CHAPTER 1 ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSE What lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking society?

1. CHAPTER 1ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACYON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSEWhat lessons can we learn from a vanished Viking society?

2. 1 ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSEWhat 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

3. 1 ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSEWhat 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

4. 1 ON THE ROAD TO COLLAPSEWhat 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.

5. 1 Environmental science is all encompassing TERMS TO KNOW: Environment Environmental science Environmental Science is all encompassing 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.

6. 1 Environmental science is all encompassing TERMS TO KNOW: Environment Environmental science Environmental Science is all encompassing 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.

7. 1 Environmental science is all encompassing TERMS TO KNOW: Environment Environmental science Environmental Science is all encompassing 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.

8. 1 Environmental science is all encompassing TERMS TO KNOW: Environment Environmental science Environmental Science is all encompassing 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.

9. 1 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.

10. 1 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. 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. TERMS TO KNOW: Empirical science Applied science Environmental literacy Trade-offs Triple bottom line

11. 1 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 1 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.

18. 1 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.

19. 1 Humans are an environmental force that impacts Earth’s ecosystems TERMS TO KNOW: Sustainable development We have a lot in common with the Vikings. Population Trash Pollution Our attitudes frequently prevent us from responding effectively to environmental change. Underlying causes of many environmental problems

20. 1 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.

21. 1 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.

22. 1 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.

23. 1 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.

24. 1 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

25. 1 Human societies can become more sustainable

26. 1 Human societies can become more sustainable

27. 1 Human societies can become more sustainable

28. 1 Human societies can become more sustainable

29. 1 Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with environmental issues 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. 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.”

30. 1 Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with environmental issues TERMS TO KNOW: Worldviews Environmental ethic Social Trap – Tragedy of the Commons Each person acts in a way to maximize his/her own benefit.

31. 1 Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with environmental issues TERMS TO KNOW: Worldviews Environmental ethic Social Trap – Time Delay An action produces a benefit today while deferring costs and problems for later.

32. 1 Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with environmental issues TERMS TO KNOW: Worldviews Environmental ethic Social Trap – Sliding Reinforcer An action that is beneficial at first may change conditions such that benefit declines.

33. 1 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.

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. 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.

37. 1 Humanity faces some challenges in dealing with environmental issues An ecocentric worldview values all living creatures and nonliving processes of an ecosystem.

38. 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.

39. 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.

40. 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.

41. 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.

42. 1 PERSONAL CHOICES THAT HELP Environmental health Economic profitability Social and economic equity

43. 1 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

44. 1 ANALYZING THE SCIENCE

45. 1 UNDERSTANDING THE ISSUE

46. 1 EVALUATING NEW INFORMATION The Lorax The Truax (updated link) http://www.seussville.com/loraxproject/ http://www.myteacherpages.com/webpages/NDow/files/TRUAX1.pdf

47. 1 MAKING CONNECTIONS