Highly developed nations make up less than 20% of the global population but consume over
50% of the world’s resources and produce 75% of waste and pollution. This imbalance is
measured through the concept of an ecological footprint—the amount of productive land,
water, and ocean required to supply a person with food, energy, water, housing, and waste
disposal. A large ecological footprint means a lifestyle that places heavy demands on Earth’s
ecosystems.

The IPAT Equation

Environmental impact (I) can be estimated using the IPAT equation:
I=P×A×T
- P = Population size
- A = Affluence (consumption per person)
- T = Technology (the efficiency or harm of technologies used)
This equation shows that population, consumption, and technology all interact to shape
environmental outcomes. For instance, while technology can increase consumption, it can
also reduce environmental impact if used sustainably.

Imagine a small country.

 Population (P): 10 million people

 Affluence (A): Each person consumes $10,000 worth of goods and services per
year
 Technology (T): Each $1 of consumption produces 0.5 units of environmental
impact (like carbon emissions or resource use)

Now apply the formula:

I=P×A×TI = P \times A \times TI=P×A×T I=10,000,000×10,000×0.5I =

10{,}000{,}000 \times 10{,}000 \times 0.5I=10,000,000×10,000×0.5
I=50 trillion units of environmental impactI = 50 \text{ trillion units of environmental
impact}I=50 trillion units of environmental impact

Sustainability and the Environment

Sustainability means meeting human needs today without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet theirs. Environmental sustainability requires us to use resources
responsibly, avoid overexploitation, and maintain the health of ecosystems. It is about
ensuring that our economic and social development is in harmony with the natural systems
that sustain life on Earth.

Principles of Sustainability
Environmental sustainability is guided by four key principles:
1. We must consider how our actions affect the health of the natural environment and all
living things.
2. Earth’s resources are finite; we must live within ecological limits and allow renewable
resources to regenerate.
3. We must account for all costs—environmental and social—when consuming products.
4. Every person and community has a shared responsibility to protect the environment for
future generations.