Environmental Science, Attitudes, Juctice, and Principles

• Change and Material Cycles

  1. Materials in the environment undergo cyclic changes, passing through geologic and biological systems

  2. When energy flows through nature, it is neither created nor destroyed, but changes from one form to another
• Everything in Nature has to go Somewhere
• Biotic effects


  • The food chain and food web
• Law of Limits and Population Dynamics

  When the carrying capacity is exceeded, an imbalance in the system occurs
• Biodiversity promotes environmental stability and maintains natural order of life
• Balance of Nature and Stewardship


  Nature has its own laws and processes to maintain itself, going against them will have undesirable consequences
• Development ethic: 'Based on individualism or egocentrism. It assumed that the human race is and should be the master of nature and that the Earth and its resources exist for our benefit and pleasure'
• Change and Material Cycles

  May be demonstrated by rhythmic change (Circadian, seasonal) and/or sequential change (ecological succession)
• Law of Limits and Population Dynamics


  Carrying capacity is the maximum number of users of a resource without creating adverse environmental impacts
• Abiotic effects


  • For example, how the type and distribution of soil, chemical characteristics of the water affects the distribution of organisms
• Materials are natural resources, but when placed in the wrong place at the wrong time become wastes and pollute the environment, diminishing the utility of a resource
• Types of Diversity

  • Genetic Diversity
  • Species Diversity
  • Ecosystem Diversity
• Interdependence and Interconnectedness


  Everything is connected to everything else, what one does will affect another, whether directly or indirectly
• Diversity and Stability

  The more diversity among life forms and ecosystems are, the more resilient and stable the environment will be
• Balance of Nature and Stewardship


  Human activities should be consistent with the natural laws and processes
• Preservation ethic: 'Considers nature special in itself, with intrinsic value or inherent worth beyond human appropriation'
• Goal of the conservation ethic

  People living altogether in one world indefinitely without depriving future generations the opportunity to meet their needs
• Reasons for wanting to preserve nature

  • Some hold an almost religious belief regarding nature
  • They have a reverence for life and respect the right of all creatures to live, no matter what the social and economic costs
• Enacted to make the party responsible for producing pollution responsible for paying for the damage done to the natural environment
• Proper distribution of renewable and non-renewable resources is key in sustainable development to distribute among present and future generations
• Article 2 Section 16 of the 1987 Constitution provides that the State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature
• Environmental Justice or equity

  States that no group of people should bear a disproportionate share of negative environmental consequences, aiming for fairness and impartiality in the application of laws
• Preservation ethic


  Considers nature special in itself with intrinsic value or inherent worth beyond human appropriation
• It makes practical and moral sense to make the polluter pay for its wrong and is expected to deter would-be polluters in the future
• Intergenerational Equity


  Serves as the guiding principle in international law for formulating standards in allocating and sharing resources and distributing the burdens of caring for the environment
• Writ of Mandamus and Writ of Kalikasan
• Conservation or management ethic


  A scientific preservationist view leaning on the concept of sustainable development, recognizing the desire for decent living standards while working towards a balance of resource use and availability