environmental geography - csun.edusd1229/303/l3_ourplanet.pdf1 environmental geography lecture3...
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Environmental Geography
Lecture3Human Use & Our Planet
Lecture 1: Introduction to Environmental Geography
I. Types of Environmental Impact
II. Earth’s Surface Features
III. Our Geographically Integrated Planet
IV. The Rural World
V. The Urban World
VI. Environmental Policy -Introduction
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I. Types of Environmental Impact
• Environmental Pollution • Environmental Disturbance
Los Angeles smog Clear cut, Shasta Trinity National Forest
II. Earth’s Surface Features
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II. Earth’s Surface Features
Earth is a geographically integrated planet.
III. The Rural World
(Source: UN 2003)
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III. The Rural World
IV. The Urban World
•Between 2000 and 2030, the urban population in Africa and Asia is set to double.
•Poor people will make up a large part of future urban growth.
•Dense settlements have greater capacity than rural areas to absorb large populations sustainably.
•Urbanization itself is a powerful factor in fertility decline. Urbanization provides few incentives for large families and numerous disincentives.
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III. The Rural World
V. Environmental Policy - Introduction
• What responsibility should we take in controlling our numbers in order to improve the quality of life for existing and future human societies?
• What is the rightful role of humans in determining the destiny of another species?
• What responsibility should humans assume in the role of stewards of Earth’s environments, resources, and organisms?
Some questions to think about:
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V. Environmental Policy - Introduction
Policy options for protecting the environment:
• International treaties and organizations (Kyoto Protocol, IUCN, UNEP, etc.)
• National government regulations• State government regulations• Local regulations• Grass-roots movements
V. Environmental Policy - Introduction