Chapter 1

1. Chapter 1 Living in an exponential age Fig. 1-1, p. 5

2. Exponential--doubling. Example of chessboard and kings wager. Example of folding paper--fold the paper in half, continue folding in half another 42 times--the stack of paper will reach from earth to moon. How many times can you fold the paper anyway? Between 1950 and 2005 world population increased from 2.5 billion to 6.5 billion--what is a guestimate of the doubling time? 1950-2005 an 8 fold increase in economic growth--great but most live in poverty--almost one out of two live on less that $2 per day. The Exponential Age

3. Industrial revolution Black Death—the Plague Hunting and gathering Agricultural revolution Industrial revolution Fig. 1-1, p. 1 Fig. 1-1, p. 5

4. Environment--everything that affects a living organism. Ecology--biological science that studies the relationship between living organisms and their environment. Environmentalism--social movement dedicated to protecting earth’s life support system for us and other species. Environmental Science--interdisciplinary study that uses information from physical sciences and social sciences to learn how the earth works and how humans interact with the earth, and how to deal with environmental problems we face. Environmental Science

5. Sustainability--ability of earth’s various systems (including cultural systems and economies) to adapt to changing environmental conditions. First step--sustain earth’s natural capital. Natural Capital--the natural resources and natural services that keep us and other species alive and support our economies. Capital--is essentially wealth used to sustain business and generate more wealth. Sustainability

6. Capital of $100,000 Invest entire capital and get 10% return (that was really what happened in the 90’s boom, sadly not today!), net worth is now $110,000. Wealth is increased. Protect your capital and live off the income it generates. Win the Lottery! One million dollars! How will you manage this? Invest the money and earn 10% return. Have 100,000 to live off every year and capital is not touched. Spend $200,000 per year, and fortune gone in 7 years. Spend $110,000 per year, fortune gone in 18 years. Capital

7. Fig. 1-3, 12th ed

8. Natural Capital is sum of natural resources and natural services. Natural resources--air, water soil, land, life, non-renewable minerals, renewable energy, non-renewable energy. Natural services, air purification, water purification, soil renewal, nutrient recycling, food production, pollination, grassland and forest renewal, waste treatment, climate control, population control and pest control. Natural Capital

9. Fig. 1-6-12th ed

10. Major themes-- 1. Natural Capital 2. Natural Capital Degradation 3. Solutions 4. Trade-offs 5. Individuals matter First understand components and importance of natural capital. Next recognize that human activity degrades natural capital. Identify solutions--conflicts often involved. Trade-offs often required. Individuals matter in search for solutions or bringing about change. Path to Sustainability

11. Global Outlook--comparison of developed and undeveloped countries, 2005 Fig. 1-4

12. Current population growth is 1.2% per year. Economic growth--increase in capacity of a country to provide people with goods and services. GDP--Gross Domestic Product--annual market value of all goods and services. Per capita GDP--GDP divided by total population. Economic development--improvement of human living standards by enconomic growth. Developed countries--highly industrialized with high average per capity GDP. Developing countries--well, developing industrialization and per capita GDP. Growth and Development

13. Per capita ecological footprint--amount of biologically productive land and water needed to supply each person with resources and absorb wastes. Total ecological footprint--per capita times total population of country. Humanity’s ecological footprint currently exceeds earth’s ecological ability to replenish renewable resources by 21%. Footprint of developed countries is large because of huge consumption of renewable resources. Natural Capital Use and Degradation

14. Total Ecological Footprint (million hectares) and share of Global Ecological Capacity (%) Per Capita Ecological Footprint (hectares per person) Projected footprint Earth’s ecological capacity Ecological footprint Stepped Art Fig. 1-7

15. Natural Capital Degradation Fig. 8

16. Causes of Environmental Problems Population growth Unsustainable resource use Poverty Excluding environmental costs from market prices Trying to manage nature without knowing enough about it Natural Capital depletion and degradation cause most of the environmental problems Stepped Art Fig. 1-10

17. Number of people (% of world's population) Lack of access to Harmful results of poverty Adequate sanitation facilities 2.6 billion (39%) Enough fuel for heating and cooking 2 billion (30%) 2 billion (30%) Electricity Clean drinking water 1.1 billion (16%) Adequate health care 1.1 billion (16%) Adequate housing 1 billion (15%) Enough food for good health 0.84 billion (13%) Fig. 1-11

18. One in every 3 children under age 5 suffers from sever malnutrition. It is estimated that at least 13,700 children under the age of 5 die from malnutrition, infectious diseases and drinking contaminated water each day. Fig. 1-12

19. Affluenza--unsustainable addiction to overconsumption and materialism exhibited in lifestyles of affluent consumers in US and other developed countries. Shop till you drop. Use it up….. Environmental impact of population (I) depends on three key facors: P--number of people A--average resource use per person (affluence) T--harmful effects of technologies used to provide and consume each unit of resource. See figure 1.13 Affluenza

20. Fig. 1-14