People Affect the Environment

Human Environment Interaction

Ecological Footprint

● how much land and water area a human population needs to make the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes under prevailing technology

● That is, it measures the extent to which humanity is using nature's resources faster than they can regenerate

Current Levels

● humanity's Ecological Footprint is over 23% larger than what the planet can regenerate

● It now takes more than one year and two months for the Earth to regenerate what we use in a single year

Ecological Overshoot

● resource demands > what nature can supply = ecological overshoot

● The effects: collapsing fisheries, carbon-induced climate change, species extinction, deforestation, and the loss of groundwater

List the various ways you depend on energy in a typical day.

American Energy Consumption

● Americans consume 40% more energy per person compared to the world average.

World5.0 TOE/person

United States8.35 TOE/person

Total primary energy supply TOE (tons of oil equivalent) per person (2000). lEA, Energy Balances of OECD Countries 1999-2000 (lEA, Paris, 2001).

Where does our energy come from?

Where does our energy come from?

● Fossil fuels (Natural Gas, Oil, Coal) 68%● Nuclear Power 19%● Hydropower 7%● Wind Power 3.56%● Solar Power .11%● Other Renewables 2.33%

Renewable Energy

Statistics taken from the following site:"Frequently Asked Questions." U.S. Energy Information Administration. N.p., 9 May 2013. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.

What is the connection between Energy and Carbon Dioxide?

What is the connection between Energy and Carbon Dioxide?

=Energy Use

CO2 makes up approximately 85 percent of total greenhousegas (GHG) emissions.

What is the connection between Carbon Dioxide and Global Warming?

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=273

What human activity produces the most greenhouse gases (CO2)?

What human activity produces the most greenhouse gases (CO2)?

Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2004, EPA.

1. Electricity Generation2. Transportation3. Industry4. Agricultural5. Commercial6. Residential

The average person generates 94 lbs. of CO2 per day.

Carbon Footprint

The amount of Carbon Dioxide and other carbon products that are emitted because of the use of fossil fuels by a person, family, business, etc

Activity 1:What is your Carbon Footprint?

● Go to EPA’s Carbon Footprint Calculator http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html

Sustainability

rates of renewable resource harvest, pollution creation, and non-renewable resource depletion that can be continued indefinitely.

Three Parts of Sustainability

Healthy EnvironmentHealthy Economy

Healthy Society

From: http://www.sustainablemeasures.com

Sustainability

● Reducing CO2 emissions benefits: • The environment • The economy• Society

● Practices that benefit all three of these are said to be sustainable.

Sustainable Development

● “Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” – Our Common Future

Dr. Seuss's The Lorax can be used to help students discover the concept of sustainability.