SCI 103 Second Readings Discussion

Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability

Miller - Chapter 1, p. 5

Case Study - Living in an Exponential Age

1. List the five environmental issues affected by the exponential growth of the human population depicted in fig. 1-1.

1-1 Living More Sustainably

2. Contrast the terms environment, ecology, and environmental science. (Also see pp. G5 and G6 in the Glossary)

3. Describe an environmentally sustainable society. (Also see p. G6 in the Glossary)

1-2 Population Growth, Economic Growth, Economic Development, and Globalization

4. Give the estimated human population in 2004.

5. Why are many scientists worry about stresses on the environment as the developing countries industrialize? (Also see figs. 1-3 and 1-4, and the section What Is Our Ecological Footprint? on p. 10)

1-3 Resources

6. Give examples of perpetual resources, Nonrenewable resources, and renewable resources. (Also see fig. 1-6)

7. Explain the concept of sustainable yield. (Also see p. G18 in the Glossary)

8. Give examples of renewable resources that are undergoing environmental degradation. (Also see. p. G6 in the Glossary)

9. Give an example of the tragedy of the commons in Hawaii. (Also see p. G18 in the Glossary)

10. Explain why reusing nonrenewable resources puts less stress on the environment than recycling. (Also see p. G15 of the Glossary)

1-4 Pollution

11. Give examples of point sources of pollution and nonpoint sources of pollution in Hawaii. (Also see pp.G12 and G14 of the Glossary)

12. Explain why pollution prevention is preferable to pollution cleanup.

1-5 Environmental and Resource Problems: Causes and Connections

13. List the five major causes of environmental problems. (Also see figs. 1-9 and 1-10)

14. Explain the relationship between poverty and environmental problems.

15. Explain the relationship between resource consumption and environmental problems (Affluenza). (Also see p. G1 in the Glossary)

16. Explain how the simple models of environmental impacts differ for developed and developing countries. (Also see fig. 1-13)

1-6 Is Our Present Course Sustainable?

17. Explain why some analysts believe that environmental problems will improve in the future.

18. Explain why many environmentalists and scientists foresee continuing environmental degradation.

19. Contrast the three differing environmental worldviews. (Which worldview do you hold?)

20. Describe the concept of environmentally sustainable economic development and list its sustainability emphases. (Also see fig. 1-16 and p. G6 in the Glossary.