environ chapter 24 ppt notes

mimicking nature

Having industrial systems operate in cycles, like environmental ones, would vastly reduce waste production

Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

People, Profit, and Planet

long-term perspective

To be sustainable, a solution must work in the long term ex- reforesting a hill to reduce erosion

I = P x A x T

Total Impact = Population x Affluence x Technology

economic well being and environmental protection can _____ each other

benefit ex- upfront investment in ways to reduce consumption can bring long-term savings

renewable energy

brings opportunities for green-collar jobs and new investments

examples of tech that have reduced impact

catalytic converters, scrubbers, recycling tech, and wastewater treatment

studies have shown that half of collegiate greenhouse gas emissions come from ____?

communing vehicles, so finding alternative transportation solutions is a priority

environmental protection can enhance...?

economic opportunity

we are part of our environment

every part of everything that we consume has a connection back to the natural world

campuses use events/competitions to encourage sustainability

ex- the university of Texas at Austin runs an annual 'trash to treasure' program where discarded items are collected and resold at lower prices to newly arriving students ex2- Hamilton college runs a similar program that has reduced landfill waste by 28% ex3- recyclemania provides competition to challenge college students to improve their recycling habits

relying on locally produced products such as food can cut down on _____ _____ due to transportation

fossil fuels

global climate change

the biggest example of how we're running out of time as it is beginning to influence virtually everything in the environment and our society

we are running out of time to achieve sustainability..

the natural systems we depend on are changing quickly and human impacts continue to intensify

we can follow a number of strategies toward sustainable solutions

there are 10 broad strategies: -be politically active -vote with our wallets -pursue quality of life not just economic growth -limit population growth -enhance local self-sufficiency yet embrace some aspects of globalization -encourage and invest in green technologies -mimic natural systems by promoting closed-loop industrial processes -pursue systemic solutions -think in the long term -promote research and education

examples of student-led local initiatives taken in colleges for sustainability:

waste reduction, water conservation, green buildings, energy efficiency, renewable energy practices, transportation via bikes, carbon-neutrality, organisms food/dining, plants/landscaping, and fossil fuel divestment

population stability

The earth's carrying capacity cannot be increased indefinitely, and our population will stop growing at some point

approaches taken on college campuses to promote sustainability

-De Anza College opened the first community college building that was certified LEED platinum (Kirsch Center for Environment Studies) and it has a 36.5 kilowatt photovoltaic energy system installed on the roof. -there are also red/green lights that signal when windows should be opened/closed, natural light for classrooms/labs/study areas, and the interior is made up of recycled materials -the landscape of the building has drought-tolerant native plants that dont require as much watering. -there are a total of 9 LEED certified buildings on campus and the dining hall serves organic/locally sourced foods.

learning objectives

-describe the approaches taken on college campuses to promote sustainability -explain the concept of sustainable development and discuss how environmental protection can enhance economic well-being -assess the key approaches to designing sustainable solutions -explain how time is limited yet human potential to solve problems is tremendous

think of Earth as an island

-has limited amount of resources, space, and a fragile natural system -if we want to avoid the end of civilization, we must shift our behavior and cultural institutions in ways that encourage sustainable practices

consumer power

Consumers can "vote with their wallets" by specifically purchasing products with ecolabels.

sustainable development

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. -this requirse meeting the triple bottom line of environmental protection, economic well-being, and social justice

systemic solutions

Many problems today are not solved with a systemic approach, rather symptoms are handled in the short-term without addressing their underlying causes ex- if an insect develops a resistance to a pesticide, a systemic solution would be to develop a new agricultural practice that doesn't use pesticides

political engagement

Sustainable solutions often require policymakers to usher them through, and they respond to whoever exerts influence -as a citizen this means voting and directly contacting lawmakers to express your views

green technologies

Technology has facilitated our population growth, and it has magnified our impacts on Earth's environmental systems

Local and global approaches

When people feel closely tied to the area in which they live, they tend to value the area and seek to sustain its environment and its human community.

the Campus Ecology program of the Nat Wildlife Federation

a program that has hundreds of case studies on sustainability initiatives

countries can serve as models for each other

globalization doesn't always work against sustainability

which is not part of the triple bottom line that is behind sustainable planning and development?

growth of consumption

policymakers often seen economic growth as the ultimate goal, but achieving human happiness may be a better goal

happiness is not necessarily a direct result of income, affluence, and accumulation

Williams College in Mass has 'Do it in the Dark' competition that...

has reduced energy use by 13%

stabilizing population through voluntary means,

helping developing nations pass through the demographic transition quicker

which of these would not be considered a sustainable practice?

investing in tech to access new deposits of fossil fuels

sustainability

means living in a way that can be lived far into the future

many campus sustainability efforts are supported by...

outside organizations such as the Campus Ecology program of the Nat Wildlife Federation

audit

provides info on the amount of various resources an institution is consuming. ex- kill-a-watt meter that measures the electrical current drawn by appliances and fixtures

Greening of the Campus at Ball State University conference

provides students, faculty, and admin the opportunity to network and share their sustainability ideas

quality of life

recent economic growth has been largely driven by the increased consumption of material goods

data from other institutions can also help create...?

recommendations to implement sustainable practices

comparing external costs and benefits..

shows that sustainably managed ecosystems have more value than those converted to private resource harvesting

the US department of energy organizes a 'solar decathlon' that...

students travel to the national mall to build solar-powered homes that they designed

in the IPAT equation...

technology can represent a positive/negative value depending on whether its environmentally friendly or not