EVS Powerpoint

Where do Environmental Problems come from and how to Solve them?

"...I cannot think of a single environmental problem today that does not touch, in some way, human society. All environmental controversies are the result of social action, and none can be resolved without social action."* *From Society and the Environment: Pragmatic Solutions to Ecological Issues by Michael Carolan, 2013 a lot of these problems economically driven by people Many texts on environmental issues are very good at saying WHAT the problems are, but not at explaining WHY they happened or HOW to fix it The reason is that the WHY and HOW are based in economics, social & political science, and culture Part of the problem is that over the last several decades, social and natural scientists have looked at their realms exclusively, without often considering the relationship between the two But really the two realms are tied together

Sustainable Development

"Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." (Brundtland 1987) Benefits must be available to all humans, rather than to a privileged few.

Additional Problems with "Traditional" ways of dealing with Environmental Problems

"Sacrifice talk" Give up stuff like- car, shop less, grow your own food, etc. Don't do this or that Problem 1: Implies that you have something to give up People in Lesser Developed Countries (LDC) Problem 2: Pick the "greener" choice There must be viable greener choices Solution: Requires collective action (not individual action alone) -not everyone has something to give up ( we buy things we want, other countries buy what they NEED) -choices must exist -problem 2 ex: led vs. conventional light bulbs cost v. efficiency, requires collective action instead of individual action (all people need to swap light bulbs)

Environmental Problems and Solutions

"Why are environmental books & stories so gloomy?" Should we deal with only the problems? Past Environmentalism focused too much on problems only Must first convince someone that there IS a problem! Then, we can move towards solutions. IS THIS ANALOGOUS TO THE CULTURE OF FEAR? E.g. SLR has risen about 30' over last century and will do the same again. Who complained? The Author of our textbook develops the argument that most Environmental Science courses deal only with the "gloom and doom" of environmental problems. Not enough time is spent on solutions, or if solutions are treated, they are one-dimensional, one-size-fixes-all solutions that are not necessary realistic. Another argument that is developed by the Author is that Env courses, or I would even go so far as environmentalists in general, focus solely on the worst environmental consequences because they are convincing others that a problem exists. That is, by pointing out the extremes, people will listen and hopefully take action. What does the author identify himself as, in contrast to "doom and gloom" or "extremes" ? Realistic dreamer and brings up the idea of "pragmatic environmentalism"

Further thinking....??!!!??

-is compliance the same as being environmental? -are there multiple levels to being an environmentalist? -how do we think about resources? E.g. Gas in US v. Europe -is it a mindset instead of actions? What about education?

Discussion (Commons)

-they need to come up with the most important ideas from tragedy of the commons and what is sustainability -give up some individual freedoms for better of the larger community Themes from discussion: -overpopulation (would china's 1 child policy work in the US), but would other social change have the same end effect as a law controlling population? -law/policy/freedoms Another 3 min discussion: what are some examples of global commons? -what was the definitions for sustainability?

Brunswick County

1 meter sea level rise Property value~2.7 billion -Land ~24,880 acres Population ~3,030 -Protected land ~1000 acres Homes ~6,739 -Oil Facilities 2 Roads ~150 miles EPA listed sites 5 Hazardous waste sites 3 Wastewater facilities 1

Chronology of Climate Change

1784 Awareness of the effect of volcanism on climate Benjamin Franklin suggests that a great eruption of the Laki volcano in Iceland is responsible for the unusually severe winter that follows, thus showing an awareness of the effect of volcanism on global climate. 1800-1870 Atmospheric CO2 levels are at 280 ppm The level of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) in the atmosphere, as later measured in ancient ice, is about 280 parts per million. The use of fossil fuels and land clearing associated with the Industrial Revolution, population growth, and rising affluence will produce a steady rise in CO2 concentrations over the next two centuries. 1824 Early recognition of Earth's atmosphere in temperature Jean Baptiste Joseph Fourier, French mathematician and natural philosopher, is the first to propose that the Earth's atmosphere acts to raise the planet's temperature. 1837 Early recognition of climate change Louis Agassiz studies the glaciers of Switzerland and notes that the effects of glaciation can be seen in places where glaciers are no longer present. He concludes that an Ice Age occurred at some time in the past, during which huge glaciers must have covered much of the Earth's surface. This is an early recognition of the phenomenon of climate change. 1859 Introduction to climate science John Tyndall, a self-taught Irish scientist, suggests that changes in concentrations of water vapor, carbon dioxide, and any other radioactive ingredient could bring about climate change. 1887 Study of effect of human activity on climate Geographer and climatologist Eduard Bruckner makes pioneering studies of climate change and in particular of the effect of human activity on climate. 1896 Role of carbon dioxide as a GHG established Svante August Arrhenius of Sweden presents a paper to the Stockholm Physical Society entitled, On the Influence of Carbonic Acid in the Air upon the Temperature of the Ground. This establishes the role of carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas. 1897 Ice ages tied to CO2 feedbacks American geologist Thomas C. Chamberlin develops one of the first theories of climate change that emphasizes carbon dioxide as a major regulator of Earth's temperature, thus anticipating modern global warming. Chamberlin hypothesized that that ice ages might follow a self-oscillating cycle driven by feedbacks involving CO2. 1930s Milankovitch cycles described Serbian astrophysicist Milutin Milankovitch develops a mathematical theory of climate based on the seasonal and latitudinal variations of solar radiation received by the Earth. Now known as the Milankovitch Theory, it states that as the Earth travels through space around the sun, cyclical variations in three elements of Earth-sun geometry combine to produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth: eccentricity, obliquity, and precession of the Earth's orbit. 1938 Fossil fuels implicated in climate change George.S. Callendar publishes The Artificial Production of Carbon Dioxide and Its Influence on Climate, in which he directly implicates fossil fuel combustion as an agent of climate change. He is largely ignored or derided for this claim, but history proves him to be prophetic 1957 Evidence of CO2 increase due to fossil fuels Roger Revelle of the United States and Hans Suess of Austria demonstrate that carbon dioxide has increased in the atmosphere as a result of the use of fossil fuels. Revelle concludes that "Human beings are now carrying out a large scale geophysical experiment of a kind that could not have happened in the past nor be reproduced in the future." 1958 Keeling curve shows rise in CO2 levels Oceanographer Charles Keeling begins his study of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, as measured at Mauna Loa, Hawaii and other locations. He definitively confirms the rise of atmospheric CO2, by means of a data set now known as the Keeling curve, or the Mauna Loa Curve. These data showed unequivocally that CO2 levels had been rising since the middle of the 20th C. 1958 Keeling curve shows rise in CO2 levels Oceanographer Charles Keeling begins his study of Earth's atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, as measured at Mauna Loa, Hawaii and other locations. He definitively confirms the rise of atmospheric CO2, by means of a data set now known as the Keeling curve, or the Mauna Loa Curve. These data showed unequivocally that CO2 levels had been rising since the middle of the 20th C. 1967 Early plausible climate model Meteorologists Syukuro ("Suki") Manabe and Richard Wetherald develop a climate model that predicts that global temperature would rise roughly 2 °C (around 3-4 °F) for a doubling of CO2 concentrations. This is the first time a greenhouse warming computation includes enough of the essential factors to seem plausible to many experts. late 1960s Global atmospheric circulation models The advent of more powerful digital electronic computers make it possible to model the global general atmospheric circulation for the first time. By the 1970s, general circulation models (GCMs) are the central tool of climate scientists such as Syukuro Manabe and Kirk Bryan, and they will play a key role in describing climate change.

What is the future of agriculture?

3 things are necessary to provide nourishment for people while protecting the environment: The production of more food Elimination of the harmful effects on the environment Distribution of the right kinds of food for everyone

Animal farming and its consequences

5 billion four-footed animals; 22 billion birds How many people in USA? How many people in NC? 9,944,073 8.4 million swine in NC (Sept 2014 report - http://www.ncagr.gov/stats/release/HogRelease09.pdf) ~88,630,00 million poultry in NC Green Revolution - Mid to late 20th Century strategies to combat starvation by expanding global production of staple food crops through crop breeding. A successful food calorie revolution! However it has resulted in micronutrient deficiencies and loss in dietary diversity. E,.g. Industrial milling results in loss of micronutrients.

Urban Farms & Gardens

50% of people live in urban areas Urban farm & gardens are becoming important >50% of income for poor households (economic security) Greater diet diversity (fruits % veggies) No food deserts

Climate Change is . . .

A change in the state of the climate identified by changes in the average climate and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer (IPCC, 2013). (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Includes major changes in temperature, precipitation, or wind patterns, among other effects, that occur over several decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use.

Options for Coastal Defense

Abandonment Complete loss of structure or property Coastal retreat or realignment Physical movement or natural shoreline advancement "Hold the line" Hardened structures Move seaward Beach nourishment Accommodation or limited intervention Lifting infrastructure or land Orrin Pilkey suggests that the only long-term solution to sea level rise and shoreline change is strategic retreat (Pilkey 2012).

Permo-Triassic Extinction:

About 250 Ma Huge increase in stable carbon to about 2000 ppm 8 °C (14.4 °F) rise in global temp Also increase in UV causing mutations

Agrobiodiversity

Agrobiodiversity Agrobiodiversity is the result of natural selection processes and the careful selection and inventive developments of farmers, herders and fishers over millennia. Agrobiodiversity is a vital sub-set of biodiversity. "encompasses the variety and variability of animals, plants and micro-organisms which are necessary to sustain key functions of the agroecosystem, its structure and processes for, and in support of, food production and food security". Ex: disease resistant plants and "seed banks"

Agriculture, Subsidies & Soil Erosion

Alarming rate of topsoil loss Millions spent on soil conservation (buffer strips, banning agriculture) Majority ends in Miss. River Reason: Maximum rewards for maximum yields ($51.7 bn), minimal funds towards conservation ($7.0 bn) Industrial Agriculture/Farming v Local Small Scale Farming Numerous negative impacts (Goldschmidt, 1978) Higher poverty & unemployment rates Higher crime rates, social conflict Stress, deterioration of neighbour relations Less community interaction Local stakeholder engagement (& purchases) reduced Reduction in public services Water, air, environmental quality impacts

What's (y)our Water Footprint?

An indicator of freshwater use that takes into account both direct and indirect water use of consumer or producer.

What's the difference between Weather and Climate?

Answer: Time!!! Weather is the conditions of the atmosphere over a short period of time at a particular place (Wilmington, No. Am, Europe, etc.) Climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time

What is Pollution?

Any substance that threatens the health, survival, and activity of living organisms. Air, Water, Soil, Food

Are society and the Environment connected??

Author argues that the natural world (or "material world) acts within the same realm as the human social world; i.e., that one does not exist without the other. Therefore, any solutions to environmental problems must stem from human society dealing with human-caused actions and changing non-environmentally friendly behaviors. e.g Littering - Env. scientists (impact), env. Sociologist (why) Author argues that the natural world (or "material world) acts within the same realm as the human social world; i.e., that one does not exist without the other. Therefore, any solutions to environmental problems must stem from human society dealing with human-caused actions and changing non-environmentally friendly behaviors. Author specifically mentions social science and the branch of soc sci called "environmental sociology". This is really the same thing "Human-dimensions of Environmental Science" - what Dr. Jeff Hill teaches in our department. An example of this is a topic like littering in national parks. Traditional environmental scientists will look the impact of the problem, litter and what it does to the environment (i.e., soil contamination, impacts on wildlife eating the trash). An environmental sociologist may look at why that behavior occurs and how we could use different strategies such as normative theory to alter this behavior and prevent littering in the park, benefiting the environment (and human enjoyment of the park) at the same time. -really cant separate hese two domains, they interact and relate to each other

The Messy Relationship Between Behaviors and Attitudes part 2

Back to recycling: Just because you recycle doesn't mean you have "green" or pro-environmental attitudes even though your behavior (recycling) shows that you do. You do it because it's the law or it is cost effective. Same as e.g. turning off the lights, using less water. Examples from the textbook Recycling is a behavior that does NOT always mean that a person has green or pro-environmental attitudes Recycling is actually a great example of how social norms can change. 20 years ago no one would have a problem throwing away plastic water bottles or aluminum soda cans. When people realized the problem of too much trash and started advocating for recycling, started by teaching kids in school. Now, recycling has become a social and injunctive norm. How many of you would feel bad about throwing away a soda can right now in front of the entire class? Right, so that is an example of norms in action! Essentially, we used direct education over many years to create a social norm associated with recycling.

Other kinds of "Biodiversity"

Biocultural Diversity "Biodiversity also incorporates human cultural diversity which can be affected by the same drivers as biodiversity, and which has impacts on the diversity of genes, other species, and ecosystems". (UNEP 2007) Indigenous knowledge Cultural extinction leads to lost knowledge E.g. plantain farming in Philippines & 'memory loss' Biopiracy - Brazil & S. Africa, India, TKDL We have cultural diversity right in this room Read biopiracy section on your own

Critical Infrastructure

Brunswick nuclear power plant 6 meters above sea level Sunny Point military terminal Minor impacts Wastewater and Water treatment facilities Southside Wastewater facility and Sweeney Water Treatment Facility Sewers, pumping stations, collections stations Transportation and Port of Wilmington The Brusnwick County nuclear power plant is currently six meters above sea level, however, if predictions are correct, then by the end of the century this could lowered to four or five meters. If a storm surge similar to hurricane Hazel were to make landfall in Brusnwick County, then the plant would only be one meter above the oceans surface The risks associated with a one-meter sea level rise on Sunny Point military terminal are minor, but flooding could disrupt terminal operations if sea levels continue to increase into 22nd century . The Southside wastewater treatment facility and the Sweeney water treatment facility in Wilmington will be impacted by a 40-centimeter increase in sea level. The impacts will include flooding of pump stations, sewer lines, and collection systems. Severe storms or a one-meter increase in sea levels could completely inundate those facilities and the associated infrastructure (Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). Flooding and damage to the wastewater and water treatment facilities in Wilmington will decrease treatment efficiency, increase the risks of bypasses, and possibly promote saltwater intrusion into treatment mechanisms. The stability of the treatment systems will be compromised requiring higher maintenance and operating costs

Current Threats to the Conveyor Belt

Buildup Of Greenhouse Gases In The Atmosphere May Lead To A Warming Period How Will This Affect The Conveyor Belt? Models? Limits

Two Main Solutions

Change the way we think about water Is water a "Human Right" Is water an "Economic Good" How to balance economic argument v human right? Free water for everyone? Author discusses #1 above including reasons why a price should be placed on water - see text. However, later stresses that there should be Universal water access to all - as a Human Right. There is a conflict there as per the rights of an individual and obtaining a commodity by paying for it as the only way to receive it. 2. Community Governance by (local) citizens-Community-run water supply -Shifts responsibility from state, city or firms to end users. -Support from NGOs -Commonly called "grass-roots efforts" "Traditional"-style Water Governance - Clean Water Act. *** I always add here that if one ever hears a politician stating that our water is clean all these years since '72, but now we need to ease environmental regulations to increase jobs, etc., I just ask, Do you want your rivers to be so polluted that they can catch fire? Do you want to drink clean drinking water? OR would you rather be like our neighbors to the south, where before you go on vacation to places like Mexico, your friends remind you not to drink the water . . . . That's what easing environmental regs will give us!

Climate Change & Water

Climate Change & Water Surface Runoff - earlier snowmelts, more flooding Groundwater - recharge & depletion, saltwater intrusion with SLR Water Quality - Algal blooms, suspended sediments, reduced oxygen, pollution... Water Demand - increase/decrease (e.g. city populations or drought tolerant crops) Urban development does not help either... Impervious surfaces increase runoff (+ pollutants) and limit infiltration (+ filtration) into ground. See Table 5.4.

Background (SEA LEVEL)

Climate change induces rising sea levels 20th Century Temperature increase ~0.8 degrees C Sea level rise 20 cm (~8 inches) Thermal expansion, melting ice, and liquid storage on land Half of rise during 20th century due to thermal expansion . From 1901 to 1990 sea level rose at a rate of 1.5 millimeters per year, and accelerated to 3.2 millimeters per year during the last 20 years.

Vulnerability and Damage

Coastal Vulnerability Index Moderate to Very High for Cape Fear Region Six variables Geomorphology Coastal Slope Relative sea level change Shoreline erosion Tidal range Mean wave height Increasing development and property values 5.3 billion in real estate losses-1 meter SLR New Hanover County 0.8 meter rise in SL (2080) 117 structures permanently inundated 29.8 million dollars Total estimated property damage Total residential ~60-167 million Non Residential ~ 18-60 million Brunswick County 63 properties permanently inundated The relative sea level change in southeast North Carolina ranks low compared to other regions, but the geomorphology, wave height, tidal range, and shoreline erosion all rank high to very high. The large tidal flux is one of the main drivers of sea level risks in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. Sea level rise will increase the flow dynamics associated with the tidal flux, which will inundate salt marshes, increase erosion rates, and accelerate changes in barrier island complexes The number of building permits in Carolina Beach, North Carolina between 2001 and 2005 exceeds the number of permits issued over the previous 20 years, and the average selling price for residential properties in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina has increased 420 percent since 2001 About one percent of all the residential properties are at risk of permanent indundation

Biodiversity Loss Solutions

Community Conservation Instead of a national park controlled by the govt., the park is administered by local people Belize examples - Community Baboon Reserve Read textbook examples

Ecosystem Valuation

Costanza et al. (Nature, 1997) - Estimated annual net worth of the biosphere is $33 trillion per year (vs global GDP of $18trillion...) Do we want to put a price tag on nature? Ex: Take a pine plantation forest here in NC, along I-40. A forester will value that land by calculating the # board feet of lumber per acre. What else might it be worth? But none of the ecosystem services are in that value - C intake, habitat value, soil retention and water quality, etc. Or the value of a reef when consider coastal/marine development? Remember that MC commercial? Price of ____ $4, price of evening out $50, price of ______ priceless. Ex: Take a forest, one here in NC, a pine plantation along i-40. A forester will value that land by calculating the # board feet of lumber per acre. What else might it be worth? But none of the ecosystem services are in that value - C intake, habitat value, soil retention and water quality, etc. Costanza put a price tag on nature Economists laughed at this 2x greater than the world commodity values at the time. You decide - do we want to put a price tag on nature? Pros and Cons. What are they?

What is "Pragmatic Environmentalism"

Definition in 2 parts: Pragmatic - a way of dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations* Pragmatism - a philosophical approach that assesses the truth of meaning of theories or beliefs in terms of the success of their practical application* *From New Oxford American Dictionary The Author of our text takes a different viewpoint. He states that there must be a "Pragmatic Environmentalism" instead of what has transpired previously. He then offers definitions of "Pragmatic" and "Pragmatism". NOTE: The author does NOT really do a very good job with the definitions, so I've included these from the New Oxford American Dictionary. my notes: not well defined in book so these are the oxford definitions Essentially the author is arguing to look at environmental problems and solutions from a more realistic and practical perspective Versus all-encompassing frameworks and grand one-size-fits all solutions that are not very practical

ECOnnections 8.3 Agriculture is more than just "growing food"

Diet Public health Environmental sustainability Rural development Food sovereignty

Resource Use and Agriculture

Each resident of the US requires ~2000 liters (~500 gallons) / year in oil equivalents to eat. This is ~20% of the total energy used annually. Animal agriculture is responsible for between 18-51% of total greenhouse gas emissions annually. Cumulative liquid & solid animal waste in China is 4 bn tons/year. Large animals produce over 20-40 x more waste than people... Huge agricultural subsidies, esp. in Europe Huge demand for fertilizers...

Milankovitch Orbital Cycles: "Pacemakers of Climate Cycles"

Eccentricity (100 kyr cycles) - orbit around sun not circular Obliquity (~41 kyr cycles) - plane of orbit changes slightly Precession (~20 kyr cycles) - axis of Earth "wobbles" like a top Now known as the Milankovitch Theory, it states that as the Earth travels through space around the sun, cyclical variations in three elements of Earth-sun geometry combine to produce variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches Earth:

Treadmills of Agriculture

Economic pressures to adopt new technologies (inputs) to increase yields. How does the "treadmill" work? You get on the treadmill and can't get off! Everyone knows what a treadmill is, right? You walk and rnu and go no where, right? Keep that in mind. Explain how the 'treadmill' works - new seed produces higher yield crop, next year everyone plants it, but you need more fertilizer and water to grow the crop, and need to plant more because as you flood the market with product, the price drops, so you need to grow more to make the same amount of money.

Definitions (INTRO)

Environment The combined abiotic and biotic components that sum to create the world around us. Ecology The study of how organisms interact with one another and with their nonliving environment.

Primary problems with overpopulation:

Environmental degradation Urban sprawl & deterioration Hunger Persistent poverty Economic stagnation Health problems/issues

Estimating Extinction Numbers

Estimates of future extinction vary due to assumptions & definition of species.Depends on how you define a species! 1.7 million species identified in 2010 Estimate range: 10 to 30 billion species Depends on what you define as a species Depends on how you estimate the number Rate of Loss = ~27,000 species annually - 74 species/day (largest mass extinction event) Tropics insect survey in Panama in 1988 (Terry Erwin) Fogged 19 trees of a single species, Luehea seemanii, over three seasons. Raining bugs Tarps on the ground to catch the bugs Found 955+ beetle species alone! So many different species of beetles, he determined that every 4 species in the world are a beetle species and that is the 10-30 billion range of undiscovered species. The most commonly quoted estimate is somewhere between 30 and 50 millions based on Erwin's (1988, 1997) study of tropical insects. This estimate is controversial and politically charged because the larger your initial estimate, the larger the estimated species loss. You also have to take into account that Erwin himself did not present this as a definitive number, but presented his estimate in an effort to spur further research.

Back in the 70's - cultural fear of overpopulation 'bombs' & 'explosions'

Experiments with mice - John Calhoun 'When the mouse population in them boomed, they eventually fell into cannibalism, senseless violence, sexual promiscuity or random celibacy, and finally lost their ability to socialize entirely'. Food riots & starvation, violence

Socio-economic development (e.g. urbanization encourages limited family size)

Family Planning Education Social services Medical services Environmental protection? "Economic development is the best contraceptive" - slogan from the 1970s Strong correlations between increases in a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and a lowering of fertility rates Result: lower population BOTTOM LINE: Not always true For Socioeconomic Development to achieve REAL changes to lower populations need: Better education Improvements in literacy rates and school enrollments Gender equity and empowering women Better health care

Environmental Destruction

Flooding of coastal wetlands and salt marshes Declines in productivity Valuable commercial species Saltwater intrusion in freshwater ecosystems Barrier island habitats flooded and altered Maritime forests Interdune flats and ponds

Saltwater Intrusion

Freshwater Ecosystems Flora and fauna displaced (invasives) Groundwater (aquifers) Contamination Wastewater and water treatment facilities Contamination and corrosion Sewers and pipelines Corrosion When fresh water is withdrawn at a faster rate than it can be replenished, a draw down of the water table occurs with a a resulting decrease in the overall hydrostatic pressure. When this happens near an ocean coastal area, salt water from the ocean intrudes into the fresh water aquifer as shown in the diagram. The result is that fresh water supplies become contaminate with salt water as is happening to communities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Saltwater intrusion has happened in North Carolina as well. Some of the more significant occurrences have happened in Cape Hatteras Island, Pitt County, Pender County, New Hanover County, and Brunswick County. In any case salt water intrusion has been approached first by regulating withdrawals from groundwater within the Central Coastal Plain Capacity Use Area, a high use area established in 2001 as having issues with salty groundwater. Shifting from groundwater to surface water has also helped with fresh groundwater recover. Currently, legislation associated with this 15 county area 15A NCAC 2E .0501 states as its goal to protect groundwater resource usage at rates which do not exceed the aquifers' recharge rates. The regulations hope to achieve sustainable water use by close to 2018. Intense monitoring in this at risk area is essential and an upcoming status report by the Division of Water Resources to the Environmental Management Commission on whether or not the legislation requiring regulation of withdrawals is meeting the desired reduction in saltwater intrusion.

Global Processes Driven by the Conveyor Belt

Heat Transport Nutrient Cycling Carbon Cycling

Why Biodiversity Matters

Helps ecosystems respond to disturbance / change Provides humans with many ecosystem services.... Limits infectious disease (e.g. mosquitoes & their prey) Medicine, therapeutic applications Culture, knowledge & recreation

The Messy Relationship Between Behaviors and Attitudes

How many of you recycle? How many of you have replaced "regular" light bulbs with energy-saving ones? Do you consider yourself to be an environmentalist? To emphasize the point between how people's behaviors do not match their attitudes about the environment (or many other things actually!), have the students answer these questions by raising their hands. Recycling - nearly everybody does this Energy-saving light bulbs - lots of students, but not as many as the recycling Environmentalists - very few students will raise their hands for this! Next, ask the students who said that they recycled or switched light bulbs - why don't they consider themselves to be environmentalists? They are helping the environment - right? What is so bad about saying you're an environmentalist? -is compliance the same as being environmental? -are there multiple levels to being an environmentalist? -how do we think about resources? Gas in US v. europe -is it a mindset instead of actions? What about education? -advocacy? -so what if we make this less messy and assume if you have these ideals and try to take action that you can be an envir. ? -take home point: sometimes these attitudes and actions don't coinicide or mesh, also sometimes there are negative connotations with being identified as environmentalists, also remember you don't have to do any of this alone

A Very Brief History of Agriculture

Hunter - gatherer until when? Cultivation began about 12,000 years ago - Neolithic Revolution (same time we see population start to raise significantly) First human farmers: about 12,000 years ago Global Agricultural Evolution: 1650 - 1850 AD Modern Agricultural Evolution: 1950 - present Cultivation began about 12,000 years ago - Neolithic Revolution (same time we see population start to raise significantly) Mechanical Revolution - is the "1st Green Revolution" referred to in EVS 195 textbooks. This results in a change from small farms to LARGE mechanized farms that are owned by corporations.

Agriculture-related Hypoxia

Hypoxia is a state where a body of water's oxygen concentrations fall below the level necessary to sustain most animal life. Called "Dead Zones" 405 dead zones around the world We have 2nd largest in the world = end of the Mississippi River in the Gulf of Mexico Question: Why?

IPAT Model

I=Environmental Impact = P=Number of people X A=Affluence per person X T=Environmental effect of technologies

Sea Level Projections

IPCC ~ 1 meter NOAA ~2 meters Army COE ~1.5 meters NC-20 ~8 inches Thermal expansion and glacial melt 30-60 % Ice sheets 30 to 40 % The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration have accepted six and a half feet as the worst-case scenario for the end of the century, and the Army Corp of Engineers has recommended that planners recognize at least a five-foot rise in sea level The state has an astonishing more than 2,500 miles of road below 4 feet, plus 15 schools; 108 houses of worship; and 131 EPA-listed sites such as hazardous waste dumps and sewage plants. At 8 feet, these numbers grow to more than 5,000 miles of road, 45 schools, 233 houses of worship, and 267 EPA-listed sites.

Ecological Footprint Comparison

If all the residents of India were to match American consumption, it would take five extra planet Earths to support them using current technology.

Measuring Water Use

If per capita freshwater supply is <1000m3 then = SEVERE WATER STRESS

The Global Food Systemneed to consider the entire system

Includes much more than just growing food and eating it... resource inputs, production and distribution, marketing, processing wholesale economic, legal, regulatory... It is no long as simple as just growing seeds, harvesting and selling grain at markets. The US could grow enough food to feed the entire planet. - Is it possible? NO! We grow enough food right now to feed everyone on earth. - Why are we not doing that? We are feeding animals to eat, we are growing biofuels instead of food, we are not willing to change our portions to ration food equitably, we waste food, etc...

Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge

Increased storm surge flooding events Damage to coastal infrastructure Roads and utilities Commercial and residential properties Increased coastal erosion Loss of property Environmental damage Disappearing beaches

Virtual Water

Is the water used during the growing, making, or manufacturing of a given commodity. How much water does it take to grow a certain vegetable? Coffee? Cotton t-shirt? See Table 5.2

What's the Average US Ecological Footprint?

It is 30 x greater than that of the average person in India It is 100 x greater than the average person in any of the world's poorest countries (e.g. Bangladesh). Bottom line: Need to think about which populations have the biggest ecological impacts...is it us?

Hot Spots - biologically diverse areasrate of extinction & habitat loss can be very high 25-50%.

Look at the equator and the tropics - almost all the red is in the tropics Areas of really high biodiversity Areas of high extinction rates There is immediate threat to biodiversity in these hot spots. Look at US hotspots - areas of high population density and unique habitats Islands are areas of high endemics ==== reason they are areas of high extinction rates and high diversity loss

Global Warming and the Conveyor Belt

Loss of Density Differentiations Melting Of Glaciers And Sea Ice Less Heat Exchange From Ocean Surface To Atmosphere Loss of Deep Water Formation?

Flooding/Inundation

Low lying areas permanently or periodically inundated with water Damage to infrastructure and environment North Carolina Barrier islands and large coastal plain Salt marshes flooded Sewer and septic systems (public health) North Carolina's coast consists of barrier islands and large coastal plains, which would be submerged with only small increases in sea level. Six thousand square kilometers in North Carolina are less than one meter in elevation. Louisiana and Florida are the only other states with larger areas of low-lying land

Locations of Population Growth

Most population growth is in lesser-developed countries (LDC) However, trends in population increases show very large increases in urban areas, esp Africa, Asia (megacities, where population > 10 million) People are leaving rural areas for the cities - why? Jobs, Food, Drought Poor city planning, poor urban health...

Private sector participation in water supply and sanitation is controversial.

Neoliberalism and Market Environmentalism 'Free markets as a solution for human & environmental well-being' Water is treated like any other commodity including setting prices as per market supply and demand.

Southeast North Carolina

New Hanover and Brunswick Counties Wilmington Population ~350,000 Large populations along coastline, creeks, and ICWW Port of Wilmington Busiest in NC Region characterized by low lying wetlands Extensive development in coastal zone and low lying areas Hardened structures along shoreline Altered shoreline dynamics High tidal exchange Nine inlets Rapid population growth New Hanover County ~38,000 residential properties, 6.8 billion

Next step - biofortification...

Next step - biofortification... to increase micronutrients in (often) genetically modified food. The underlying cause is not fixed, and responsibility goes to plant breeders and not govn't.... Does nothing to improve dietary diversity...

Deep Water Upwelling

Not As Localized As Deep Water Formation Caused By Mixing And Surface Wind Currents

Environmental Degradation

Occurs when a resource's natural replacement rate is exceeded by our amount of use. Examples Urbanization of productive lands Soil erosion Deforestation Overgrazing of livestock Reduction of biodiversity Pollution "Tragedy of the Commons"

China's Family Planning Policy

One-child per family Very strict economic penalties Recently (2014) eased policy Problems include: Eroded personal freedom Disproportionate number of males born Generation of single children (no brothers or sisters)

Other issues with food -

Other issues with food - Feeding animals - collectively, cattle, poultry and pigs consume ½ the world's wheat, ~ 90% of the world's corn & soybeans and almost all of the world's barley (hurrah beer drinkers...) Bottom line - we will need to feed 9.5 billion people AND 4 billion livestock... Feeding cars...biofuel from corn (40% of all corn in the USA) and biodiesel (vegetable oils). Push up food prices

Community Governance Projects-- Successful on a variety of levels:

Participation - of end users Transparency - decision makers are local Equity - everybody is a stakeholder Accountability - now shifts from government/company to end users Responsiveness - in demand or infrastructure Ethics - governed in society's ethical principles E.g. Micro watershed councils in Mexico and Guatemala - employment, water security, minimize erosion...

Agroecology

Polycultures Small, diverse farms that grow several kinds of crops (also meat products) at the same time The can out-produce large industrial farms Local Knowledge, local input, local control, local responsibility Better soil conservation through crop rotations and diversity More food security because you are not depending on one crop only

New Hanover County

Property value ~2.8 billion -Schools 1 Population ~6,000 -Gov't Buildings 5 Homes ~5,185 - 19,000 acres Roads ~130 miles EPA Listed Sites 18 Hazardous Waste Sites 15 Wastewater facilities 8 Public Safety Facilities 1

Resource Types

Renewable Resources Can be replenished in the short term (hours-years) through natural processes only at a rate at which nature provides them Examples: solar and wind energy, forests, grasslands, wild animals, fresh water, fresh air, and fertile soil Nonrenewable Resource are those that exist in fixed quantity in the earth's crust. Examples: Energy resources - oil, coal, natural gas Metallic mineral resources - copper, iron, aluminum Nonmetallic minerals - salt, clay, sand, phosphates

When are resources depleted?

Renewable Resources Will be depleted when they are used at a higher rate than they can be replenished. Sustainable Yield Is the highest rate at which a renewable resource can be used indefinitely w/o reducing its available supply

STIRPAT

STIRPAT model (STOCHASTIC IMPACTS BY PROGRESSION ON...PAT Newer model takes into account other outside forces besides IPAT that can have an effect on environmental impacts. Factors such as - economics and demographics

Shoreline Erosion

Sea level rise accelerates shoreline erosion Alters sedimentation patterns Magnified 100 to 150 times in some locations Coastal erosion has increased over past 150 years Barrier islands and salt marshes Island rollover Drowning salt marshes Coastal erosion research has shown that shoreline erosion is magnified 100 to 150 times because of sea level rise. This means that a 20-centimeter rise in sea level could result in 20 meters of shoreline erosion. The mechanisms responsible for increased erosion due to sea level rise are not well understood, but it is hypothesized that higher sea levels allow waves to reach further up the beach and redeposit sediment that normally would only be disturbed during storm events. Coastal storms and human interference is often linked to high coastal erosion, but during 20th century there was no increase in the frequency or intensity of storms affecting coastal areas. Human intervention in shoreline dynamics can be responsible for rapid shoreline erosion, but shoreline defenses are not systematic or consistent along any coast. The underlying constant associated with shoreline erosion along the east coast of the United States is sea level rise

Conclusion (SEA LEVEL)

Sea level rise in SE NC Increased rates of shoreline erosion Increased impacts associated with coastal storms Increased flooding risks Negative impacts to critical infrastructure Southeast North Carolina will experience significant economic and environmental damage if sea levels increase 1 or 2 meters

Impacts (sea level)

Shoreline erosion Saltwater intrusion Flooding/ Inundation Destruction from coastal storms Environmental destruction

Normative Theory & CollectiveMobilization

Social norms: standard/expectations accepted by a community, can become laws Ex. Speeding Personal norms: personal standards Ex. Picking up trash at the beach Injunctive norms: behavior based on what an individual thinks others want them to do - Ex. your lawn & neighbors, dog poo, littering... So when we talk about "collective mobilization" we are really talking about altering social and injunctive norms. This is our "human dimension" of environmental science.

Something to consider....

Something to consider.... The 10M hogs, 80M broiler chickens, 4M egg-laying hens, 13,700 dairy cows, and 3,800 beef cattle on factory farms in NC produce as much untreated manure as 207M people — about two-thirds the size of the entire U.S. population!!!

Coastal Storms

Storm surge Increased base to build on Flooding (further inland) High water events Barrier islands Wave height Increased base to build on Reach further inland Large erosion events Sea level rise is expected to increase the frequency of high water events associated with storms, and 'once a century' destructive storm surges might become annual events. The one percent chance of a devastating storm surge every century will become a 10 percent chance every decade if sea level continues on its predicted trajectory. Furthermore, even areas that experience slow rates of relative sea level rise will experience a large increase in the frequency of extreme high water events

Effects of Climate Change

Stronger storms Wetter in some areas Drought Sea Level Rise Increase Ocean Acidity by absorbing CO2

What will Climate Change do to our water supply?

Temps increase >> more intense storms >> more rain >> floods and soil erosion (+ more algal blooms >> dead zones) OR - Temps increase >> droughts >> drying out rivers, lakes and freshwater sources

What If Everyone had the same Ecological Footprint as the US?

The Earth could sustain only 1.4 billion people. Need between 3-8 Earths to sustain 7 billion people using resources the same way as the US.

Threatened and Endangered Species

The Endangered Species Act Signed into Law by President Nixon in 1973 Threatened are still abundant in their natural range but, because of loss in numbers, is likely to become endangered in the near future Endangered are so few in number that the species could soon become extinct over all or part of its natural range Full cirlce back to the presentation at beginning of class What does the ESA do? - emphasize that it includes the critical habitat. Not just the spp.

Ecological Footprint - what is it and what is (y)ours?

The average amount of land, water and ocean required to provide that person with all the resources they consume Earth's Productive Land and Water=28.2 billion acres Amount Each Person is Allotted (divide Productive Land and Water by Human Population)=4.1 acres Current Global Ecological Footprint of each person=5.4 acres

The largest innovation in agriculture has been the:

The largest innovation in agriculture has been the: Mechanical Revolution "The substitution of capital for labor." What does this mean? Tractors, plows, etc. >> increased energy use Mechanical Revolution changed the "Structure of Agriculture" Changed how we grow things - specializing in monocultures and using machines instead of laborers. Cost & Efficiency!

What is Biodiversity?

The number and variety of the Earth's organisms, consisting of species richness, genetic diversity and ecosystem diversity Variety and variability of life on Earth. Variability within species, between species, and between ecosystems.

Ecosystem Services

The process by which the environment produces resources that we usually take for granted but need for our survival Clear air and water, fertile soil, nutrient cycling etc. Other examples - textbook provides detail on each: Food (Agriculture & Fisheries & Forests) Fuel (forests) Fiber (forests) Water (nutrients, agriculture) Atmospheric regulation Habitat Medicine Cultural (intrinsic value)

What is Global Warming?

The recent and ongoing rise in global average temperature near Earth's surface. Global warming is measured by a "temperature anomaly", which means a departure from a reference value or long-term average. A positive anomaly indicates that the observed temperature was warmer than the reference value, while a negative anomaly indicates that the observed temperature was cooler than the reference value.

Public or Private Water Supply

This was the "norm" Local, city/county or state governments control the water supply Private wells (groundwater) and waterways (surface water) located on privately owned lands

The Global Commons

Those parts of the environment available to everyone, but for which no single individual has responsibility Ex: the atmosphere, fresh water, forests, wildlife, ocean fisheries Society needs laws and policy to: Prevent short-term degradation of the global commons - AND- Ensure the long-term well-being of our natural resources. Control population?

Sea Level Rise: Economic Damage

Tourism in southeastern NC 223 million dollars per year by 2080-decrease in beach trips 48 percent decrease in vacation rental by 2080 Combination of total by 2080 3.9 billion dollars Cumulative storm damage by 2080 ~ 1 billion Damaged farmlands ~800,000 million dollars Increased forest damage by 150% By 2080, 14 of the 17 recreational swimming beaches in southern NC are projected to have eroded all the way to the road, making beach recreation no longer possible.

The Messy Relationship Between Behaviors and Attitudes 3

What about people who recycle and people who do not? Where do you live? A structural change in municipal infrastructure could allow people who currently do not recycle to do so - if it is convenient to them. Remember Problem 2: Need for greener choices - but there must be viable green choices Examples from the textbook Recycling is a behavior that does NOT always mean that a person has green or pro-environmental attitudes Why do people not recycle? Maybe it's not convenient to do it, so they don't. Need to change the way the recycling is done - structural change to provide greener choices. HOWEVER - REMEMBER FROM A FEW SLIDES AGO - There are problems with traditoinal solutions to env. Problems. Greener choices must be viable- or in this case exist at all.

The Problem of "Individualism" and the Environment

What does individualism mean for the Environment? Ex: The three Rs Reduce / Reuse / Recycle Too much emphasis on individual action Ex: "doing our part" Not enough focus on "collective mobilization" for behavioral and social change (campus wide, community, town) The Author of our text discusses the "problem of individualism", and that there is too much emphasis on this. For example: Doing pro-environmental actions means emphasizing individual action - such as "doing our part" Individual actions are fine, but need to have "Collective mobilization" to get real levels of change -how does an individuals activities impact envir? -maybe activities should be as part of a collective (campus, community-level) -how do we all participate as a larger collective instead of a community level collective, societal change (sometimes described as a direct change to social or cultural norms -add explanation to what a "norm" and normative theory

Privatizing Water Systems

What happens when the government sells the water supply to a private company? Who sets the prices? Who determines who gets water delivered to houses and businesses and who does not? Is this the right thing to do?

Ecological Footprint

What is your Ecological Footprint? It's everything you do Everything makes an impact either in a positive or negative way towards the environment. Carbon Footprint Calculator available at The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm

Population Conclusions

What works and what doesn't Depends on country, location, political situation & education, economics "Boserup effect" (1965) Population will determine methods of food supply, and that people will always find ways to increase agricultural production Technology, labor practices, machinery, etc. Different from Thomas Malthus "Carrying capacity" and Earth only can sustain a certain amount of people - Or with enough people, plenty of brains & geniuses...

Water Use

Where do we use most of our water? 70% freshwater used for Agriculture 22% Industry 8% Cities and households Which countries use the most water? Which countries are water stressed? http://www.unep.org/dewa/vitalwater/article32.html

Bottled Water

Who drinks the most bottled water? US and Mexico - Both = 29% of global market Per capita use - Mexico and Italy are greatest Why important: One liter bottle of water costs 3 liters to make! Connecting Privatization to bottled water: Latin Am and Africa - public/ private water supply is so bad that people must by bottle water Shopping our way to safety... if you can afford it!

Global Water Use

Who uses more water per capita? US or China? US - but China's population is 4x of the US!! US uses 13.5x more water than Bangladesh

Who is promoting Water Privatization?

World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) provide loans to countries which privatize their water Consequences: Result - rich 'responsible' nations with good infrastructure have cheap water vs. poor countries have expensive water, poor infrastructure (pay up to 100 x more!) Bottom Line: Will a profit-seeking company supply water services to areas who cannot pay? Does water connection mean piped water? Donor reductions in $$

"La Via Campesina"

World's most important transnational social movement? Peasants and women and bringing about changes to inequality, social justice, better agriculture and food security Fight against global/corporate control of food BFREE cocoa market is an example