PowerPoint PresentationSetting the Context: What are the Trends?Climate Change: The EvidenceClimate Change: the ImplicationsAn Alternative ViewA Sense of HistoryEnvironment and SocietyThe DilemmaSustainable Development: The OriginsSustainable Development: The DefinitionOverarching QuestionsSocietal ResilienceThe CourseOverarching ThemesThe Computer ConnectionMeet the FacultyCharacteristics of the CourseCourse FormatResearch ProjectsThe SyllabusThe ReadingsThe TextThe E-ReaderIssues for DiscussionSome Final DetailsES 118Environment and SocietyES118 Environment and SocietySetting the Context:Setting the Context:What are the Trends?What are the Trends?Diminishing Availability Diminishing Availability of Water and Agricultural of Water and Agricultural LandLand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 Colby’s “ Focus the Nation” dayToday is Colby’s “ Focus the Nation” dayThe latest IPCC report states that the evidence The latest IPCC report states that the evidence is now clear that the climate is changing and is now clear that the climate is changing and humans 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, ecosystem changes).changes).Climate Change:Climate Change:the Implicationsthe ImplicationsThe fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive our The fossil-fuel energy sources that currently drive our economy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon) economy emit greenhouse gases (primarily carbon) when combusted.when combusted.The models that estimate future impacts suggest the The models that estimate future impacts suggest the likelihood of very large negative impacts (sea level likelihood of very large negative impacts (sea level rise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystem rise, storm surges, spread of disease, ecosystem changes, etc)changes, etc)Changing those outcomes means changing the way we Changing those outcomes means changing the way we have historically improved well-being.have historically improved well-being.This makes climate change politically very This makes climate change politically very controversial.controversial.An Alternative ViewAn Alternative View•““We ought not punish ourselves in We ought not punish ourselves in shame. We ought to be pleased that shame. We ought to be pleased that we have thrown off so many of we have thrown off so many of humanity’s yokes and made possible humanity’s yokes and made possible fantastic progress in terms of fantastic progress in terms of prosperity. And we ought to face the prosperity. And we ought to face the facts - that on the whole we have no facts - that on the whole we have no reason to expect that progress will not reason to expect that progress will not continue.continue.•This is the real state of the world.”This is the real state of the world.” •Bjørn Lomberg (p. 330)Bjørn Lomberg (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 ConsequencesWhy “Environment Why “Environment and Society”?and Society”?Behavioral Sources Behavioral Sources of Degradationof DegradationMark Hertsgaard’s Mark Hertsgaard’s “Earth Odyssey“Earth Odyssey””Environment and SocietyEnvironment and SocietyThe DilemmaThe Dilemma Need to increase the standard of living among the poorest nations and people.Yet the traditional model of development puts excessive stress on the environment, thereby undermining the 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 solve Nations must work together to solve global environmental problems.global environmental problems.This new approach, which involves This new approach, which involves raising living standards for the poor raising living standards for the poor while protecting and enhancing the while protecting and enhancing the environment, is called sustainable environment, is called sustainable developmentdevelopment..Sustainable Development:Sustainable Development:The DefinitionThe Definition““Sustainable development seeks to meet Sustainable development seeks to meet the aspirations and the needs of the present the aspirations and the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future without compromising the ability of future generations 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 for What role does globalization play in the quest for sustainable development?sustainable development?Elizabeth Kolbert concluded her series in the New Yorker Elizabeth Kolbert concluded her series in the New Yorker magazine on climate change with: "It may seem magazine on climate change with: "It may seem impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced impossible to imagine that a technologically advanced society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that society could choose, in essence, to destroy itself, but that is what we are now in the process of doing.” Is she right?is what we are now in the process of doing.” Is she right?Societal ResilienceSocietal ResilienceDiamond’s focal question: Diamond’s focal question: Why did some societies Why did some societies overcome resource overcome resource