ENVIRO 100 FINAL

What is environmental psychology?

"A field of study that examines the interrelationship between environments and human affect, cognition and behavior." •Concerned with both natural and built environments - landscape architecture/building planning - emotional connections

Biomimicry

"An approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies" EX: -Whales: efficient wind power turbines -Dolphins: underwater signals -Termite mounds: air cooling system of buildings -Prairies: resilient agricultural system -Mosquito: syringe needles

A Perfect Moral Storm (Gardiner). 4 challenges

"My thesis is this: the peculiar features of the CC problem pose substantial obstacles to our ability to make the hard choices necessary to address it. CC is a perfect moral storm. One consequence: even if the diff ethical Q could be answered, we might still find it difficult to act" 4 Challenges: GLOBAL: Causes and effects are spatially diffuse. emissions all over the world cause CC. People will be differently effected depending on where they live. Effects in a given location not proportional to emissions. Global south more vulnerable, even though emitting least CO2. INTERGENERATIONAL: Causes and effects are temporally diffuse. Effects caused by centuries of emissions. Our emissions will harmfully effect future generations - ethical collective action problem. how do we consider future generations ECOLOGICAL: CC will affect non-human nature and animals (and future generations) THEORETICAL CHALLENGE: How do we behave ethically in uncertainty? Our theoretical tools are underdeveloped in vital and relevant areas: international justice, intergenerational ethics, scientific uncertainty & risk, environmental ethics we need to focus on the entire scope to create a solution.

Three components of biodiversity: species, genetic, ecosystem/ecological

# of ecosystems, and genetic and species diversity within those ecosystems and ecological variety w/in them. (EX: deserts, rainforests) 1. species diversity 2. genetic diversity: distinctiveness & # of diff genes present in individuals, population, and species 3. ecosystem/ecological diversity: "dynamic complex of plant, animal, & microorganism as a functional unit". more diverse = more resilient

Hanford Nuclear Reservation

(Columbia River, WA) Est. 1943 as a Federal nuclear weapon production complex. During Cold War: 9 nuclear reactors & 5 plutonium processors. - inadequate safety: gov docs indicate operations released radioactive material into the air & Columbia River. 1989: reactors for making weapons-grade plutonium decommissioned, but decades of manufacturing left a great deal of radioactive waste behind. (estimated 53 million G high level radioactive waste, 25 million cubic feet solid radioactive waste, 200 sq miles contaminated groundwater) Representing over 60% of US's high-level radioactive waste. Most contaminated nuclear site in the US & largest environmental cleanup.

Market Instruments: "Privatization" * top down

- put monetary value on resources - water, land - and gov them • Convert common goods/services into private property, giving the new owner a personal incentive to conserve the resource EX: privatize water supply, energy supply, land trusts (purchase land to protect it) * assumption: high prices will lower consumption

Ecological/Environmental citizenship

- think about citizens of the environment (not single states) - duties and rights & its conception of political space.. "eco footprint" principal: insure that ecological footprints make a sustainable, rather than an unsustainable, impact KEY CONCEPTS: •Self-interested behaviors will not always protect or sustain public goods such as the environment* •EC makes a commitment to the collective common good* •EC promotes long-term changes in attitudes* •EC balances environmental rights & responsibilities •EC works towards a just & sustainable society •EC uses ecological footprint as a measure of fairness •Rights and responsibilities transcend national boundaries --> international & intergenerational

Fields of Study (environmental psychology)

1) Place identity 2) Place attachment 3) Environmental consciousness 4) Design applications 5) Ecopsychology 6) Companion animals & psychology 7) Environmental volunteering 8) Children and environmental education

Definitions of sustainability

1. A sustainable process can be carried out over and over without negative environmental, social, or economic effects. 2. "Meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs." 1987 Brundtland Report, Our Common Future 3. "Maintaining your consumption without eroding your capital."Johannesburg Summit Secretary-General Nitin Desai 4. Improves the quality of human life while living within the carrying capacity of supporting ecosystems. 5. "We must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." Iroquois Confederacy

Most energy efficient form of transport

1. Barge (.1 Kcal/kg/km) 2. Rail 3. Truck 4. Air (6.36) * but air is the most diverse; some are efficient

Ehrlich and Pringle (2008): Portfolio of solutions for the biodiversity crisis. What are the seven solutions? What do they mean? Which might be appropriate in each of the examples provided in lecture?

1. Into a less peopled, less hostile planet 2. Into perpetuity via endowments for conserved areas 3. Into human modified landscapes, as best as it can 4. Toward a protected role within the global economy 5. Into ecologically reclaimed and restored habitats 6. Into the fabric of local communities 7. Onto the cultural radar screen * must be used together

What are other options for sustainable economic systems? How do they compare to current economic systems? ‐Steady state economy ‐Natural capitalism ‐Beyond GDP: Human Development Index (HDI), Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI), Happy Planet Index (HPI)

1. Steady State Economy 2. Natural Capitalism 3. Move beyond GDP: Reinvent how progress is measured

Invasive species ‐Native, introduced, invasive ‐Impacts and examples

1. direct predation/herbivory on native species 2. outcompete native species (water, light, food, water, space, pollinators, dispersers) - replace natural habitat NATIVE = species living within its natural range, including the area which it can reach using its body, wind, and water (even if seldom found there INTRODUCES (Non-native/Exotic/Alien = species introduced by people in an area outside its natural range INVASIVE = introduced species whose intro causes or is likely to cause harm (enviro, health, economic) EX: Euro Rabbits in Australia (heavy grazing, reduce biodiversity, extinction of 1/8 mammals in Australia) EX: Brown Tree Snake in Guam (accidently transported): severe biodiversity loss (birds and small mammals suffered), power outages, loss of pets, worry for children, pollinator loss (bats)

4 principles of bidiversity

1. not evenly distributed (richest at equator = latitudinal species gradient. associated w. climate, altitude, soils and species presence) 2. is critical for our well being and survival (goods & services) 3. increases resilience 4. is declining fast all components of biodiversity are important for ecosystem health and the production of ecosystem services: species, genetic, ecosystem diversity

Planetary boundaries: Which have we exceeded and what does this mean for biodiversity?

1. rate of biodiversity loss 2. climate change 3. human interference w/ Nitrogen cycle 1 - the extinction rate is occurring beyond the natural rate. 10 (proposed boundary) > 100 (current status) .1-1 (pre-industrial value)

Why should we care about biodiversity? (Meadows)

1. self-interest: protect food source 2. human reckoning cannot put value on the millions of services performed for us by the millions of species of life on earth (pollination, flood and drought control, pest control) 3. integrity of the interdependent biological world can maintain itself without human interference - but we are part of an interdependent biological community

Steven Gardiner: Climate change has been described as a "PERFECT MORAL STORM" because it brings together 3 major challenges to ethical action in a mutually reinforcing way Challenges: global, intergenerational, ecological, and theoretical *return to this term

1st challenge stems from the fact that climate change is a truly global phenomenon. 2nd challenge is that current emissions have profoundly intergenerational effects. 3rd challenge to ethical action is that our theoretical tools are underdeveloped in many of the relevant areas, such as international justice, intergenerational ethics, scientific uncertainty, and the appropriate relationship between humans and the rest of nature

Adaptation (peppered moth)

2 variations: speckled white + black moth. pre-industrial revolution: white dominated (less than 2% black) post-rev: selective survival of black moth in sooted trees; white less able to camouflage Species adapt over time.

Which Ethical framework best categorizes the Deep Ecology Platform?

A biocentric or ecocentric framework that values nature for intrinsic reasons

What re some of the specific ethical issues that arise when trying to decide on appropriate climate policy?

Allocation of Emissions: what rates of GHGs should be permitted? How quickly must we reduce emissions? Who makes these decisions? Unavoidable Harmful Impacts: Financial burdens, who should pay? What compensations for those who suffer? Individual Responsibility: Morally responsible for climate-affecting behaviors? Also systemic, and structural. How do we share the burden?

Environmental Volunteering

Altruistic activities intended to promote goodness or improve human quality of life - for interest of others • In return, producing a feeling of self-worth or respect "Volunteers are not paid because they are priceless!" TYPE: 1. Relgious 2. Edu/youth services 3. social or community 62 million volunteers in US (25% of pop) - mostly white women with education * psych benefits, enviro restored lead to changes in environmental outlook and behaviors.

"carbon neutral"

An activity that does not change atmospheric CO2 concentrations. In theory, burning biomass fuel (which is modern carbon) does not result in a net increase of atmospheric CO2 because we are returning the carbon to where it had recently been. Additionally, if we allow the corn or trees to grow back in areas where biomass was recently harvested, that new vegetation will take up an amount of CO2 more or less equal to the amount released by burning the biomass. Overtime, the net change in atmospheric CO2 concentrations should be zero.

Place Attachment

An individual's emotional or affective ties to a place • The result of a long-term connection with a certain environment EX: stewardship sites, community gardens, senior communities

Place Identity

An individual's incorporation of place into the larger concept of self • Cognitions about the physical world in which the individual lives EX: landmarks, sport teams, cultural sites, neighborhoods, structures

Bioaccumulation and biomagnification and examples in food webs

BIOMAGNIFICATION: As one organism eats another, accumulated chemicals stored in the prey become stored-and concentrated- in the predator EX: Silent Spring: elm tree diseased and died, fungus kills bugs, leaves fell, eaten by earth worms, then robins) EX: salmon > seals > killer whales BIOaccumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism.

Living Buildings

Bertschi School • Aim to be self-sustaining in energy, water, and waste use • For certification: Net zero energy and water input/output for one year when fully occupied • Strive to collect, recycle, and reuse waste water on site Bullit Center • "World's Greenest Office Building" • Building materials: ruled out 362 toxic substances used in construction • Goal: All power from sunlight, all water from rainfall, and all heat and cooling from geothermal heat pumps • No parking, one back elevator, windows/shades

Increases resilience (The Rivet Hypothesis)

Biodiversity = key to ecosystem function, & ecosystem goods & services - ecosystem processes depend on the presence & abundance of organisms w/ specific traits more biodiversity = more resilience Rivet Hypothesis: "Like a screw, removing them from a plane may change the whole system, making it less stable" Changes in biodiversity can directly reduce ecosystem goods & services as well as alter ecosystem processes. EX: Brazil nut trees EX: gastric breeding frog (raising young in their stomachs)

Taxonomy

Biodiversity is not only measured by species. Carl Lineas: Hierarchal System of Classification - species, genus, family, order, class, phylum, kingdom, domaain

Biofuels - advantages and disadvantages (Renewable energy)

Biomass can be processed or refined into liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel: biofuels. PROS: produce less greenhouse gases overall than fossil fuels when burned CONS: technological & financial demands. - Biofuels are used less often and generally in developed countries because much easier to burn a log in a fire (biomass) than to produce biodiesel!

Biomass Energy - advantages and disadvantages (Renewable energy)

Biomass energy is a very large class of fuels including wood, charcoal, animal products, manure, municipal solid waste, and liquid fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. PROS: inexpensive & readily available, used extensively in developing world for cooking and heating. - 86% of the energy consumed in sub-Saharan Africa is from biomass (usually wood). CONS: Although wood is a renewable resource, over-harvesting is not sustainable.

If both fossil fuels and biomass release CO2 to the atmosphere, is it more sustainable to replace fossil fuels with biomass? (Modern Carbon versus Fossil Carbon)

Both contains a lot of carbon, burning it releases carbon into the atmosphere. The answer depends on: 1) how the material is harvested & processed (especially the EROEI) 2) how long the carbon has been stored. - The carbon in plants growing today was in the atmosphere in the form of CO2 until recently, when it was incorporated into the bodies of the plants during photosynthesis. - If the biofuel is made from corn, the CO2 was in the atmosphere until just weeks or months ago! - If the biomass energy is from wood, it may have been in the atmosphere a few hundred years ago (if it was a very large tree). - *The carbon in biomass is thus modern carbon while the carbon in fossil fuels is fossil carbon* fossil carbon has been buried. By burning these fossil fuels, we rapidly increase the atmospheric CO2 concentrations because we are releasing carbon that was stored from the atmosphere millions of years ago

Ecophobia (David Sobe) ‐Examples, problems, solutions ‐Developmentally appropriate EE

Builds on NDD: Sobel says that children are disconnected from the world outside their front door, but are taught to protect endangered species & ecosystems across the world. The problem: -Too abstract for young kids -Overwhelming -Creates fear/aversion Solution: Give children time to connect with and love nature before we ask them to save it: No tragedies before fourth grade. • He advocates for developmentally appropriate environmental education: -Empathy (ages 4-7) -Exploration (ages 7-11) -Social Action (age 12+)

Tambopata, Peru, is one of the biodiversity hotspots in the world. It is also home to indigenous people whose livelihood depends on the use of forest resources. With rich oil deposits, the region attracts great interest from international petroleum corporations. A project convened multiple stakeholder groups and asked participants to deliberate on a land-use planning map for the region. This is an example of which type of environmental governance?

Collaborate resource management

Deforestation ‐Global trends and spatial patterns ‐Drivers (direct & indirect) ‐Environmental impacts ‐Social impacts ‐Possible solutions

Deforestation: Occurring in tropical areas. Reforestation: Temperate areas recovering bc developing countries (N. America +Europe) protect them & reduction in agricultural activities (importing instead) Amazon: accounts for about 27% of the world's deforestation • 1996-2005, clearing an average of 19,500 km2/year (about the size of Washington State) • The impact of roads -Logging operation (only 2-3%) -Conduits for squatters, speculators, ranchers, farmers, land developers Direct Drivers • Cattle ranching • Industrial soybean production • Agriculture Indirect Drivers • Global markets • A weak central state • Unstable social systems Environmental Impacts •Biodiversity loss •Loss of ecosystem services & goods •Increasing fire risk •Increasing carbon emissions •Changes in precipitation patterns Social Impacts •Loss of access to natural resources and homelands by traditional communities •Social instability and warfare •Economic collapse of communities

Desertification ‐Global trends and spatial patterns ‐Drivers (direct & indirect) ‐Environmental impacts ‐Social impacts ‐Possible solutions

Degradation of dryland ecosystems & productivity due to human overuse of the land, resulting in conversion of arid and semiarid lands into deserts. * Severe changes are irreversible & could lead to regime shifts of the whole system - human caused - overuse of land projection: dryland areas will continue to increase threat: to 1/4 world's population MAIN DRIVERS: - overgrazing; deforestation; agriculture; putting pressure on land, cannot replenish fast enough INDIRECT DRIVERS: - Globalization: Export-oriented production • Agricultural intensification • South America, Africa, Asia, Australia - Population Growth: Land development & increasing water use • Europe (Mediterranean) • China - farm land Environmental Impacts •Soil erosion •Biodiversity loss (soil organisms) •Reduced primary production and nutrient cycling •Land salinization •Drought (as a result of groundwater overdrafting) Social Impacts •Crop loss and economic instability •Land degradation and decreasing productivity •Water shortage; social unrest •Dust storms: Air pollution and respiratory diseases •Poverty: environmental refugees

geoengineering

Deliberate and large-scale interventions in the Earth system with the goal of altering, or improving something about the way our earth, on the global scale, is functioning. Should we research new strategies? Who should decide to implement geoengineering? What risks are tolerable? CO2 removal - converted into a solid and stored in the ground. Will it work? Do we know enough about our planet.... remember Biosphere 2

Design Applications

Design considerations based on principles found in environmental psychology to improve the environment people live in & the experience of the environment

Global patterns of energy consumption by energy source

Diff countries use energy at diff rates & rely on diff energy resources (depending on price & availability) - Not evenly distributed throughout the world. Avg world consumption (2011): 513 EJ/yr (~75 GJ/person/yr). US (2007): 355 GJ /person/yr. 5x world avg. Only 20% of the world's population lives in developed countries, but those people use ~70% world's energy/yr. Per-capital energy consumption: - Atlanta, GA: 782g gas/person/yr - Barcelona: 64g gas/person/yr - Canada: cold country, high living standards, affordable fuel = little incentive to be efficient - Afghanistan also uses energy to keep cool

Dust bowl & current drought in the US

Dustbowl: 1930s - great plains - storms affecting midwest Today: - Cali and Central Valley - Even in WA state

Which subfield in environmental psychology focuses on the emotional connection between individuals and the natural world with an emphasis on nature's healing and restorative power for humans?

Ecopsychology

Vulnerability to extinction (endemic, specialist, generalist, genetic diversity)

Endemic Species: geographically unique = vulnerable (EX: Zanzibak Red Colobus) Specialists: thrive only in limited conditions/food = vulnerable (EX: Koala - eat Eucaliptists, live in one area) Generalists = can survive easily (EX: Raccoons - varying diet) Genetic Diversity: allows pop/species to adapt to changing enviro

EROEI

Energy Return on Energy Invested (EROEI) EROEI = Energy Obtained from the fuel/ Energy invested to obtain the fuel Every energy source requires an expenditure of energy to obtain it. - The most direct way to account for the energy required to produce a fuel is to calculate how much energy we get out of an energy source for every unit of energy expended in its production. OIL Back in the day: gushed out of the ground. 1 barrel needed for 100 Today: much more energy is required to extract it. (more input, less output). 1 barrel for 10 EROEI is declining

Environmental generational amnesia & Enviro Education

Environmental degradation increases with each generation • Each generation takes the condition of the environment in their childhood as the norm • If we don't realize there is a problem (because the change occurs slowly, very noticeable over generations but not within a lifetime), it is very hard to deeply understand that we need to do something to solve the problem (what problem?) SOLUTIONS: Environmental education, especially early engagement with kids in nature Why is environmental education (EE) important? • EE exposes participants to the natural world and can inspire a sense of wonder • EE can inform citizens about environmental issues • EE can empower citizens to adopt sustainable practices in their everyday lives • EE plays a role in political and social change on a larger scale

case of the starling

European bird introduced 3x in New York's Central Park "he hoped to introduce into North America every bird mentioned by Shakespeare" they pushed way across the country all over the coasts. 200 million now in the US

Current and historic extinction rates

Extinction is natural.... but the current rate is 100 -1000x the natural rate - up to 30% mammal, bird, and amphibian species threatened w/ extinction this century - happens at local and regional level, can impact whole earth proposed planetary boundary: 10x background level

Currently deforestation is happening at a faster rate than reforestation in the United States. (True or False)

False

Formal vs. informal EE: examples

Formal (In school, serves PreK-college) -Washington State Learning Standards (curriculum) -In-school programs (supplementary curriculum) -School gardens -AP Environmental Science -Nature-based preschool Informal (Outside of school hours, serves all ages) -Nature centers, parks, zoos, museums, summer camps -Community gardens -Adult enrichment programs (e.g. Master Gardener, Beach Naturalist, Docent)

Fracking

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

Challenges and future of EE

Funding -funding for wages, for programs, for teacher training. Making connections -Consistent messages between programs (no Grade Level Expectations) -From informal programs to learning in the regular classroom -Connecting between "one-off" experiences Future of Environmental Education •Long-term partnerships between schools and community organizations: -Regular field trips to a particular area -Ongoing citizen science projects and studies -Collaboration between classroom teachers & informal educators with subject matter expertise •Interdisciplinary learning in secondary classrooms •Ecological literacy standards in higher education •Expanded resources for teacher training at all levels

How does genetic diversity work? Allele, adaptation

GD = allows pop/species to adapt to a changing enviro Some alleles (gene variants) are more "fit" to new conditions - relative frequency of alleles change

Montreal Protocol (1987):

Goal: Phasing out of CFC & other ozone-depleting substances by 2050 Success: As of 2012, all countries in the UN have ratified Montreal Protocol (shining example of green diplomacy) Factors: • Phasing out approach -Industrial countries to cut ODSs in half by 2000 -Developing countries can increase ODSs use for 10 years and gradually phase out * issue of equity: majority of emissions from Developed countries • ODSs substitutes • Multilateral fund supporting developing countries to participate

Governance & Environmental governance

Governance: "all processes of governing, whether undertaken by a government, market, or network, whether over a family, tribe, formal or informal organization, or territory, and whether through laws, norms, power, or language." Environmental Governance: the governing of natural resources and the environment, which takes place at multiple scales - local, national, and international

Seattle Renewable Energy

Green Up = voluntary green power program. People purchase renewable power for a portion of their electricity use. With this money, Seattle City Light buys electricity from independent companies that produce energy from renewable resources Community Solar = allows people to pool financial resources to install solar panels @ community site, & be credited on their electric bills. EX:Seattle Aquarium (solar panels on roof)

Move beyond GDP: Reinvent how progress is measured

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) -The most common measure -Market value of all goods and services -Does not account for externalities Human Development Index (HDI) -A composite statistics of life expectancy, education, & per capita income indicators published by the UN -Framed in terms of whether people are able to be in desired conditions and do desired things in life Human Welfare and Ecological Footprint - 2.1 hectares/person = earth's capacity - threshold = 8HDI - uneven Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) -Consolidates economic, environmental, & social indicators into a single measurement -Includes goods & services AND measures of income distribution, higher education, resource depletion, pollution, the health of the population, & others Happy Planet Index (HPI) = (Experienced well-being X Life expectancy) / Ecological footprint (on a scale of 0 to 100) -Measures the "extent to which countries deliver long, happy, sustainable lives for the people that live in them" - US = 37.3 (live long, big footprint, not happy - Indonesia = 52.9

Threats to biodiversity: HIPPO

H - habitat loss I - invasive species P - population growth P - pollution O - overconsumption

Companion Animals & Psychology

Human-companion animal interactions and relationships * physical and mental healthy * people + enviro relationship

1) Are biofuels carbon neutral? Why or why not? Please define and use the concept of EROEI to answer this question. 2) Are biofuels sustainable? Please describe why or why not, including at least two pieces of evidence to support your statement.

I think that it would be incorrect to generalize all biofuels to be carbon neutral. There may be certain types of biofuels that have significantly less environmental impacts than others, but determining whether something is carbon neutral can be difficult. If a resource is carbon neutral it makes no net release of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Biofuels are a form of biomass energy, they contain a lot of carbon and burning them releases it into the atmosphere. Biofuels may produce less carbon dioxide over than other resources however they are not carbon neutral because fossil fuels are used in their production, and changes in land use to make use for these farms is not sustainable. EROI, energy return on energy invested, is the ratio of the amount of usable energy available from a particular energy resource to the amount of energy used for powering that resource. When considering biofuels, it is important to acknowledge the energy needed to obtain the energy needed to obtain this resource. Energy is required to clear the land available to have space for this resource, and fossil fuels may actually be used to make fertilizers for the growing plants. Biofuels are more sustainable than domestic oil because the the carbon that would be released from their burning would be recycled carbon that is already stored in the atmosphere - this is modern carbon which is collected through the fast carbon cycle in which plants absorb and store carbon through photosynthesis. By contrast, fossil fuels release carbon dioxide that had been stored for millions of years in the slow carbon cycle. Biofuels of palm oil would not be sustainable if plantations disrupted already functioning forests. The land-use change would be reflected in the EROI. However, if palm trees were incorporated into existing forests environmental impacts would be minimized and this could even support local farmers to maximize return on investment.

Fukushima Daiichi Disaster

Japan: 50 nuclear reactors, providing over 30% of their electricity needs before Fukushima Daichi. March 11, 2011: magnitude 9 EQ struck 80 miles north of the NPP --> tsunami --> 20,000 dead. - EQ stopped delivery of water to reactors (full of enriched uranium) which boiled away all existing water, creating huge steam pressure. All 3 exploded. - produced millions of gallons of radioactive waste - most expensive natural disaster in human history: $300 billion

Jobs vs. the environment? A false dichotomy

Jobs and the enviro are not mutually exclusive. Environmental protection can bring economic gains. EX: Spotted owl vs loggers - ban on logging of old growth - sustainable forestry: long term logging + tourism

Green buildings ‐LEED certification

LEED: • Developed by US Green Building Council 1998 • Environmentally responsible & resource efficient design • Many US federal agencies, state, & local governments require LEED buildings • Certification criteria ‐ Location and transportation ‐ Materials and resources ‐ Water efficiency ‐ Energy efficiency ‐ Sustainable sites: minimizes impact on ecosystems and water ‐ Indoor environmental quality • Certification levels ‐ Certified ‐ Silver ‐ Gold ‐ Platinum On Campus: 29 buildings in 2015, an additional 15 pending certification

Habitat loss & fragmentation ‐Why are these challenges? ‐Solutions?

LOSS: eliminates population, simplified & disrupts communities; reduces or eliminates key eco processes ** dramatic reducer of biodiversity - Not new; human associated since the beginning @ Borneo: forests today cover 1/2 ares they once did. 1/5 of OG forests retain old growth characteristics. Deforested to clear land for palm oil plantations FRAGMENTATION: habitat reduction into small, isolated patches *challenge bc:* some species require large territories; some require habitat isolated from edges and human settlment; challenges migration; isolated populations are more vulnerable to catastrophic events *solutions:* reserve design (large size, connect to others), habitat corridors (bridge over i90 for critters)

Not evenly distributed on earth (biodiversity hotspots, latitudinal species gradient)

Latitudinal species gradient (N-S): Richest near the equator b/c more light & water energy - climate, altitude, soils, and presence of other species - diff ecosystems = diff diversities (rainforest vs. desert) Hotspots = diversity concentrated in these places (35 in the world) - hold a lot of endemic species and have lost at least 70% of OG habitat - over 50% plant, 42% vertebrates species are endemic to hotspots (EX: Cali Floristic Province, butterflies)

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the centralized government approach?

Laws are easy to pass but hard to enforce.

Deforestation: Possible Solutions

Local: Land ownership National: Land use policy and regulation, protected areas, logging certificates Global: -Market-based approach: exclude Amazon deforesters from the beef & soybean supply chain (zero deforestation agreements) -Carbon market: Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)

Nature Deficit Disorder (NDD)? ‐Richard Louv ‐Examples, causes, effects, solutions

Louv hypothesizes that many people, particularly children, are spending less time outdoors, resulting in a range of behavioral problems. CAUSES: - parental fear (stranger danger) - addiction to tech - real or percieved lack of access to natural places EFFECTS: -Attention Deficit Disorder -Lower grades -Depression -Obesity -Myopia SOLUTIONS: - spend more time in nature

"Wetland banking" is a system for land developers to purchase wetland credits (for example, conserving existing wetlands or creating restored wetlands elsewhere) in order to mitigate the habitat destruction resulting from housing or infrastructure development. This is an example of which type of environmental governance?

Market instruments through trading

What makes a species invasive?

Needs to cause harm: "take over", become dominant. • May experience release from natural predators, competitors, and pathogens • May fill a "vacant" role in the new environment (snake) • May face "naïve" prey (bats, birds) Native Fallopia shows leaf feeding damage in Japan, but not in Europe

Climate Change: Ethical & Moral Issue

People at risk: homes, lives at risk Are we morally responsible or preventing famine? Do we have responsibility to protect polar bears? Should we work to protect species extinction?

Ann is a steward for a restoration project in a neighborhood nature area. She has been working in the area for more than 20 years and would feel a great sense of loss if this area were to be developed. This is an example of:

Place attachment

Are biofuels sustainable?

Questions to ask: How does it affect...? - feedstock type - feedstock extent - feedstock location - feedstock management - original land use - environment Do no harm! - Avoid replacement of native habitats that have high ecosystem function - Do not convert croplands that are necessary to feed people Unsustainable EX: In Indonesia, Palm Oil Plantation took the place of existing, already functioning forests. This impacts the environment and the farmers previously using the land

Renewable vs. Non-renewable Energy

RENEWABLE = Can be replenished on a timescale meaningful for humans EX: Wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass [7-8% of energy used] NON-RENEWABLE = fossil fuels EX: coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear energy (Used for transportation, electricity, heating, manufacturing, etc.) - derived from biological material that was fossilized millions yrs ago. - by burning these fuels we access ancient solar energy contained in the chemical bonds of these materials [85% of energy used]

Nuclear Fission

Reaction: neutron strikes a large atomic nucleus, which then splits into 2 or more parts. This releases additional neutrons & energy as heat. Additional neutrons strike other atoms, causing them to split & release neutrons, & so on. The main ingredient = radioactive isotope (type of atom) - Most nuclear reactors use uranium, which has several isotopes. Enriched uranium is formed into pellets (each contains energy equivalent of 1 ton coal) that are packed into hollow metal fuel rods used in nuclear reactors. Most isotopes are stable but some spontaneously emit protons or neutrons & heat energy (radiation) in a process known as radioactive decay (measured in half-lives = time it takes for 1/2 the radioactive material to decay).

REDD

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation & Forest Degradation (REDD) - carbon market based approach through TRADING (put a price on it) - by assigning credits to forests, industrial countries purchase carbon credits to protect forests Land-use chang & forestry = biggest CO2 emitters

Global environmental change

Refers not only to the changes in the earth system, but also how the changes in the earth system affect human societies and how human societies respond to these changes. (Coupled Human and Natural Systems)

Examples of the complexities of environmental ethics (salmon, malaria, mosquitoes)

SALMON: Should salmon extinction be prevented? bc have intrinsic value? bc deserving of moral concern? can we morally eat them? instrumental to humans who eat them? - solution: remove dams, improve fish ladders BC extinction of any species is undesirable? is that bc biodiversity loss weakens the ecosystem (etho and ecocentric argument - depends on why we want to preserve it) What about MOSQUITOS? Malaria kills ~800,000/yr. Are these lives worth more than 1 species? How might your decision change based on where you live?

Energy Use in the US (Units = BTUs)

SOURCE: petroleum = 36% natural gas = 26 % coal = 40% renewable = 9% nuclear = 8% SECTOR: electric power = 40% transportation = 28% industrial = 21% residential/commercial = 11% Provision of goods is significant energy cost: 44% GHG emissions from products and packaging

Market success - the invisible hand (Adam Smith)

Situations where self-interested behavior by individuals benefits society as a whole (serve the greater good) invisible hand: natural phenomenon that guides free markets and capitalism through competition --> Free market and deregulation EX: creation of jobs, price competition, a variety of choices, innovation, ... • Profit-maximizing entities have incentives for exploration, innovation, & conservation

Market failure; externalities ‐Definition and examples ‐How does these relate to the environment

Situations where self-interested behavior by individuals does not benefit society as a whole • Markets don't always take all costs of production into account: Externalities (cost of the exchange of goods or services external to the price of the goods or services) - cost to the environment, to human health, or to other countries • Examples: child labor, pollution, overfishing, traffic jam solution: use market forces to correct market failure. make pollution expensive by taxing it/ high gas prices

Desertification: Possible Solutions

Soil conservation practices • Contour planting • Intercropping • Agroforestry • Erosion prevention measures Rehabilitation • Revegetation • Cover crops

Solar Energy - advantages and disadvantages (Renewable energy)

Solar technologies: small-scale solar water heating systems, photovoltaic solar cells, & large-scale concentrating solar thermal systems. - In solar hot water systems, heat energy from the sun pre-warms hot water, reducing the amount of extra energy needed to bring it to temperature. - photovoltaic solar cells capture energy from the sun as light (not heat) and convert it into electricity. - Solar panels (arrays of photovoltaic solar cells) can be used to supply electricity to appliances or light directly, or they can be used to charge batteries. - majority of photovoltaic systems are tied to the electrical grid: any extra electricity generated is sent to the electric company, which buys it or give the customer credit toward future energy use. Homes that are "off the grid" may rely on photovoltaic solar cells as their only source of electricity. PROS: Almost limitless source of energy (varies w/ season, time of day, cloudiness, geographically). Generate hot water or electricity without producing air pollution, water pollution, or CO2. Produces during peak demand: hot, sunny days (for AC), can reduce the need to build new fossil fuel plants. US incentives: earn money for every kWh you produce. CONS: Expensive to manufacture & install, long payback period (time required to recoup initial investment). Manufacturing PV solar cells requires a lot of energy & water, & involves toxic metals & chemicals

Fundamental Unit (Wilson)

Species = the fundamental units each playing a unique role in the whole

Biological Species Concept

Species concept is crucial to the study of biodiversity. Without natural species, ecosystems could only be analyzed in broadest terms. *A biological species = a population whose members are able to inbreed freely under natural conditions* - each biological species is a closed gene pool; do not exchange with other species - insulated; evolves hereditary traits & comes to occupy a unique geographic range - all families are tied together; linked by ancestry and future decent - species are always evolving; changing in relation to other species Species generally composed of a # of populations that live in diff geographic regions (EX: whale: grey whale)

Environmental Consciousness

Specific psychological factors related to an individual's propensity to engage in pro-environmental behaviors • Environmental perception, attitudes, and behaviors • Dimensions: - affective, dispositional, active, cognitive

An economist arguing that perpetual economic growth is not possible on a finite planet is likely to advocate for which economic system?

Steady state economy

The Tragedy of the commons ‐Theory and assumptions ‐Examples

The parable: cow herding on a common pasture (Garett Hardin) • For an individual herder, the rational action is to add additional cows to his herd. Whereas he personally receives all the benefits of an extra cow (+1), the cost of overgrazing is shared by everyone (-1/n) • Individual incentives can lead individuals to make choices that are bad for the group as a whole: "Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all" • The TOC is often used to explain human behaviors in regards to environmental problems Example: The Tragedy of the Fishery 1. It is better for the group as a whole if everyone limits how much they fish so that there will be enough fish for next year 2. Each fisherman individually prefers to maximize his individual profits by fishing as much as he can Negative externality: Overfishing and declining of fishery resources. The invisible hand fails leading to market failure. Example: The Tragedy of Coal Power 1. It is better for society as a whole if everyone avoids coal-based energy (dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fuel) in favor of natural gas, wind, solar, and renewable energy 2. People individually prefer to use coal-based energy because it is the cheapest Negative externality: External costs of air pollution, climate change, and health problems. The invisible hand fails leading to market failure. EX: dirty kitchen, traffic jam, litter, slow WIFI

Peak oil

The point in which oil production would reach a max & the point we would run out of oil *Hubbert Curve (goephycisit M. King Hubbert) - Bell-shaped curve representing oil use. - Predicts oil extraction & use increase steadily until ~1/2 supply used. At this point, peak oil, & extraction begin to decline. (Some experts think already reached, others think we will reach it very soon) If current global use patterns continue, we will run out of conventional oil supplies in less than *40 years*. - natural gas supplies will last slightly longer & coal may last for 200 yrs or more

What is environmental economics? How does it compare to economics?

The study of economics with explicit consideration of the environment • It studies society & the environment as a single system & treats the short-term need for jobs, goods, and services & the long-term needs to protect the environment as common goals. time: long term priorities: society + enviro solutions: laws; persausion Economics = the study of the allocation of scarce resources through production, distribution, & consumption time: short term priorities: society solutions: incentives

Ecopsychology

The study of the relationship between human beings & natural world thru psychology • Expanding the emotional connection between individuals & natural world • Assisting individuals in developing sustainable lifestyles and remedying alienation from nature • Ecotherapy * healing + restorative * emotional

Three pillars & nested dependencies model

Three Pillars Model: economic prosperity, enviro protection, social justice (side by side) Nested Dependencies: (bull's eye): economy at center, surrounded by society, then environment

Ethical frameworks: Anthropocentric, Biocentric, Ecocentric

Traditional ethical frameworks are anthropocentric: Humans are the creatures deserving of moral consideration (intrinsic value) - people rational thinking creatures who feel pleasure/pain - not clear that only humans feel this thing. - which is more rational, adult dog or human baby? Biocentric - Extends intrinsic value to non human beings. Do not need to benefit humans to have value. Must possess desire memory, and self-perception (animals, but not plants - some include plants) Ecocentric - value on communities. collections of organisms have intrinsic value

The example given in lecture about Asian dust reducing air quality in major U.S. cities illustrates which concept in environmental governance?

Transboundary externality

Why are gas prices so low if we have hit/are approaching peak oil?

US is now the world's biggest producer. - using non-conventional sources: fracking, deep-water drilling, tar sands

Nuclear energy: Advantages and disadvantages

Uses heat to boil water & produce steam, then used to make electricity. (oil P.Plant produces heat by burning oil VS. nuclear P.Plant by nuclear fission) 432 nuclear power plants/world. US: more nuclear reactors than any other nation. - Worldwide, they prevent close to 2.5 billion tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere. PROS: Most concentrated form of energy on Earth. "uranium ore is abundant, efficient, and clean"... Emits much less CO2 than fossil fuel, & other air pollutants like sulfur dioxide & particulate matter. Department of Energy: "switching from fossil fuels to nuclear energy would be the single most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the US." Operating costs comparable to those of a fossil fuel plant; technology is available now & consistent (not reliant on sun or wind). "Safe" - accidents are rare. CONS: Radiation sickness, cancer, infertility and birth defects (from atomic bombs). Critics say "safety" claims ignore: vulnerability of NPPs to natural disasters, potential for N fuel to be stolen & weaponized, & radioactive waste (extremely dangerous, no plan for safe disposal - waste must be stored for as long as it takes the longest half-life material to decay to safe levels-- can be 2+ million yrs. Most short term sites are full)

What ethical issues may arise when trying to decide upon appropriate climate policy?

What, if any, compensation is owed to individuals or nations who suffer from climate impacts. Who is morally responsible to pay this? How should greenhouse gas emissions be allocated? How much should individuals be held morally responsible for their emissions? How do we consider the moral standing of people not yet born when determining appropriate levels of greenhouse gas emissions?

Steven Gardiner describes climate change as "the perfect moral storm" because it threatens our ability to behave ethically. Please discuss the ways that the global and intergenerational challenges of climate change threaten our ability to behave ethically.

When Steven Gardiner refers to climate change as the "perfect moral storm," he means to say that the complexities related to climate change influence the way that people think about and respond to the changing climate. It is agreed that consumers in the developed world are responsible for the rapid changes, yet as countries and individuals, are the least willing to make substantial changes in consuming habits to reduce this impact. Climate change is a global issue - not limited to any one region of this world, and therefor everyone has an equal obligation to participate in a global response to minimize impact in the future. However, developed world has a larger responsibility for the damage already done and is more in need of a serious change of behavior. Gardiner refers to skewed vulnerabilities in the short- to medium-term, in which many of the most vulnerable countries and people are those who emit the least. This is very unfair, and the most vulnerable are the least capable to protect themselves from the harms associated with global warming. As for the generational issues, acting on climate change is difficult because many of the effects are long term and people have a hard tim grasping the reality of the consequences.

Pollution ‐Point and non-point source

air, water, and climate pollution - human lives, health, and enviro - CC: benefits some, harms others POINT: individual & identifiable; discharge from a specific facility at a specific time NONPOINT: diffuse sources; rainwater picks up pollutants, carries into rivers and drains; air - exhaust from cars & chimneys * harder to manage

The Tragedy of the commons: Critiques

any examples where users have restricted access to the resource and established rules among themselves for sustainable use • private, state, and communal property can all work for resource management Hardin's Assumptions: • Open access (uncommon IRL) • Lack of constraints on individual behavior (uncommon IRL) • Demand exceeds supply • Resource users incapable of altering the rules

Ozone depletion ‐CFCs and ODSs ‐Montreal protocol ‐Compare to climate change

as it thins, higher UV concentrations reach the Earth. Process: 1. human activities release CFCs into the atmosphere 2. UV reacts w/ these molecules & releases chlorine 3. freed chlorine then pulls 1 O2 atom from ozone 4. fewer and fewer ozone molecules 5. "ozone hole" = decrease of ozone concentrate CFC (Chloroflurocarbons) = culprit of ozone depleting process • Found in refrigerators, air conditioners, aerosol cans • 1974 found that CFCs destroy ozone ODSs (Ozone depleting substances)

The hamburger connection

consuming rainforests: soybeans eaten by cattle: cattle eaten by developing world Amazonian deforestation in global context: - demands from developing world - rising commodity price - technological progress - rise in land prices

Transboundary externalities

cost that affects 3rd party EX: Asian dust and Siberian fires worsened air quality in US cities EX: birds affected by radio waves EX: air and water pollution affecting people down stream/wind

Hydroelectricity - advantages and disadvantages (Renewable energy)

generated kinetic energy of moving water: power plant captures water's kinetic energy & uses it to turn a turbine which then transforms the kinetic energy into electricity. - 2nd most common form of renewable energy in both the US and the world - most widely used for generating electricity. - WA produces ~1/3 hydroelectricity used in the US. Dams = most common method - opening/closing gates determines flow rate of water & thus the amount of electricity generated. - Largest dam in the world = Three Gorges Dam (Yangtze River, China). Capacity of 18000 MW--providing ~11% of China's total electricity. = Largest dam in US = Grand Coulee Dam (Columbia River, WA). Generates 6800 MW at peak capacity--enough to power 2 cities the size of Seattle. PROS: Require very little fossil fuel. No air pollution, waste products, or CO2 emissions. Less expensive than electricity from nuclear or fossil fuels. Storing water behind dams allows electricity to be generated on demand (not possible for solar or wind) CONS: Expensive to build. Loss of major habitats. Displacement of people (EX: Natives suffering from Grand Coulee - affecting their land, economy, culture; salmon routes blocked). Sediments accumulate in reservoirs behind dams, reducing electricity generating capacity. - Elwha dam removed, Glines Canyon dam on its way

Critical for our well-being and survival (Meadows) [Ecosystem goods and services]

goods = tangible, quantifiable items EX: crops, water, fish, wildlife services = conditions & processes thru which natural ecosystems & the species that make them up sustain & fulfill human life EX: bees pollinating crops & plants, trees/photosynthesis providing food, O2, habitat, wood, shade *cultural, regulating, supporting, provisioning

Great extinction events

great extinctions have determined the composition and diversity of life on earth. ~97% of species that have ever lived on earth are extinct 5 great extinctions have occurred and we are now in the middle of a 6th, with humans at blame

Wind Energy - advantages and disadvantages (Renewable energy)

harness kinetic energy of moving air, convert it into electricity. - Most rapidly growing source of electricity in the world. - US = largest wind energy generating capacity but obtains less than 1% of electricity from wind. - Lower Snake River Wind Facility = newest & biggest wind farm in WA (powers ~100,000 homes). PROS: Clean, free, and non-depletable resource (amount available tomorrow does not depend today's use). Produces almost no pollution or greenhouse gases. CONS: Can be loud. Some people find them ugly. Birds and bats are killed by wind turbines.

What is environmental ethics?

moral relationship b/w human and the environment and other living beings, as well as the relationship b/w humans to one another in the context of environmental questions thought experiment: you are the last human on earth, you will soon die. wouldn't it be nice to destroy the redwood? won't hurt anyone. so whats the problem?

Ozone

most important part of the stratosphere - O3 absorbs UVB, which causes skin cancer, cataracts, phytoplankton death

Wetland Banking

propety developer - proposed project will impact existing wetland: city says NO - you have to include some mitigation plans to compensate for those damages. options: a) man-made wetlands b) purchase wetland credit from wetland mitigation banks - managed by 3rd party CONS: expensive. debate on how much value to put on wetlands. operate on a large scale but locals have little say in decision making PROS: protects wetlands popular approach: meet halfway

Species diversity, richness, evenness

richness = # of species present in an area evenness = relative frequency of each species

Seattle GHG emissions

road transportation = 40% non-road transport = 22% building energy = 21% industry = 17%

Coal for electricity generation in US and Seattle

the US relies on coal for 39% of electricity generation, while Seattle uses 0.8% ! (Seattle is hydroelectric rich) coal is the dirtiest energy source; air pollution

Ethical Reasoning

the means by which moral agents determine morally acceptable actions giving due consideration to all those deserving of moral concern we ask: 1. what should we do/what outcome is best? 2. why should it be done (justification)? 3. how should it be done (policy/implementation)

Intrinsic and utilitarian value

who or what is to be valued. intrinsic: something meaningful, valuable, and worthy just for being itself. * human life utilitarian: valued as a means to some other end

Patterns in species named out of total number

~1.75 million (named) ~10-50 million (total) New species discovered daily Mammals are very few

Sustainable urban design

‐ Mixed density ‐ Green space conservation ‐ Transportation ‐ Energy, water, waste ‐ Social sensibility ‐ Green buildings

Environmental business ‐Triple bottom line

• A business that has minimal negative impact on the global or local environment, community or society while also making a profit • Strives to meet the triple bottom line: profit, people, planet • Incorporates principles of sustainability into business decisions • Supplies environmentally friendly products or services that replace demand for non-green alternatives • Has made a commitment to environmental principles in business operations • Is "greener" than traditional competition Decisions made not only based on how they affect PROFIT, but also how they affect PEOPLE and the PLANET

Natural capitalism

• Acknowledges that the economy is embedded in the environment • Economic systems would be more efficient and profitable if natural capital (natural resources & ecological systems that provide vital life support services) was correctly valued Value of the world's natural capital estimated at $33 trillion—more than the total GDP of all nations * economic value of enviro

Market Instruments: "Trading" * top down

• Assign monetary value to natural resources or services & require the purchase of credits for development or pollution EX: cap and trade, wetland banking, transfer of development rights (TDR), payment for ecosystem services

Shifting baselines

• Changes are measured against previous baselines, which likely represent significant changes from the original state • Each generation of fishery scientists takes the fishery (size, # of fish) when they start their career as the baseline and measures changes against this baseline even though this "baseline" has already been degraded compared to pre-harvest conditions EX: fish today much smaller than they were before, but we get used to it and don't really know what we are missing out on EX: stars, the condition in which we view them has changed EX: passenger pigeon "feathered river across the sky"... now gone

Environmental Volunteering Changes in environmental outlook & behaviors

• Creating native landscapes • General natural area appreciation • Attachment to volunteer site • Participating in environmental activism

An Economist's Solution to the TOC

• Economic incentives or disincentives -Internalizing the cost of externalities -Examples: Higher gasoline prices, refund for recyclables items, taxes • Privatization -Goal: make it in the interest of property owner to conserve the resource -Examples: fencing of common pastures, individual transferable quotas (ITQ) in fishery management • Governmental Regulation -Laws and regulation --> "Mutual coercion, mutually agreed upon"

Environmental Volunteering Psychological Benefits

• Feeling peace of mind; Breaking out of the routine • A sense of accomplishment/fulfillment/being useful • A sense of benefiting nature, society, or communities • Personal growth; Learning new things • Enjoying the wonders of nature • Feeling humble; Being a part of something profound • Acting in a responsible manner towards the Earth • Meeting new people and sharing goals

Transformative solutions ‐Collaborative Consumption

• Game-changing solutions: the goal should be "better" rather than just "more" ‐ we don't want to get better and better at playing the wrong game: Think outside the box •With a combination of transformative solutions we can make real stride towards sustainability ‐ Grow our citizen muscles (citizen campaigns) ‐ Work together to spread local solutions & scale up to national & global levels ‐ Be cautious about opportunities to consume our way to sustainability (greenwashing) ‐ When debating the "greener" option to buy, remember that the greenest option is to not buy at all *•Collaborative Consumption* (Shareconomy) ‐ Gets us off the treadmill of wanting more ‐ Conserves resources ‐ Gives people access to more things ‐ Builds community

Centralized Government: "Command & Control" * top down

• Governments require or prohibit specific actions or technologies, w/ fines or jail terms possible for punishing rule breakers EX: EPA regulation, environmental laws and legislation, permitting, zoning codes PROS: laws relatively easy to pass CONS: rules and standards hard to enforce

Greenwashing

• Green marketing deceptively used to promote products or policies as environmentally friendly • More money or time advertising being green than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices

Environmental Volunteering Motivations

• Helping the environment • Giving back to society/community • Learning about nature, plants, and animals • Enjoying the outdoors • Meeting people/friends sharing similar interests • Identifying with the missions of the organization • Feeling peace of mind/spiritual • Fulfilling an obligation

Eco/Biophilia

• Hypothesizes that humans instinctively bond with the natural world • Described by Thoreau, Muir, Abbey, Wilson • Seen in our day-to-day lives: pets, love of nature

Ozone Depletion & Climate Change

• Overlapping culprits: Ozone-depleting substances are GHGs. • Solving ozone depletion problems would help reduce climate change as well. • Ozone friendly technologies are more efficient (availability of feasible substitutes). • Consumption of fossil fuels impacts a broader range of industries and human activities. No large-scale feasible alternatives yet. • The harmful effect from ozone depletion (skin cancer) is specific while effects from climate change are diffuse (harder to contemplate effects on humans) • Montreal Protocol: Multilateral fund supporting developing countries to participate.

solutions to invasive species:

• PREVENTION is key • Maintaining healthy ecosystems is part of prevention • Eradication is expensive and challenging WHAT CAN YOU DO? • Never release pets or aquarium plants or animals • Do not transport species unintentionally: dry your gear, rub off boots, burn local firewood, etc. • Plant and encourage native vegetation • Volunteer: monitor, control, or eradicate invasive species • Eat the invaders! Become an "invasivore"

Steady State Economy

• Perpetual economic growth impossible on a finite planet -All growth come from natural resources -Is it desirable? Or is growth causing more problems than it solves? • Characterized by Stable Size -Neither grows nor shrinks -"Average amount of money in real dollars earned by workers from one generation to the next remains constant." (Chech and Daly 2002) - stabilize population

Sustainability at UW

• Ranked in the top 10% of universities worldwide for sustainability efforts • 29 LEED certified buildings • 58% waste diversion rate • Divestment from coal companies • ~13 million dollars saved annually through utility conservation • Reduced GHG emissions by 8% since 2005 • UW Farm, UW Solar, Green Laboratories, Sustainability Fund

Collaborative Resource Management * community based bottom up approach

• Resource users collectively develop the rules of use, allocate resource distribution, & decide how use is monitored & penalties for noncompliance EX: community-based conservation (CBC), participatory mapping, ecotourism PROS: town hall meetings, discuss together, wider public engagement and participation CONS: time consuming. consensus is hard to reach. who gets to participate?

how does pollution lead to losses in biodiversity?

• Some pollutants are hard to degrade Especially heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury) which are naturally very rare in the environment and human created materials (e.g. PBDE and PCB) • Chemicals not degraded accumulate in the body (bioaccumulation)

3 types of environmental governance:

•Centralized Government: "Command & Control" •Market Instruments: "Privatization" or "Trading" •Collaborative Resource Management

Environmental education should:

•Get participants outside (because they might not spend time outside otherwise) •Be respectful of diverse viewpoints and fears about the natural world •Support the development of and/or build on a "sense of wonder" about the natural world •Be developmentally appropriate •Offer tangible actions to balance out the "doom and gloom" of enviro issues

"No Child Left Inside"

•Movement to encourage environmental education •Coalition of more than 2000 groups around the country •Goal: No Child Left Inside Act ‐ Amendment to Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education Act ‐ Would provide funding for teacher training and integration in the curriculum ‐ First brought to the legislature in 2008, ongoing lobbying

Challenges in global environmental governance

•Voluntary compliance - each has its own interests (US reluctant to sign Kyoto Protocol) •Economic interest vs. sanctions •National sovereignty - fight intervention