Environmental science

• The environment includes living and nonliving things with which we interact in a complex web of relationships
• We are dependent on the earth for clean air, water, food, shelter, energy, fertile soil, and all other components of the planet’s life-support system
• Ecology is the biological science that studies how living things interact with one another and with their environment
• Organisms belong to species, which are groups with unique characteristics that distinguish them from other groups
• An ecosystem is a set of organisms within a defined area of land or volume of water that interact with each other and with their environment of nonliving matter and energy
• Interdependence, not independence, sustains life and allows adaptation to changing environmental conditions
• Understanding interdependence is key to learning how to live more sustainably
• Environmental Science covers physical sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geology, geography, resource technology, and engineering) and social sciences (resource conservation and management, demography, economics, politics, and ethics)
• Natural changes are healthy, but human-induced changes like environmental disturbances cause damages in the system
• Sustainable development aims for the harmonious integration of a sound economy, responsible governance, social cohesion, and ecological integrity
• The holistic approach in Environmental Science considers the system as a whole rather than focusing only on individual parts
• Environmental education aims to develop awareness, concern, and knowledge of the environment to preserve, conserve, and utilize it sustainably
• Living things are interdependent with each other and with their environment
• A diverse community is believed to be a stable community
• Ecosystems change over time and space, and human-induced changes cause environmental crises
• Ecosystems are capable of self-maintenance and self-regulation
• Even abundant natural resources are in danger of being depleted due to human overpopulation and overexploitation
• Pollution results in diminished quality and utility of resources in the air, water, and soil
• Stewardship involves efficient management of resources by maintaining a balance between population growth and resource use
• Sustainability involves actions that address present needs without compromising the needs of future generations
• Biodiversity contributes to the stability and productivity of ecosystems, as different species perform unique ecological functions.
• Air pollution refers to any change in air quality that has adverse effects on human health or the environment.
• The precautionary principle guides decision making when there is uncertainty about the environment, human health or environmental health effects of an activity.
• Earth's atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).
• Sustainable development has three pillars: environmental, social and economic.
• The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope surrounding Earth.
• Sustainable development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• Loss of biodiversity can have negative impacts on the stability and functioning of ecosystems, as well as on human well-being.
• Biodiversity refers to the variety of life forms, including plants, animals, and microorganisms, that exist in a particular habitat or on Earth as a whole.
• The extinction rate is currently higher than normal, with many species disappearing at an alarming rate.