ES 118Environment and Society

ES118 Environment and Society

Setting 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 Change

Climate 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 Changing those outcomes means changing the way we have historically improved well-being.we 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 History

How 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 Society

The 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 Diamond’s focal

question: Why did some question: Why did some societies overcome societies overcome resource scarcity while resource scarcity while others succumbed?others succumbed?

His approach: case study His approach: case study method using historical method using historical examplesexamples

His findings:His findings:(1) Information(1) Information(2) Incentives(2) Incentives(3) Values(3) Values

The CourseThe Course

Overarching ThemesOverarching Themes

Evidence over Evidence over opinion.opinion.

Behavioral Sources Behavioral Sources of Environmental of Environmental Degradation:Degradation: ValuesValues InformationInformation IncentivesIncentives

The Computer ConnectionThe Computer Connection

ES 118 Web pageES 118 Web page Download syllabusDownload syllabus Download lecture outlinesDownload lecture outlines AnnouncementsAnnouncements Web sourcesWeb sources

http://www.colby.edu/environ/ES118/ES118.html

Meet the FacultyMeet the FacultyMeet the FacultyMeet the Faculty

Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental StudiesStudies

Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental StudiesProf. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies

Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental StudiesDirector of Environmental Studies

Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental Prof. Kabiri Ngeta, Government and Environmental StudiesStudies

Prof. Philip Nyhus, Environmental StudiesProf. Philip Nyhus, Environmental Studies

Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Prof. Tom Tietenberg, Economics and former Director of Environmental StudiesDirector of Environmental Studies

Characteristics of the CourseCharacteristics of the CourseCharacteristics of the CourseCharacteristics of the Course

Introductory

Solutions Oriented

Multiple Perspectives

Survey

Active Learning

Writing and Speaking Components

Introductory

Solutions Oriented

Multiple Perspectives

Survey

Active Learning

Writing and Speaking Components

Course FormatCourse Format

Mondays and Wednesdays we will have all-course Mondays and Wednesdays we will have all-course lectures in this room.lectures in this room.

Thursday nights we will have presentations on Thursday nights we will have presentations on research methods in this same room.research methods in this same room.

On Fridays in the individual section rooms we will On Fridays in the individual section rooms we will have small group discussions. These sessions will be have small group discussions. These sessions will be an opportunity for you to clarify issues, to raise an opportunity for you to clarify issues, to raise alternative points of view, and to delve into some of alternative points of view, and to delve into some of the leading questions that the faculty will put before the leading questions that the faculty will put before you. you.

Research ProjectsResearch Projects Designed to allow you to be actively involved in learning Designed to allow you to be actively involved in learning

about a specific topic.about a specific topic.

Thursday night sessions will lead you step-by-step through Thursday night sessions will lead you step-by-step through the research process. We will discuss finding researchable the research process. We will discuss finding researchable topics, formulating testable hypotheses, analytical topics, formulating testable hypotheses, analytical approaches, research design, how to use evidence, etc. These approaches, research design, how to use evidence, etc. These session are generally timed to help you with the next step in session are generally timed to help you with the next step in your research process.your research process.

Some work sessions. (Good time for group to meet.)Some work sessions. (Good time for group to meet.)

Presentations during the last week. Run like a professional Presentations during the last week. Run like a professional conference. Four days of presentations. Your group presents conference. Four days of presentations. Your group presents on one day and you attend presentations by others on the on one day and you attend presentations by others on the other three days. You choose the session you want to hear.other three days. You choose the session you want to hear.

The SyllabusThe SyllabusThe SyllabusThe Syllabus

ReadingsReadings GradingGrading DeadlinesDeadlines ContentContent Download it Download it

from the webfrom the web

http://www.colby.edu/environ/courses/ES118/ES118.html

The ReadingsThe Readings

The TextThe Text

Used for basic Used for basic backgroundbackground

Note Glossary Note Glossary in backin back

The E-ReaderThe E-Reader

Selected readings from the literature to enrich Selected readings from the literature to enrich the text and lectures.the text and lectures.

Electronically available from the web.Electronically available from the web. Type “ES118” into the reserves search box on Type “ES118” into the reserves search box on

http://www.colby.edu/library/http://www.colby.edu/library/

Issues for DiscussionIssues for Discussion

Controversial issues with Controversial issues with two opposing expertstwo opposing experts

Useful point of departure Useful point of departure for some class for some class discussions on Fridaydiscussions on Friday

Some Final DetailsSome Final Details

Please make sure you have signed the attendance Please make sure you have signed the attendance sheet.sheet.

If you would like to be placed our the weekly email If you would like to be placed our the weekly email list for the ES program (speakers, internships, job list for the ES program (speakers, internships, job opportunities), please email Beth Kopp at opportunities), please email Beth Kopp at bkkopp@colby.edu and ask to be put on the ES bkkopp@colby.edu and ask to be put on the ES Newsletter list.Newsletter list.

Can get daily environmental news from around the Can get daily environmental news from around the world if interested for free from any Colby computer, world if interested for free from any Colby computer, for example: for example: http://www.http://www.greenwiregreenwire.com.com