Chapter 2 Chapter 2 Environmental History, Environmental History,

Jurisdictional Authority, and Jurisdictional Authority, and SustainabilitySustainability

Environmental Views in Environmental Views in CanadaCanada: 1700s–1800s: 1700s–1800s

Widespread environmental Widespread environmental destructiondestruction

European settlementEuropean settlementFrontier attitudeFrontier attitudeResources appeared inexhaustibleResources appeared inexhaustible

Early Environmental MovementEarly Environmental Movement

Henry David ThoreauHenry David ThoreauWriterWriterLived simplyLived simply

George Perkins MarshGeorge Perkins MarshMan and NatureMan and NatureHumans as agents of changeHumans as agents of change

Early Environmental MovementEarly Environmental Movement Resources quickly Resources quickly

being depletedbeing depleted Emergence of Emergence of

utilitarian utilitarian conversationconversation

Canadian Forest Canadian Forest Service establishedService established

John James AudubonJohn James Audubon– Artist aroused public Artist aroused public

interestinterest

North American Wildlife ModelNorth American Wildlife ModelRecognition that wildlife was Recognition that wildlife was

an exhaustible resourcean exhaustible resourceFirst push to conserve First push to conserve

habitats and wildlifehabitats and wildlifeTwo Principles:Two Principles:

―Wildlife belongs to all North Wildlife belongs to all North AmericansAmericans

―Resources should be managed Resources should be managed sustainablysustainably Making a Difference:

Shane Mahoney

Mid-20Mid-20thth Century Conservation Century Conservation

Droughts of 1930’sDroughts of 1930’sPFRA in 1935PFRA in 1935 DUC in 1938DUC in 1938

Aldo LeopoldAldo LeopoldGame ManagementGame ManagementA Sand County AlmanacA Sand County AlmanacDeveloped a land ethicDeveloped a land ethic

Mid-20Mid-20thth Century Conservation Century ConservationRachel CarsonRachel Carson

Marine biologistMarine biologistSilent SpringSilent Spring

Dangers of pesticidesDangers of pesticidesHeightened public Heightened public

awarenessawareness

Paul EhrlichPaul EhrlichEcologistEcologistThe Population BombThe Population Bomb

The Environmental The Environmental MovementMovement

1970: First Earth 1970: First Earth DayDayGaylord NelsonGaylord NelsonDenis HayesDenis Hayes

Religious supportReligious support1990: 141 1990: 141

nations celebrate nations celebrate Earth DayEarth Day

Important Dates In Important Dates In Environmental HistoryEnvironmental History

1986: Chernobyl nuclear accident1986: Chernobyl nuclear accident1987: Montreal Protocol drafted1987: Montreal Protocol drafted1989: Exxon Valdez oil spill1989: Exxon Valdez oil spill1991: Oil spill in Kuwait1991: Oil spill in Kuwait1999: Human population reaches 6 1999: Human population reaches 6

billionbillion 2010: World’s worst oil spill 2010: World’s worst oil spill

Jurisdictional AuthorityJurisdictional Authority British Common Law:British Common Law:

―Property owners have the right to use land Property owners have the right to use land and resources on their land as they wishand resources on their land as they wish

―Little influence on environmental Little influence on environmental protectionprotection

Statute Law:Statute Law:―BNA Act of 1867, government has control BNA Act of 1867, government has control

over environmental rules and regulationsover environmental rules and regulations―Divided responsibility between the federal Divided responsibility between the federal

and provincial governmentsand provincial governments

Environmental LegislationEnvironmental LegislationEnvironment Environment

Canada is legally Canada is legally incorporated, 1971incorporated, 1971

Canadian Canadian Environmental Environmental Assessment Act, Assessment Act, 19921992

Canadian Canadian Environmental Environmental Protection Act, 1999Protection Act, 1999

Application of ethical Application of ethical standards to standards to environmental environmental questionsquestions

Based on values, Based on values, which changewhich change

Consider people today Consider people today and in the futureand in the future

Involves many Involves many tradeoffstradeoffs

Environmental EthicsEnvironmental Ethics

Helps us make sense of: Helps us make sense of:

- How the environment - How the environment worksworks

- Our place in the - Our place in the environmentenvironment

- Right and wrong behaviors- Right and wrong behaviors Two extremesTwo extremes

- Western- Western

- Deep ecology- Deep ecology

Environmental WorldviewsEnvironmental Worldviews

Expansionist; frontier attitudeExpansionist; frontier attitude Human-centered, utilitarianHuman-centered, utilitarian Exploit natureExploit nature Accumulate wealthAccumulate wealth AnthropocentricAnthropocentric

Western WorldviewWestern Worldview

Deep Ecology WorldviewDeep Ecology Worldview Based on harmony Based on harmony

with naturewith nature Spiritual respect for Spiritual respect for

lifelife All species are equalAll species are equal Requires radical shift Requires radical shift

in modern thinkingin modern thinking Need for population Need for population

controlcontrol BiocentricBiocentric

Aboriginal WorldviewAboriginal Worldview Passed on from Passed on from

generation to generation to generationgeneration

Traditional stories, Traditional stories, rituals and spiritual rituals and spiritual beliefsbeliefs

Humans live in Humans live in harmony with natureharmony with nature

Traditional Traditional knowledgeknowledge

Add the image that will be place in Chapter 2 Figure 2.14

Voluntary SimplicityVoluntary Simplicity How should you live?How should you live? Material wealth not required for Material wealth not required for

happinesshappiness Values andValues and

character importantcharacter important How can you How can you

make changes? make changes?

Environmental JusticeEnvironmental Justice Right of everyone to protection from Right of everyone to protection from

environmental harmenvironmental harm Moral sense of fairness & equalityMoral sense of fairness & equality Who is exposed to the most pollutants?Who is exposed to the most pollutants? Where are manyWhere are many

landfills and toxiclandfills and toxic

waste facilitieswaste facilities

located?located?

A Plan Is NeededA Plan Is Needed Carrying capacityCarrying capacity

- Maximum population that can be - Maximum population that can be sustainedsustained

- What is our carrying capacity?- What is our carrying capacity? Human population Human population

must be stabilizedmust be stabilized Over consumption Over consumption

must stopmust stop

Strategies for Sustainable Strategies for Sustainable Living: RecommendationsLiving: Recommendations

Eliminate poverty—stabilize human Eliminate poverty—stabilize human populationpopulation

Protect and restore Earth’s resourcesProtect and restore Earth’s resources Provide adequate food for all peopleProvide adequate food for all people Mitigate climate changeMitigate climate change Design sustainable citiesDesign sustainable cities

DevelopmentDevelopment Goal: improve quality of human lifeGoal: improve quality of human life Unequal distribution of resourcesUnequal distribution of resources Many live on less than $2 per dayMany live on less than $2 per day How can this problem be solved?How can this problem be solved? What can you do?What can you do?

Biodiversity & UsBiodiversity & Us Biodiversity: variety of living Biodiversity: variety of living

organismsorganisms Humans are part of Earth’s web of Humans are part of Earth’s web of

lifelife What does biodiversity do for us?What does biodiversity do for us? Ecosystem servicesEcosystem services

Protecting BiodiversityProtecting Biodiversity

Much biodiversity is in Much biodiversity is in

the developing worldthe developing world Need for more scientistsNeed for more scientists Proper management of Proper management of

landland EveryEvery country needs a country needs a

planplan

Eco Canada Career FocusEco Canada Career Focus

Have you considered Have you considered a career as an a career as an environmental environmental assessment analysts?assessment analysts?

Identify, assess and Identify, assess and mitigate mitigate environmental effects environmental effects of proposed projectsof proposed projects

Case Study: Jakarta, IndonesiaCase Study: Jakarta, Indonesia Population 16.9 million: 2006Population 16.9 million: 2006 Pollution from ~ 2 million commuters Pollution from ~ 2 million commuters

dailydaily 95% of human95% of human

waste not cleanedwaste not cleaned FloodingFlooding SquattersSquatters What can be done?What can be done?

““The test of our progress is not The test of our progress is not whether we add more to the whether we add more to the

abundance of those who have abundance of those who have much; it is whether we provide much; it is whether we provide enough for those who have too enough for those who have too

little.”little.”

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937Franklin Delano Roosevelt, 1937