Transcript CHAPTER 2 SCIENCE LITERACY AND THE PROCESS OF

CHAPTER 1 ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY
ON THE ROAD TO
COLLAPSE
What lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking
society?
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ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSE
What lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking society?
Humans are
dependent upon
a healthy planet.
Our choices can
be sustainable,
or they can put
excess pressure
on our resources.
Main
Concept
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ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSE
What lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking society?
Learning
Outcomes
At the end of this chapter
you should know:
• What impact humans
have on the
environment
• How environmental
literacy will help us
make informed
decisions
• What it means to be
sustainable and how
individuals can help
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ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSE
What lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking society?
Case Study – Viking Settlers in
Greenland
History – Viking settlers from
Norway established camps and
eventually villages in Greenland.
They relocated their old way of
life to a new land that could not
support their agricultural
methods.
Over a relatively
short period of time,
the Vikings died out,
leaving their story for
archeologists only in
trash heaps.
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TERMS TO KNOW:
Environment
Environmental science
We are more likely to see
conflict in societal or
political terms rather than
with the natural
environment.
The interdisciplinary play
between natural and applied
sciences allows us to have a
better understanding of our
relationship with and
ultimate dependence on the
resources of the planet.
Environmental science is all encompassing
Environmental Science is all encompassing
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TERMS TO KNOW:
Environment
Environmental science
We are more likely to see
conflict in societal or
political terms rather than
with the natural
environment.
The interdisciplinary play
between natural and applied
sciences allows us to have a
better understanding of our
relationship with and
ultimate dependence on the
resources of the planet.
Environmental science is all encompassing
Environmental Science is all encompassing
1
TERMS TO KNOW:
Environment
Environmental science
We are more likely to see
conflict in societal or
political terms rather than
with the natural
environment.
The interdisciplinary play
between natural and applied
sciences allows us to have a
better understanding of our
relationship with and
ultimate dependence on the
resources of the planet.
Environmental science is all encompassing
Environmental Science is all encompassing
1
TERMS TO KNOW:
Environment
Environmental science
We are more likely to see
conflict in societal or
political terms rather than
with the natural
environment.
The interdisciplinary play
between natural and applied
sciences allows us to have a
better understanding of our
relationship with and
ultimate dependence on the
resources of the planet.
Environmental science is all encompassing
Environmental Science is all encompassing
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Environmental science is all encompassing
Scientific investigation uses a
systematic approach that begins with
observations and the questions those
observations generate.
We can use what we learn about one
series of observations and experiments
to inform our actions and generate
change in many other situations.
Because environmental problems are
often far more complicated than they
appear, our ability to understand the
natural world and accept the trade-offs
that come with our decisions is needed
to ensure our own survival.
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
Evidence of the Vikings’ relationship
with the land comes from the trash they
left behind and also from atmospheric
particles trapped by the ice sheets.
Falling snow absorbs particles from the
atmosphere. When it compacts and
freezes into ice, those particles are
preserved, stratified, and leave a perfect
sample of the atmosphere over time.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Empirical science
Applied science
Environmental literacy
Trade-offs
Triple bottom line
Analysis of the layers over time showed
changes in the atmosphere over the
time Vikings were settling Greenland.
This period of a mini ice age coupled
with self-inflicted environmental
damage was inconsistent with survival.
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
In addition to the ice cores,
scientists analyzed mud
cores from lake beds.
The soil that had blown
into the lakes indicated soil
erosion well before the
mini ice age began.
Overgrazing
Denuding
Loss of soil anchor
Soil blown away
Also used grassland to
insulate homes—typically
10 acres per house!
Slow recovery in a fragile
ecosystem
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
“Wicked problems” are those challenges that
come with multiple stakeholders and many
different potential solutions.
These problems are often very complicated and
their solutions rarely come with a clear winner.
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
“Wicked problems” are those challenges that
come with multiple stakeholders and many
different potential solutions.
These problems are often very complicated and
their solutions rarely come with a clear winner.
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
“Wicked problems” are those challenges that
come with multiple stakeholders and many
different potential solutions.
These problems are often very complicated and
their solutions rarely come with a clear winner.
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The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
“Wicked problems” are those challenges that
come with multiple stakeholders and many
different potential solutions.
These problems are often very complicated and
their solutions rarely come with a clear winner.
1
The Greenland Vikings’ demise was caused by natural
events and human choices
“Wicked Problems” are those challenges that come
with multiple stakeholders and many different
potential solutions.
These problems are often very complicated and
their solutions rarely come with a clear winner.
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Responding to environmental problems and working with
neighbors help a society cope with changes
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
The middens held bones indicating the
changing diet of the Vikings in
Greenland—cattle, sheep, caribou, and
goats, but no fish.
Similar middens from Norwegian settlers
in Iceland of the same time revealed fish,
bird, and even whale bones.
Unlike the Norwegians of Iceland, the
Vikings of Greenland maintained the old
ways with wood and livestock without
long-term consideration of the vanishing
landscape.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
We have a lot in common with the Vikings.
Farming practices, livestock
production, topsoil degradation, loss of
soil fertility, overharvesting forests…
Consequences are loss of habitat and
diversity, soil erosion, water pollution,
and introduction of invasive species.
Our additional problem is paramount—
population growth.
Earth’s resources are limited to a
carrying capacity. The more we use,
the fewer people the planet can
support.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
Population
Trash
Pollution
Underlying
causes of many
environmental
problems
We have a lot in common
with the Vikings.
Our attitudes
frequently prevent
us from responding
effectively to
environmental
change.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
Our attitudes toward the environment can help or hurt our ability to respond to change.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
Our attitudes toward the environment can help or hurt our ability to respond to change.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
Our attitudes toward the environment can help or hurt our ability to respond to change.
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Humans are an environmental force that impacts
Earth’s ecosystems
TERMS TO KNOW:
Sustainable development
Our attitudes toward the environment can help or hurt our ability to respond to change.
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Human societies can become more sustainable
Natural ecosystems are a model of sustainability. They
use energy and matter in ways that ensure those
resources continue to be available.
All organisms need a constant, reliable source of energy.
For nature, this is the Sun with photosynthetic
organisms converting light energy to chemical energy
that can be stored or passed up the food chain.
Matter can be recycled
indefinitely so that the
waste from one organisms
becomes a resource for
another.
Diversity ensures that there
will be a variety of ways that
energy can be trapped and
used.
TERMS TO KNOW:
Carrying capacity
Ecological footprint
Anthropogenic
Sustainable
Renewable energy
Biodiversity
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Human societies can become more sustainable
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Human societies can become more sustainable
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Human societies can become more sustainable
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Human societies can become more sustainable
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Nonrenewable resources
Social traps
Tragedy of the commons
Time delay
Sliding reinforcer
Commonly held
resources…
“If I don’t use it,
someone else will.”
Cultural norms, taboos, and status symbols
may be in conflict with environmental
sustainability.
The Greenland Vikings built wooden
cathedrals, consumed large quantities of
beef, refused to eat readily available fish, and
refused to accept help from others.
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TERMS TO KNOW:
Worldviews
Environmental ethic
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
Social Trap – Tragedy of the Commons
Each person acts in a way to maximize
his/her own benefit.
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TERMS TO KNOW:
Worldviews
Environmental ethic
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
Social Trap – Time Delay
An action produces a benefit today while
deferring costs and problems for later.
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TERMS TO KNOW:
Worldviews
Environmental ethic
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
Social Trap – Sliding Reinforcer
An action that is beneficial at first may
change conditions such that benefit declines.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
As with the Vikings, wealth can
insulate groups of people from
the realities of environmental
decline. Wealthier nations are
less effected by resource
availability.
Two billion people or more lack
adequate resources to meet their
basic needs.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
How we view the world
and our existence are
influenced by cultural,
religious, and personal
experiences.
Our worldview
determines our
environmental ethic.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
How we view the world
and our existence are
influenced by cultural,
religious, and personal
experiences.
Our worldview
determines our
environmental ethic.
1
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
How we view the world
and our existence are
influenced by cultural,
religious, and personal
experiences.
Our worldview
determines our
environmental ethic.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
An ecocentric worldview
values all living creatures
and nonliving processes
of an ecosystem.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
There has been a gradual change in the
way the United States as a nation has
viewed the natural world.
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Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
There has been a gradual change in the
way the United States as a nation has
viewed the natural world.
1
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
There has been a gradual change in the
way the United States as a nation has
viewed the natural world.
1
Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with
environmental issues
TERMS TO KNOW:
Anthropocentric worldview
Instrumental value
Biocentric worldview
Intrinsic value
Ecocentric worldview
There has been a gradual change in the
way the United States as a nation has
viewed the natural world.
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Environmental health
Economic profitability
Social and economic equity
PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP
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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
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ANALYZING THE SCIENCE
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UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE
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EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION
The Lorax
http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject/
http://www.myteacherpages.com/webp
The Truax
(updated link) ages/NDow/files/TRUAX1.pdf
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MAKING CONNECTIONS