Intro to Environmental Science
Give 3 examples of situations that show the Tragedy of the Commons:
-Commercial Fishing -Aquifer depletion for irrigation -Destruction of common land
2 major events have changed the course of human history and the way we interact with natural resources
1. Agricultural Revolution 2. Industrial Revolution
Which counties have the smallest?
India, Africa, and South America
Why is the Tragedy of Commons called a "Tragedy"?
It can lead to the depletion of the common resource
____________ _______ _________ take a long time to replenish Ex: ______ _____ (____, ___, _______ ___)
Non renewable natural resources, Fossil Fuels (Coal, Oil, Natural Gas)
Which countries have the largest ecological footprint?
North America, Europe, Russia, Australia, and Middle East
Give a possible explanation for these observations
North American, Australian, and European nations are heavily industrialized. These require more fossil fuels and therefore have a greater footprint
_________ _______ _________ are naturally replenished over short periods of time Ex: ________, _____ _____, ____
Renewable Natural Resources, Sunlight, Fresh Water, Soil
Tragedy of the Commons-
When a shared resource is unregulated, individuals will consume it a selfish rate
An __________ _________ is a measure of the demands made by one person or group on global natural resources
ecological footprint
In fact the ___________ includes all ______ things and the ___ ______ things with which they interact
environment, living, non living
An ecological footprint includes the _________ and _________ consumed and the _________ needed to _______ of the _____ produced
materials, resources, resources, dispose, waste
The "environment" is often a term used to describe the _______ world
natural
In order to sustainably use our natural resources, we need individual ______________, community ___________ or __________ regulations
responsibility, cooperation, government
Resources must be used at a ___________ rate- one that replaces what's used at the same rate
sustainable
Environmental science is not...
•Environmental Activism- social movement advocating for protection of nature •Ecology- purely scientific study of nature
Environmental science is...
•The study of ecology and how humans affect the environment problems •Interdisciplinary- involves bio, chem, earth science, economics, and political science