Global Environment Text Notes 04 01 2013 Chapter 1 Introducing Environmental Science and Sustainability Human Impacts on the Environment human activity is disrupting global systems system a set of components that interact and function as a whole Increasing Human Numbers o 6 9 billion people consume lots of raw material and produce lots of waste o 40 of the world population lives in poverty poverty a condition in which people cannot meet their basic needs for adequate food clothing shelter education or health The Gap between rich and poor countries o Highly developed countries countries with complex industrial bases low rates of population growh and high per o Moderately developed countries developing countries with a medium level of industrialization and average per capita incomes that are lower than those of highly developed capita income countries o Less developed countries developing countreis with a low level of industrialization a high fertility rate a high infant mortality rate and a low per capita income Population Resources and the Environment Types of resources o Non renewable Minerals fossil fuels quickly o Renewable Limited supply developed countries using these Water trees plants animals Developed countries also using these too quickly exploitation Solves short term problem but does Resource consumption not solve long term o Consumption is the human use of materials and energy o 1 newborn in a developed country might consume the amount 12 would in a developing country o unsustainable consumption when the demand for consumption damages the env or depleted resources to the extent that future generations may have a lower quality of living o ecological footprint amount of land water and ocean required on a continuous basis to provide that person with food water shelter wood energy clothing transportation and waste removal The IPAT model o I environmental impact o P number of people o A affluence which is a measure of the consumption or amount of resurces used per person o T the environtmental effects resources needed of the technologies used to pbtain and consume the resources sustainability the ability to meet current human economic and social needs without compromising the ability of the environment to support future Sustainability generations Environmental Science Ecology sustainability and the tragedy of the commons o gerret hardin o farmers in midevil times o The branch of biology that studies the interrelatioshps between organism and their environment Chapter 8 The Human Population The Science of Demography demography is the science of human population structure and growth demographics is the statistic Thomas Malthus 1700s was first to realize that pop growth is not indefinite says growth will surpass food Economists such as Julian Simon claim that technology will help prevent this enabling us to sustain food Current and Future Population Numbers o Growth rate not attributed to increading birth rate but a significant decrease in death rate o Zero population growth when b d o carrying capacity about 4 16 billion Human Migration o Increase in world pop causes an increase in migration for multiple reasons better standard of living most important jobs to be with family etc Demographics of Countries highly developed countries have the lowest birth rates and low infant mortality rates US was 6 1 in 2011 world was 44 highly developed countries have longer life expectancies and high average per capita GNI PPPs gross national income in purchasing power parity devided by midyear population replacement fertility level the amount a couple needs to produce in order to replace themselves usually 2 1 the world rate is 2 5 right now demographic stages o frank notestein o preindustrial stage birth and death rates are high population grows at a modest rate o transitional stage due to improved healthcare and reliable food and water supplies causes a lower death rate birth rate still high o industrial stage decline in birth rate o postindustrial stage low birth rates and low death rates o improved socioeco conditions low birth rate Or low birth rate improved socioeco conditions age structure o is a distribution of people by age o population growth momentum potential for future increase or decrease in population based on age structure positive is when the majority of the population are in the repreoductive ages age structure effects of an aging population o aging pop means more people who are making less money and need more health care thus leading to more tax burden etc o however agin countries have lower crime rates do to less pop percentage of younger people Population and Quality of Life 82 of the world live in less developed countries increasing population of LDCs can cause issues of over agriculting to land causing problems for its self and the world it is not clear if the world can sustain the projected 9 15 bill by 2050 or even now at 7 bill population and chronic hunger o food security when people do not have to worry about being starved o over 1 billion people live in food insecurity o economists think a solution for starved developing countries is to increase economic development o 2 areas with greatest food insecurity south asia and sb saharan Africa economic effects of continued population growth o economic development affects population growth and visa versa Reducing the Total Fertility Rate Culture and Fertility rates in LCDs o High fertility rates due to culture bc of high infant mortality o Also rol of children as a use of labor in LCDs is high 176 million bw age of 5 14 worked full time all in LCDs o Some cultures a woman who bares many males is valued ie more incentive to have male children o Religion plays a roll catholics have the highest TFR The Social and Economic Status of Women o In lots of developing countires men are valued over women ie women may not receive any education or opportunities o In 2004 2 3 of 181 countires reported gender parity the right for every child to obtain primary education Marriage Age and Fertility o Fertility depends on which age a female marries which depends on laws and customs of their country Educational oppertinity and fertility o Studies show the education is directly correlated with fertility more education later age of having children and fewer children Family Planning Services o Family planning services result in lower fertility rates o 10 of women in 1960s 55 today however of women who do not go to family planning has