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Part A Summary
The first section of Environmental Change and Challenge introduces basic concepts regarding the relationships among environment, resources, and society, and the ways by which we try to understand complex natural and socio-economic systems. These concepts are drawn mainly from the natural and social sciences, but this section also emphasizes the need for a collaborative approach involving many disciplines to yield effective solutions to environmental problems. Concepts relating to visions of the future that effect policy are discussed, such as sustainable development and resilience. An overview of the global situation with regard to environment and society are presented, and how we measure and assess this situation is considered. Human population growth is a major factor in considering environmental health, and both population size and resource consumption are addressed with particular reference to high Canadian consumption rates. Jurisdictional and institutional arrangements for environmental management in Canada are also discussed, with the need for multi-level cooperation as a prevailing theme. Whether the context is global, national, or regional, we are interested in measuring our progress in addressing environmental change and ensuring effective environmental management.
Chapter Summary
Chapter 1 focuses on the relationship among environment, resources, and society, and the ways by which we try to understand complex natural and socio-economic systems. The Trans Mountain pipeline project is used as a case study to highlight that decisions are often made in the context of changing conditions, conflicting interests and values, trade-offs, and uncertainty – common characteristics of wicked problems. A global overview of some emerging environmental trends and their resulting issues is provided, with emphasis on the dual forces of human population growth and human resource consumption. These forces vary widely across the Earth, and Canada is given special consideration within this global context. The key concept of planetary carrying capacity, and how we are exceeding it, is explained in terms of overconsumption, pollution, overpopulation, and poverty.
The chapter continues with definitions for the terms ‘environment’ and ‘resources’, and explains that how we view the environment, based on anthropocentric versus ecocentric (biocentric) values, influences how we interact with the environment and resources. The three waves regarding approaches to environmental management are introduced and alternative approaches to understanding complex natural and socio-economic are presented, focusing on the need for collaborative study. The importance of science-based management is highlighted, with an emphasis on the need for effective communication of scientific information to policy-makers. By the end of the chapter, two concepts are examined relating to a vision for the future: sustainable development and resilience. The chapter concludes by reiterating that we are violating global carrying capacity thresholds and threatening the future viability of Earth’s life support system. The need for targeted change that rebuilds planetary carrying capacity, and enforcement of that change, is strongly asserted.
Learning Objectives
After reading this chapter, you should be able to do the following:
- Appreciate different perspectives related to environment and resources
- Understand the implications for change, complexity, uncertainty, and conflict relative to environmental issues and problems
- Appreciate the concept of “wicked problems”
- Recognize the implications of the Anthropocene
- Understand the nature of human population growth
- Appreciate the impacts of over-consumption on global ecosystems
- Distinguish between disciplinary, cross-disciplinary, multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, and transdisciplinary approaches
- Discuss various considerations that must be addressed to bring science to bear on environmental and resource problems
- Understand the significance of sustainable development and resilience