Key Factors of
Sustainability
Sustainability
The ability of Earth’s natural systems and human cultural systems to survive, flourish into the long-term future
Sustainability
The amount of land and water needed to supply an individual or a population with renewable resources and to absorb/recycle wastes and pollution such resource use produces
Ecological Footprint
A set of assumptions and values reflecting how one thinks the world works and what one’s role in it should be
Environmental Worldview
The portion of renewable resources that can be used sustainably
Natural Income
Dilution/reduction of pollutants (post-production)
Pollution cleanup
Interdisciplinary study of how humans interact with the environment
Environmental Science
contamination of the environment by chemicals, noise, heat at levels considered harmful to health, survival, activities of organisms
Pollution
Natural world is support system for human life
Human-centered
Fully protect wilderness
Preservation
The type of growth the human population has shown since the industrial revolution
Exponential Growth
A social movement dedicated to sustaining Earth’s life-support system
Environmentalism
Single, identifiable source from which pollutants are discharged
Point Source
Humans part of, dependent on, nature. Look to nature for ways to think and act.
Earth-centered
Manage public lands wisely for their natural resources
Conservation
Projected 2050 world population
9.8 Billion
Free natural services provided by healthy ecosystems; support human life/economies
Ecosystem Services
Pollutants from dispersed sources, difficult to pinpoint
Nonpoint Source
All species have value even if not valuable to humans, should be protected from extinction
Life-centered
By living only on Earth’s natural income and not depleting the natural capital, society moves from an unsustainable lifestyle to a __________ one
Sustainable
The term used when prices of Goods/Services include their harmful Environmental/Health costs
Full Cost Pricing
Natural resources + Ecosystem services = ???
Natural Capital
Occurs when the ecological footprint is larger than the biological capacity to replenish resources and absorb wastes/pollution
Ecological Deficit
Environmental and social scientists have identified five basic causes of the environmental problems society faces
– Population growth
– Unsustainable resource use
– Poverty
– Lack of full-cost pricing for goods/services
– Increasing isolation from nature
First Earth Day
April 22, 1970
The IPAT model equation
Impact (I) = Population (P) × Affluence (A) × Technology (T)