ES 10 Chapter 1

Introduction to
Environmental Science
Man and his activities have
created enormous impact on
the planet that scientists
agree a collapse of our earth
is a possibility unless
humanity will confront and
overcome the economic and
ecological problems of
the late 20th century.
What is Environmental Science?
• A (relatively new) systematic and
interdisciplinary area of study that
includes both applied and theoretical
aspects of human impact on the world
• A mission-oriented discipline that
creates responsibility to do something
about the problems we have created
Most of these environmental
problems are quite complex
in nature.
So, how does one study

the environment?
NATURAL SCIENCES: ENGINEERING:
Biology, Chemistry, Waste Management,
Physics, Ecology, Water Treatment,
Mathematics, Environmental
Meteorology... Sanitation...
Environmental Environmental
Science Engineering
STUDY OF THE
ENVIRONMENT
SOCIAL
SCIENCES:
Sociology, Political HUMANITIES:
Science, Ethics
Anthropology...
Overlaps exist!
Ex. Water Treatment - necessitates knowledge in
biology, chemistry, physics, etc.
New fields have evolved!

• Environmental Economics
• Environmental Management
• Natural Resource Management
The Many Challenges of
Environmental Work
“…have the right data and appropriate environmental models”
1. Baseline data
 The description of the system in its normal or original state
 It is only by having baseline data that we can determine the
effects of human intervention
2. Preservationist vs. conservationist
3. Issue of economic development and poverty

alleviation vs. environmental protection
 Human centered vs. Life centered
…keep what is left of nature alone
so it can regenerate
…ensure continuity, regardless of
potential utility
Environmental
Preservationists
…utilize nature in a sustainable

way
…manage use so that it does not
exceed capacity of system to renew
Environmental itself
Conservationists
Every environmental issue
may be dissected into its
scientific and technical
aspects and socio-
economic and ethical
aspects
S C IE N T IF IC A N D S O C I O -E C O N O M I C
IS S U E T E C H N O L O G IC A L A N D E T H IC A L
A SPECTS A SPEC TS
1 . W a te r - w a te r q u a lity - w a te r rig h ts : w h o s h o u ld
m o n ito rin g g e t p rio rity - a g ric u ltu re ,
- c le a n -u p o f p o llu te d d o m e s tic o r in d u stry ?
w a te r b o d ie s
2 . A ir P o llu tio n - b e h a v io r a n d fa te o f - d e v e lo p m e n t o f m a s s
N O x , S O x , e tc … tra n sp o rt s y s te m to
- h e a lth e ffe c ts s u b s ta n tia lly re d u c e a ir
p o llu tio n
3 . N a tio n a l d e b t - u n d e rd e v e lo p e d - la rg e a llo c a tio n fo r d e b t
c o u n trie s a re u n a b le to p a y m e n t d e c re a s e s
s u p p o rt sc ie n c e a n d a llo c a tio n fo r d e v e lo p m e n t
te c h n o lo g y n e c e s s a ry fo r a n d so c ia l s e rv ic e s
d e v e lo p m e n t
4 . G re e n h o u s e g a s e s
5 . P o p u la tio n
6 . P re s e rv a tio n o f
b io d iv e rs ity
Outward manifestations of
environmental problems are
the same all over the world
but, at the local level, the
nature of the problem and
the solutions may require
different approaches.
““Think
Thinkglobally,
globally,act
actlocally”
locally”
Environmental
Issue:
DEFORESTATION
Canada/US Philippines/Brazil
resource
• poverty
management
• national debt
• population
On a typical day on earth
• 224 square kilometers of tropical rain forest
is leveled-off and only 1 in 15 trees is
replaced
• 40 to 100 plants, animals and micro-
organisms become extinct
• Industrial nations pour out 15 million tons
of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and
1.5 million tons of toxic waste into the air,
water and land
• 250,000 new people will join the world,
each one requiring food, water, shelter and
other resources
The United Nations Millennium Goals
1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender Equality and empower
women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other
diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for
development
History of the Environmental Movement
Bhopal, India
1962 1972 1984 1987
Chernobyl,
Ukaraine Rio de Janeiro,
Brazil
Early 70’s 1974 1986 1992
Sustainable Development
“ Sustainable development is
development that meets the needs of
the present without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”
- Our Common Future

Environmental Issue:
What developments occurring during our

biological evolution contributed to the
modern-day environmental crisis? In your
opinion, do these developments mean that
we are doomed to continue to live
unsustainably?

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Introduction to

So, how does one study

New fields have evolved!

2. Preservationist vs. conservationist

3. Issue of economic development and poverty

…utilize nature in a sustainable

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

1962 1972 1984 1987

- Our Common Future

What developments occurring during our

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