Environmental science is the study of how humans interact with the environment. It focuses on solving problems like pollution and extinction by taking an interdisciplinary approach and considering economic and social factors. While a relatively new field, it emerged after World War II in response to issues like smog and polluted waterways. Environmental science is one of the most important sciences today given the need to understand and address pressing environmental challenges like resource depletion, pollution, and species loss. Key issues it examines are the sustainable use of renewable and nonrenewable resources, as well as the introduction of harmful pollutants into the environment.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

2. Environmental Science
Environmental Science – study of how humans interact
with their environment
Environment – anything that surrounds us, including
natural things as well as anything created by humans

3. Major Focus – to solve environmental problems such as extinction or pollution
-often involves looking at the bigger picture such as economics and jobs
Age
- with respect to the other sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) it is quite
new
- post WWII brought bigger cars and home appliances, farmland was used for
homes, etc.
- the result was polluted rivers and lakes, smog and many other problems and
with it a greater concern for the environment and the desire for a way to
possibly save it.

4. Importance
-with respect to the other sciences it is quite possibly the
most important.
-At no time in our history has an understanding of our
environment been more important

5. Main Environmental Problems
Environmental
Problem
Resource
Depletion
Pollution Extinction

6. Resource Reduction
Natural Resource – any naturally occurring substance that can be
used by living things
- some examples are sunlight, air, water, soil, minerals, animals
and fossil fuels
- it is considered depleted when a large amount of it has been
consumed

7. Resource Reduction
Nonrenewable resources – any resource that cannot be
replaced
- some examples are earth minerals and fossil fuels

8. Resource Reduction
• Renewable Resources – any resource that is continually replaced
- solar power is continually being replaced - trees are a
renewable resource but are an example of a resource that must
be taken care of
- for example the rain forest is continually being cut down faster
than new trees can grow

9. Pollution
Pollution – introduction of chemicals or waste material into an environment
that is at a harmful amount
Pollutants – some are by products of daily processes
- some are just direct results of human ignorance such as the dumping of
poisonous chemicals in rivers and lakes