Introduction to Environmental Science
Tragedy of the Commons
-Describes a situation in which resources, made available to everyone, are used unsustainably and eventually depleted -Resource management, whether voluntary or mandated, can help avoid resource depletion.
What Is Environmental Science?
-The study of our planet's natural systems and how humans and the environment affect one another -The environment includes all living and nonliving things with which organisms interact. -Understanding the interactions between humans and the environment is the first step to solving environmental problems.
Natural Resources
Natural resources are materials and energy sources found in nature that humans need to survive.
Nonrenewable resources
Naturally formed more slowly than we use them.
Renewable resources
Naturally replenished over short periods
Environmental Science
Objective, unbiased pursuit of knowledge about the workings of the environment and our interactions with it
Renewable vs. Non-renewable resources
Renewable resources can become nonrenewable if used faster than they are replenished.
Environmentalism
Social movement dedicated to protecting the natural world
Human Population Growth
The population has experienced exponentail growth. This is tremendous and rapid human population growth can be attributed to: • The Agricultural Revolution: About 10,000 years ago; humans began living in villages, had longer life spans, and more surviving children. • Industrial Revolution: Began in early 1700s; driven by fossil fuels and technological advances
Ecological Footprints
The total amount of land and water required to: provide the raw materials an individual or population consumes dispose of or recycle the waste an individual or population consumes Most informative when footprints are calculated using the same method
Global commons
Things that are shared at the global level, such as water, air and sunlight.
Local commons
Things that are shared at the local level, such as water, air, community gardens, and parks.
