Chapter Summary

Humans always have inhabited two worlds: one of nature and another of human society and technology. Environmental science is the systematic study of the intersection of these worlds. An interdisciplinary field, environmental science draws from many areas of inquiry to help us understand the worlds in which we live and our proper role in them.

The most amazing features of our planet may be the self-sustaining ecological systems that make life possible and the rich diversity of life that is part of, and dependent upon, those ecological processes. In spite of the many problems that beset us, the earth is wonderfully bountiful and beautiful.

Concerns about pollution and land degradation date back at least 2,500 years. Clearly, we have pragmatic interests in conserving resources and preserving a habitable environment. There also are ethical reasons to believe that nature has a right to continue to exist for its own sake. Unprecedented population growth, food shortages, scarce energy supplies, air and water pollution, and destruction of habitats and biological resources are all serious threats to our environment and our way of life.

As international travel and communication become easier, we realize that these problems encompass our whole planet and require global cooperation to find solutions. Still, there is good news. Pollution has been reduced and population growth has slowed in many places. Perhaps we can extend these advances to other areas as well.

The 20 percent of us in the world's richest countries consume an inordinate amount of resources and produce a shocking amount of waste and pollution. More than 1.3 billion people live in acute poverty and lack access to an adequate diet, decent housing, basic sanitation, clean water, education, medical care, and other essentials for a humane existence.

Concern for the poor is more than a humanitarian issue. Faced with immediate survival needs, these desperate people often have no choice but to overharvest resources and reduce long-term sustainability for themselves and their children. Since we share the same environment it is in our own self-interest to help them find better options than they currently have.

There are several ways of describing the economic and developmental status of different countries. The First World is generally industrialized and more highly developed. Many Third World countries have made encouraging progress in improving the quality of life for residents, but much remains to be done.

Indigenous or native peoples are generally among the poorest and most oppressed of any group. Nevertheless, they possess valuable ecological knowledge and remain the guardians of nature in many places. Recognizing the rights of indigenous people and minority communities is an important way to protect natural resources and environmental quality.

There are valid reasons to be pessimistic about our environmental conditions, but we must be careful that dire predictions don't overwhelm us and become self-fulfilling prophecies. Many people find an optimistic outlook a better motivation than fear, but blind faith in technological progress can be simply an excuse for business as usual. Although we still have far to go in protecting our environment, some heartening progress already has been made toward building a just and sustainable world.