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    Environmental Science Overview

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    Minako

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Environmental Science Overview

    Uploaded by

    Minako
    1 views10 pages

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

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    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    1 views10 pages

    Environmental Science Overview

    Uploaded by

    Minako

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 10

    Environmental Science Overview

    A Student-Friendly Guide to
    Sustainability and Our Planet
    What is Environmental Science?
    • Environmental Science is the study of how
    humans interact with their surroundings,
    including:
    • - Natural Sciences (biology, chemistry, ecology,
    etc.)
    • - Social Sciences (economics, anthropology,
    etc.)
    • - Humanities (philosophy, ethics).
    • Goal: Understand and solve environmental
    problems to live sustainably.
    Environmental Science vs
    Environmentalism
    • Environmental Science:
    • - Interdisciplinary scientific study.
    • - Focuses on understanding human-
    environment interactions.

    • Environmentalism:
    • - A social movement.
    • - Advocates for protecting Earth's life-support
    systems.
    Sustainability and Natural Capital
    • Sustainability: The ability of systems to endure
    and adapt indefinitely.
    • Natural Capital = Natural Resources + Natural
    Services:
    • - Renewable Resources: Air, water, soil, plants.
    • - Nonrenewable Resources: Oil, coal, minerals.
    • - Natural Services: Ecosystem functions like air
    and water purification.
    Components of Sustainability
    • 1. Nutrient Recycling
    • 2. Preventing Natural Capital Degradation
    • 3. Seeking Scientific Solutions
    • 4. Making Trade-offs in Resource Management
    Our Ecological Footprint
    • Measures the land and water needed to
    provide resources and absorb waste for a
    population.
    • Example: Calculate your footprint at
    http://myfootprint.org/en
    Pollution: Types and Effects
    • Pollution: Harmful substances affecting
    humans and ecosystems.
    • Types:
    • - Point Source: Single identifiable sources (e.g.,
    factory smoke).
    • - Nonpoint Source: Dispersed sources (e.g.,
    pesticide runoff).
    • Effects: Damages health, disrupts ecosystems,
    creates nuisances.
    Solutions to Pollution
    • 1. Pollution Cleanup: Diluting pollutants after
    production.
    • 2. Pollution Prevention: Reducing pollutant
    production.
    • Challenges of Cleanup:
    • - Temporary fix
    • - Costs can be high
    • - Sometimes shifts pollution elsewhere
    Causes of Environmental Problems
    • 1. Population Growth
    • 2. Unsustainable Resource Use
    • 3. Poverty
    • 4. Excluding Environmental Costs from Prices
    • 5. Limited Knowledge of Nature
    Worldviews and Ethics
    • Worldviews:
    • - Planetary Management: Nature exists for
    humans.
    • - Stewardship: Manage Earth responsibly.
    • - Environmental Wisdom: Humans are part of
    nature.
    • Ethics: Right and wrong in treating the
    environment.

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