Slide 2 Understanding Populations The Environment and Society
Slide 3 Objectives Describe The Tragedy of the Commons Explain the
law of supply and demand List three differences between developed
and developing countries Explain what sustainability is, and
describe why it is a goal of environmental science Slide 4 The
Tragedy of the Commons Garrett Hardin- Conflict between the
short-term interests of the individual and the long-term welfare of
the society Example: The Commons- the area that belonged to the
whole village Can be applied to todays problem with natural
resources Slide 5 The Tragedy of the Commons Individuals put as
many animals in the commons as possible Too many destroyed the
grass Everyone suffered Replaced by closed fields owned by
individuals Owners more careful Someone or group must take
responsibility Slide 6 Slide 7 Supply and Demand Law of economics
that states as the demand for a good or service increases, the
value also increases Example: world oil production Slide 8 Slide 9
Slide 10 Costs and Benefits Cost-benefit analysis: Balance the cost
of action against the benefits expected Environmental regulations
paid for by taxpayer/consumer Risk Assessment Cost- Risk of
undesirable outcome Create cost effective ways to protect
environment Slide 11 Developed and Developing Countries Unequal
distribution of wealth and resources around the world Developed
countries: Higher incomes Slower population growth Diverse industry
Strong social support Use 75% of worlds resources 20% of world
population More waste and pollution per person Slide 12 Developing
Countries Lower average incomes Simple agricultural- based
communities Rapid population growth Using resources and polluting
faster than can be replaced or cleaned up Severely overpopulated
regions Forests stripped bare Topsoil exhausted Animals driven to
extinction Malnutrition Starvation Disease Slide 13 Slide 14
Ecological Footprints Calculations that show the productive area of
earth needed to support one person in a country Estimates land used
for crops, grazing, forest products and housing Includes ocean area
for seafood Includes forest area to absorb pollution Slide 15 Slide
16 A Sustainable World Sustainability- The condition in which human
needs are met which allows the human population to survive
indefinitely Key goal of environmental science Current world not
sustainable Developed countries using resources faster than can be
replaced
