EQ: What is sustainability?
What are the major causes of unsustainability?
Our State of the Union Address…
Our Ideal world, where we are, what
will we do about it.
Sustainability (Our Ideal)
A. The ability to change/adapt to changing environmental
conditions INDEFINITELY.
B. Components:
1.
Natural capital must be used wisely: natural resources, natural
services (nutrient cycling)
2. Environmental Scientists search for solutions.
3. Trade-Offs/ Compromise aka: COST/ BENEFITS: Cost efficiency
Examples: Solar power, electric cars
4. Individuals make the difference: We all have
to work together.
ENVIROMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY=
Living off of our natural income
How does this work?
$1 million
Invest and earn 10% interest
Sustainable income = $100,000 a year
(INDEFINATELY!!!) ***remember that is what
sustainable means***
What if…
$200,000?
Gone by the early 7th year.
$110,000?
Gone by the early 18th year.
Lesson: PROTECT YOUR CAPITAL AND LIVE OFF
THE INCOME IT PRODVIDES.
So, where are we?
On a scale of 1-5 ( 5being awesome)…
Where do you think we are?
Are we sustainable? 5
OR
Are we headed to bankrupt? 1
In other words: Are we sinking or are we surviving?
What are the causes?
1. Population Growth:
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In 2013 our population = 7.1 Billion people
In 25 years our population has grown by 2 billion
people.
The rate of growth for the world is 80 million/
year.
Good news it is slowing… bad news by 2050 it is
estimated it will be around 9.3 billion people.
(Mostly in developing countries)
Cinquain
First consists of two syllables/one word (The Title)
Second line consists of 4 syllables/two words (Decribes)
6 Syllables/ Three words (Action)
8 syllables (another word for the title)
Two Syllables/1 word (another word for the title)
YOUR TITLE is: any form of SUSTAINABILITY
If you have your
notebook turn to
page 4. If not
take out a clean
sheet of
notebook paper.
EQ: What are the major causes of unsustainability plaguing our world? (Con’t)
Define tragedy of the commons and its importance to understanding sustainable
resource use?
2. Wasteful/unsustainable resource
use.
• Resources aka Services:
– Provisional
– Regulation
– Cultural
In your groups come up with a good
definition and some examples of each
of these types of services.
• Think back to Friday: What were the things past societies missed used?
• Some things to think about:
• What shall we maximize? Bentham, states “The greatest good for the
greatest number”. Is this achievable?
•
Maximize population= can only use just enough energy to survive.
Means no vacations, work, swimming, shopping, talking on the
phone, anything enjoyable.
•
Optimum point can’t be maximum for everyone to be “good”.
This brings us to ….
“The Tragedy of the Commons”
By: Garrett Hardin, 1968
• Short term vs. long term…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZFkUeleHP
Y
• In your notes write your own definition of
tragedy of the commons.
3. Poverty
Lets get perspective:
Charts from poverty
Truth about poverty:
-Desperate for short term survival
-Affects population growth
4. Failure to include the harmful environmental
costs of goods and services in their market prices.
5. Insufficient knowledge of how nature works.
What nature tells us…
1. Reliance on solar energy
2. Biodiversity
3. Nutrient recycling
4. Population control
5. Decreasing Biodiversity
• Critical for maintaining stability in populations and
ecosystems.
• “According to the UN Environment Programme, the
Earth is in the midst of a mass extinction of life.
Scientists estimate that 150-200 species of plant,
insect, bird and mammal become extinct every 24
hours. This is nearly 1,000 times the "natural" or
"background" rate and, say many biologists, is greater
than anything the world has experienced since the
vanishing of the dinosaurs nearly 65m years ago.”
6. Climate Change… Not to be
confused with Global Warming
What can we do?
In his essay “ From Carrying Capacity to Footprint
and Back” Michael Cain gives 4 solutions.
1. Our global population size stabilizes and slowly
decreases.
2. People in wealthy nations engage in smart
consumption (Recycle, Reduce, Reuse)
3. Societies invest heavily in sustainable forms of
energy.
4. Earth’s lands and waters are protected.
Lets review
1. The ability to change and adapt to changing
environmental conditions indefinitely is tragedy
of the commons.
2. When looking at sustainability it is important to
look at cost efficiency.
3. Sustainability is the amount of land and water
that is needed to support a person’s lifestyle.
4. Tragedy of the Commons discusses the
importance of monitoring and controlling the
use of natural resources.
Philosophical Chairs
• On Page 5 write the following:
– Central Statement: Easter Island’s history is best
described by Lipo and Hunt’s Theory.
Your stance:
I agree/disagree with the central statement
because… (Two reasons, site paragraph numbers)
Rules of Engagement…
• Listen carefully when others are speaking and seek to understand
their arguments even if you don’t agree.
• Wait for the mediator to recognize you before you speak; only one
person speaks at a time.
• You must first summarize briefly the previous speaker’s argument:
“What I think I heard you say was…”
• If you have spoken for your side you must wait until three other
people on your side speak before you speak again.
• Be sure that when you speak you address the ideas, not the person
stating them.
• Keep an open mind, and move to the other side or the undecided
section if you feel that someone made a good argument or your
opinion is swayed.
• Support the mediator by maintaining order and helping the
discussion progress.
Reflection (Still on page 5)
•
•
•
•
What was the statement that was discussed today?
What are the arguments for the statement. (at least three)
What are the arguments against the statement. (at least three)
Your position and reasons for your position. Include if you changed
your mind and which arguments swayed your thinking.
• Is Easter Island and example of tragedy of the commons? Explain
your answer.
WHEN YOU ARE DONE TAPE YOUR ARTICLE TO PAGE 6.
DON’T FORGET WE ARE IN THE LIBRARY TOMORROW