ES 118Environment and SocietyES118 Environment and SocietySetting the Context:Setting the Context:What are the Trends?What are the Trends?Diminishing AvailabilityDiminishing Availabilityof Water and Agriculturalof Water and AgriculturalLandLandThe Oil PeakThe Oil PeakCollapsing FisheriesCollapsing FisheriesShrinking ForestsShrinking ForestsLoss of BiodiversityLoss of BiodiversityClimate ChangeClimate ChangeClimate Change:Climate Change:The EvidenceThe EvidenceToday is ColbyToday is Colby’’s s ““ Focus the Nation Focus the Nation”” day dayThe latest IPCC report states that the evidenceThe latest IPCC report states that the evidenceis now clear that the climate is changing andis now clear that the climate is changing andhumans are responsible.humans are responsible. Some evidence of warming is already evident Some evidence of warming is already evident(glaciers melting, earlier ice outs, ecosystem(glaciers melting, earlier ice outs, ecosystemchanges).changes).Climate Change:Climate Change:the Implicationsthe ImplicationsThe fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive ourThe fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive oureconomy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon)economy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon)when combusted.when combusted.The models that estimate future impacts suggest theThe models that estimate future impacts suggest thelikelihood of very large negative impacts (sea levellikelihood of very large negative impacts (sea levelrise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystemrise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystemchanges, etc)changes, etc)Changing those outcomes means changing the wayChanging those outcomes means changing the waywe have historically improved well-being.we have historically improved well-being.This makes climate change politically veryThis makes climate change politically verycontroversial.controversial.The Northeast Climate ChangeThe Northeast Climate ChangeAssessmentAssessmentInvolved over 50 scientist to trace out impactInvolved over 50 scientist to trace out impacton the Northeaston the NortheastIn the brief time we have I shall give you justIn the brief time we have I shall give you justtwo small examples from the report.two small examples from the report.If you want to know more I have loaded theIf you want to know more I have loaded thereport onto the course web site and it can bereport onto the course web site and it can bedownloaded downloaded fromfromhttphttp://www.://www.colbycolby..eduedu/environ/courses/ES118//environ/courses/ES118/WebReadWebRead.html.htmliStockphoto.com/Andy Thorington; Source: NECIA, 2007 (see: www.climatechoices.org/ne/)Increases inExtreme Heat inNortheast CitiesTony TremblayAP Photo/Michael DwyerSource: NECIA, 2007 (see: www.climatechoices.org/ne/)Boston: The Future 100-Year Flood underBoston: The Future 100-Year Flood underthe Higher-Emissions Scenariothe Higher-Emissions ScenarioSource: NECIA, 2007 (see: www.climatechoices.org/ne/)An Alternative ViewAn Alternative View••““We ought not punish ourselves inWe ought not punish ourselves inshame. We ought to be pleased thatshame. We ought to be pleased thatwe have thrown off so many ofwe have thrown off so many ofhumanityhumanity’’s yokes and made possibles yokes and made possiblefantastic progress in terms offantastic progress in terms ofprosperity. And we ought to face theprosperity. And we ought to face thefacts - that on the whole we have nofacts - that on the whole we have noreason to expect that progress will notreason to expect that progress will notcontinue.continue.••This is the real state of the world.This is the real state of the world.””••BjBjøørn rn Lomberg Lomberg (p. 330)(p. 330)A Sense of HistoryA Sense of HistoryHow did we get into this predicament?How did we get into this predicament?Hunter/GatherersHunter/GatherersThe First Agricultural RevolutionThe First Agricultural RevolutionThe Industrial RevolutionThe Industrial RevolutionThe Second Agricultural RevolutionThe Second Agricultural RevolutionThe ConsequencesThe ConsequencesThe DilemmaThe Dilemma Need to increase the standard of livingamong the poorest nations and people. Yet the traditional model ofdevelopment puts excessive stress onthe environment, thereby underminingthe process. As described by Thomas Friedman in his new book the meteoric rise of India and China are the testing grounds for these concerns. How can this dilemma be resolved?Sustainable Development:Sustainable Development: The Origins The OriginsOur Common Future (1987)Our Common Future (1987)Nations must work together to solveNations must work together to solveglobal environmental problems.global environmental problems.This new approach, which involvesThis new approach, which involvesraising living standards for the poorraising living standards for the poorwhile protecting and enhancing thewhile protecting and enhancing theenvironment, is called sustainableenvironment, is called sustainabledevelopmentdevelopment..Sustainable Development:Sustainable Development:The DefinitionThe Definition““Sustainable development seeks to meetSustainable development seeks to meetthe aspirations and the needs of the presentthe aspirations and the needs of the presentwithout compromising the ability of futurewithout compromising the ability of futuregenerations to meet their own needs.generations to meet their own needs.””Overarching QuestionsOverarching Questions Is the predominant economic system (capitalism)Is the predominant economic system (capitalism)compatible with sustainable development?compatible with sustainable development?Is democracy compatible with sustainable development?Is democracy compatible with sustainable development?What role does globalization play in the quest forWhat role does globalization play in the quest forsustainable development?sustainable development?ElizabethElizabeth Kolbert Kolbert concluded her series in the New Yorkerconcluded her series in the New Yorkermagazine on climate change with: "It may seemmagazine on climate change with: "It may seemimpossible to imagine that a technologically advancedimpossible to imagine that a technologically advancedsociety could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but thatsociety could choose, in essence, to