ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

• ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE is a scientific study of the environment in order to understand and manage contemporary environmental challenges
• the 14 environmental challenges are GLOBAL WARMING, EARTHQUAKES, AIR QUALITY, FRESH WATER, OCEAN ACIDIFICATION, DEFORESTATION, BIODIVERSITY LOSS, DEMOGRAPHY, CHEMICALISATION, EPIDEMIC DISEASES, ENERGY, VOLCANOES, FOOD SUPPLIES, CLIMATE CHANGE
• ECOLOGY deals with the relationships and interactions between biotic living and the abiotic non living factors of the environment
• the 7 environmental principles are EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE, EVERYTHING IN NATURE CHANGES, EVERYTHING IN NATURE HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE, THE ENVIRONMENT HAS A CARRYING CAPACITY, ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE IMPORTANT, NATURE KNOWS BEST, OURS IS A FINITE EARTH
• EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED TO EVERYTHING ELSE can be seen through environmental interactions and flow of energy such as the food web
• EVERYTHING IN NATURE CHANGES may be demonstrated by rhythmic change and or sequential change
• EVERYTHING IN NATURE HAS TO GO SOMEWHERE is exemplified by conditions brought about by displacement or alterations in the natural cycle in the environment such as the biogeochemical cycle
• THE ENVIRONMENT HAS A CARRYING CAPACITY is the observance of the threshold levels so as not to create adverse environmental impacts through the utilization of resources and population dynamics
• ALL FORMS OF LIFE ARE IMPORTANT is the idea that biodiversity promotes environmental stability and maintain natural order of life
• NATURE KNOWS BEST is the idea that the earth follows its own laws and processes to maintain itself while man are just stewards of the environment
• OURS IS A FINITE EARTH is the idea that most resources are nonrenewable thus vulnerable to depletion and degradation when not wisely utilized
• the 3 ethical principles are ANTHROPOCENTRISM, BIOCENTRISM, ECOCENTRISM
• ANTHROPOCENTRISM is a human centered morality
• ANTHROPOCENTRISM is the belief that only humans have intrinsic value and moral standing
• ANTHROPOCENTRISM is the belief that the rest of the natural world has instrumental value or is of use to humans
• ANTHROPOCENTRISM is the belief that we can best protect nature by looking out for human needs
• BIOCENTRISM is a life centered morality
• BIOCENTRISM is the belief that all and only living beings specifically individual organisms not species of ecosystems have intrinsic value and moral standing
• BIOCENTRISM is the belief that humans are not superior to other life forms nor privileged and must respect the inherent worth of every organism
• ECOCENTRISM is a ecosystem centered morality
• ECOCENTRISM is the belief that non living things species and natural processes have moral standing or intrinsic value and are deserving of respect
• ECOCENTRISM is the belief that individuals must be concerned about the whole community of life and or nature
• ECOCENTRISM is the belief that humans should strive to preserve ecological balance and stability
• the 6 environmental attitudes and behaviors are DEVELOPMENT ETHIC, PRESERVATION ETHIC, CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ETHIC, TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS, HIERARCHY OF NEEDS, PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE
• DEVELOPMENT ETHIC is based on individualism or egocentrism which assumes that humans are masters of nature and that the earth and its resources exists their benefit and pleasure
• WORK ETHIC dictates that humans continuously effect change and that resources utilized represent progress and prosperity which itself is good
• PRESERVATION ETHIC considers nature being special in itself since it has intrinsic value or inherent worth beyond human appropriation
• PRESERVATIONISTS have diverse reasons for wanting to preserve nature some hold an almost religious belief regarding nature as they have a reverence for life and respect the right of all creatures to live no matter the social and economic costs
• CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ETHIC is a scientific preservationist view leaning on the concept of sustainable development where it recognizes the desire for decent living standards but must work towards a balance of resource use and resource availability
• CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ETHIC goal is for people to live together in one world indifinitely without depriving the future generation the opportunity to meet its needs as well
• TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS is the worldview that the earth has resources that are easily replenished and abundant enough for everyone to enjoy
• TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS is this idea of commonly shared resources where most are renewable had led to its overexploitation and eventual degradation mainly due to its open access nature
• PRECATIONARY PRINCIPLE is the belief that when an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment precautionary measures should be taken if some cause and relationships are not fully established scientifically
• PRECAUTIONARY PRINCIPLE is the belief that the proponent of the activity rather than the public should bear the burden of proof
• ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EQUITY states that no group of people including racial ethnic or socioeconomic groups should bear a disproportionate share of the negative environmental consequences resulting from industrial municipal and commercial operations or the execution of national and local policies
• ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE EQUITY goal is fairness and speaks of the impartiality that guide the application of laws designed to protect the health of human beings and the productivity of ecological systems on which all human activity economic activity included depends
• POLLUTER PAYS PRINCPLE is the oldest principle of environmental law and also one of the most intuitive which traces its origins to plato
• POLLUTER PAYS PRINCIPLE it makes practical and moral sense to make the polluter pay for its wrongs and is expected to deter would be polluters in the future
• POLLUTER PAYS PRINCIPLE states that in the interest of environmental justice it seems fair the if you make a mess it is your duty to clean it up
• INTERGENERATIONAL EQUITY can be traced back to aristotle