1.
Overview of
Environmental
Science

2.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Enumerate the importance of
environmental science.
2. Identify the components of
environmental science.
3. Answer correctly the learning
activities provided.

3.
The environment is an evergreen
subject because it matters a lot to our
daily lives. It’s where we live, eat,
breathe, and bring up our children. Our
life support systems entirely rely on the
well-being of every organism living on
planet earth. This is why a lot has been
written and spoken about the protection
and conservation of the environment.
There are even high-value courses

4.
Environmental science is a field that deals with
the study of the interaction between human
systems and natural systems. Natural systems
involve the earth itself and life. Human systems are
primarily the populations of the earth
Environmental science is the academic field that
takes physical, biological, and chemical sciences to
study the environment and discover solutions
to environmental problems. Sciences used in
environmental science include geography, zoology,
physics, ecology, oceanology, and geology

5.
Environmental science also
branches out into environmental
studies and environmental
engineering. It provides an
integrated and interdisciplinary
approach to the study of
environmental problems.

6.
Environmental studies are the study of
social sciences to understand human
interactions with the environment.
Environmental engineering is the focus on
analysing and deducing problems with the
environment and the effect of man-made
programs on the environment, and for finding
solutions to help protect and preserve the
environment by disposing of pollution in the
air, water, and land.

7.
Environmental science involves different fields of
study. Most often, the study of environmental
science includes the study of climate change,
natural resources, energy, pollution,
and environmental issues.
In environmental sciences, ecologists study how
plants and animals interact with each other,
chemists study the living and non-living
components of the environment, geologists study
the formation, structure, and history of the earth,
biologists study the biodiversity, physicists are

8.
The growing complexity of environmental
problems is creating a need for scientists with
rigorous, interdisciplinary training in
environmental
science. Environmental scientists and
specialists use their knowledge of the natural
sciences to protect the environment and
human health. They must have a solid
background in economics, sociology, and
political science.

9.
Importance of Environmental Science
1. To Realize That Environmental Problems
are Global
Environmental science lets you recognize
that environmental problems such as climate
change, global warming, ozone layer
depletion, acid rains, and impacts on
biodiversity and marine life are not just
national problems, but global problems as

10.
2. To Understand the Impacts of Development on
the Environment
It’s well documented and quantified that
development results in Industrial growth,
urbanization, expansion of telecommunication and
transport systems, hi-tech agriculture, and
expansion of housing.
Environmental science seeks to teach the general
population about the need for decentralization of
industries to reduce congestion in urban areas.
Decentralization means many people will move out
of urban centers to reduce pollution resulting from

11.
3. To Discover Sustainable Ways of Living
Environmental science is more concerned with
discovering ways to live more sustainably. This
means utilizing present resources in a manner that
conserves their supplies for the future.
Environmental sustainability doesn’t have to outlaw
living luxuriously, but it advocates for creating
awareness about the consumption of resources and
minimizing unnecessary waste.
This includes minimizing household energy

12.
4. To Utilize Natural Resources Efficiently
Natural resources bring a whole lot of
benefits to a country. A country’s natural
resources may not be utilized efficiently
because of low-level training and a lack of
management skills. Environmental science
teaches us to use natural resources efficiently
by:

13.
1. Appropriately putting into practice
environmental conservation methods
2. Using the right tools to explore
resources
3. Adding value to our resources
4. Making sure machines are maintained
appropriately
5. Thorough training of human resources
6. Provision of effective and efficient
supervision
7. Using the right techniques to minimize

14.
Behavior is what organisms manifest to
respond to, interact with, and control their
environment. An animal exhibits behavior
as the first line of defense in response to
any change of environment.
So, critical look at organism’s behavior can
offer insightful information about animal’s
needs, dislikes, preferences, and internal
conditions providing that your evaluation of
those observations firmly hinge on

15.
5. To Shed Light on Contemporary Concepts
Such as How to Conserve Biodiversity
Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth.
The present rate of biodiversity loss is at an
all-time high. Environmental science aims to
teach people how to reverse this trend by:

16.
1. Using sustainable wood products
2. Using organic foods
3. Embracing the 3R’s, reduce, reuse and
recycle
4. Purchasing sustainable seafood
5. Supporting conservation campaigns at
local levels
6. Conserving power
7. Minimizing the consumption of meat
8. Utilizing eco- friendly cleaning products
9. To understand the interrelationship

17.
Organisms and humans depend on each
other to get by. Environmental science is
important because it enables you to understand
how these relationships work.
For example, humans breathe out carbon
dioxide, which plants need for photosynthesis.
Plants, on the other hand, produce and release
oxygen to the atmosphere, which humans need
for respiration.
Animal droppings are sources of nutrients for

18.
6. To Learn and Create Awareness about
Environmental Problems at Local, National
and International Levels
Environmental problems at local, national,
and international levels mostly occur due to
lack of awareness. Environmental science
aims to educate and equip learners with the
necessary environmental skills to pass to the
community in order to create awareness.
Environmental awareness can be created

19.
Components of Environmental Science
1. Ecology
Ecology is the study of organisms and the
environment interacting with one another. Ecologists,
who make up a part of environmental scientists, try to
find relations between the status of the environment
and the population of a particular species within that
environment, and if there are any correlations to be
drawn between the two. For example, ecologists
might take the populations of a particular type of bird
with the status of the part of the

20.
The ecologists will study and may or
may not come to the conclusion that the
bird population is increasing or
decreasing as a result of air pollution in
the rainforest. They may also take
multiple species of birds and see if they
can find any relation to one another,
allowing the scientists to come to a
conclusion if the habitat is suitable or not
for that species to live in.

21.
2. Geoscience
Geoscience concerns the study of
geology, soil science, volcanoes, and the
Earth’s crust as they relate to the
environment. As an example, scientists
may study the erosion of the Earth’s
surface in a particular area. Soil
scientists, physicists, biologists, and
geomorphologists would all take part in

22.
Geomorphologists would study the
movement of solid particles (sediments),
biologists would study the impacts of the
study to the plants and animals of the
immediate environment, physicists would
study the light transmission changes in
the water causing the erosion, and the
soil scientists would make the final
calculations on the flow of the water
when it infiltrates the soil to full capacity

23.
3. Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric science is the study of the
Earth’s atmosphere. It analyzes the
relation of the Earth’s atmosphere to the
atmospheres of other systems. This
encompasses a wide variety of scientific
studies relating to space, astrology, and
the Earth’s atmosphere:
meteorology, pollution, gas emissions,

24.
An example of atmospheric science is
where physicists study the atmospheric
circulation of a part of the atmosphere,
chemists would study the chemicals
existent in this part and their relationships
with the environment, meteorologists
study the dynamics of the atmosphere,
and biologists study how the plants and
animals have affected and their
relationship with the environment.

25.
4. Environmental Chemistry
Environmental Chemistry is the study of the
changes chemicals make in the environment, such
as contamination of the soil, pollution of the water,
degradation of chemicals, and the transport of
chemicals upon the plants and animals of the
immediate environment.
An example of environmental chemistry would be
the introduction of a chemical object into an
environment, in which chemists would then study the
chemical bonding to the soil or sand of the

26.
Environmental science is an active and
growing part of the scientific world
accelerated by the need to address problems
with the Earth’s environment. It encompasses
multiple scientific fields and sciences to see
how all interchange and relate with one
another in any of the above four components.

27.
ntal
Degradatio
n

28.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
1. Determine the types, causes and
effects of environmental degradation.
2. Enumerate the solutions for
environmental degradation.
3. Answer correctly the learning
activities provided.

29.
Environmental degradation can be
defined as the deterioration of the
environmental system due to human
intervention. Ecological degradation
can have serious effects for many
animals, plants and also for humanity.
Thus, in order to prevent these
adverse consequences, we should
take several measures in our daily

30.
Types of Environmental
Degradation
1. Land and soil degradation
2. Water degradation
3. Atmospheric degradation
4. Pollution

31.
Land and soil degradation
The quality of soil is quite important for
many plants and microorganisms. However,
due to human intervention, the soil gets
polluted to a serious degree. For example,
through farming practices, excessive
amounts of fertilizers and pesticides are
used. Pesticides often contain toxic elements
which can pollute the soil. Moreover, many
landfills have leaks and trash that contains

32.
Water degradation
A good water quality is crucial for human life as
well as for the life of many animals. Due to human
intervention, our water becomes polluted in several
ways. Trash is often just dumped in our oceans in
order to get rid of it.
In many poor countries, illegal dumping is also a
big problem. Large amounts of industrial waste are
just disposed into nearby rivers or lakes, causing
tremendous water degradation.

33.
Atmospheric degradation
Atmospheric degradation includes air
degradation, particle pollution and also implies the
depletion of the ozone layer. Atmospheric
degradation occurs due to our increased
consumption levels and the implied increased
demand for material goods. In order to meet the
demand for goods, industries have to produce large
amounts of items which causes the emission of
harmful gases, including greenhouse gases that
contribute to the global warming issue. Moreover,

34.
Several other kinds of pollution
Apart from land, water and atmospheric
degradation, there are many other kinds of
pollution that are part of environmental
degradation. This includes noise pollution,
light pollution and pollutions regarding
nuclear waste. All these kinds
of pollution have significant adverse effects
on our planet.

35.
Causes for Environmental degradation
1. Overpopulation
Overpopulation is a big problem for our
environmental system. A growing number of people
also implies an increasing overall consumption
level. This increasing demand for material goods
leads to an increase in the emission of harmful
gases which in turn lead to air pollution and also
contribute to global warming.
Moreover, overpopulation can also lead to
significant air and particle pollution from the use of

36.
2. Deforestation
Our trees are natural storage spaces for
CO2 and also produce oxygen that is crucial
for many life forms on our planet.
Through deforestation, large amounts of
harmful greenhouse gases are set free which
contribute to global warming. The problem of
deforestation is especially severe in the
Amazon Rainforest where large areas of
forest are cut or burned down, often

37.
3. Landfills
Landfills can also lead to environmental
degradation if they are not set up properly.
Since the waste disposed into landfills often
contains harmful substances, leaks in landfills
can lead to significant soil pollution. In many
developing countries where technological
progress is not advanced yet, leaks in landfills
are quite common which in turn can lead to
serious environmental degradation.

38.
4. Consumption behavior
Our consumption behavior is also a big problem
for our planet. Since we always want to have the
newest smartphone, the trendiest clothes and so
on, our consumption levels reached a point where it
is not sustainable for our environmental system
anymore. Our excessive consumption implies the
excessive extraction of precious resources out of
the ground, which implies several kinds of
environmental degradation. Moreover, our material
goods have to be produced in industrial processes,

39.
5. Waste production
Our excessive consumption behavior also
implies the production of enormous amounts
of waste. In order to get rid of this waste, it
has to be burned or disposed into landfills.
Moreover, in some countries, waste is also
dumped illegally into lakes, rivers or forests,
where it can lead to significant water and soil
degradation.

40.
6. Lack of education
Many people are just not aware how their
actions influence the health of our
environmental system. People are often
overwhelmed with their own problems and do
not have time or energy to think about our
planet. This mix of a lack of education and
simple ignorance can cause significant
environmental degradation.

41.
7. Illegal Dumping
Illegal dumping can also cause environmental
degradation since it can lead to several kinds of
pollution. For example, by dumping waste into
rivers, lakes or the ocean, the water gets polluted
to a severe degree which in turn can lead to the
contamination of many fishes and other sea
animals.
Moreover, trash is also often disposed into forests,
where it can contaminate the soil which in turn may
also lead to groundwater contamination since

42.
8. Agricultural pollution
Another cause for environmental
degradation is agricultural pollution. Since in
agricultural processes, large amounts of
fertilizer and pesticides are used, the soil can
become degraded due to harmful
components in these substances. This can
lead to soil pollution and may also destroy
the fertility of the fields in the long run.

43.
9. Littering
Littering is quite common in many
nowadays societies. We often see people
dispose their used cigarettes on the ground
right where they stand even if a trash bin is
just a few meters away. This can lead to
serious environmental degradation since
animals may try to eat the used cigarettes
and may die due to that. Additionally, the
disposal of used cigarettes in forests is a

44.
10. Mining
Mining can lead to a serious degradation
of the environment since for mining
practices, large areas of land have to be
used. This often also includes deforestation
in these areas and the related adverse
effects. Thus, natural habitats for many
animals and plants may be destroyed due
to mining practices.

45.
11. Plastic pollution
The amount of plastic trash that is
produced each year is enormous. For
instance, it is estimated that worldwide, we
use around 500 billion disposable plastic
cups each year. You can imagine the
amount of waste that is produced! Since
plastic often has to be burned in order to
get rid of it, this combustion leads to the
emission of harmful gases into our

46.
12. Resource depletion
Since the total number of people on our
planet increases and people strive for higher
living standards, in order to meet the supply
for material goods, excessive amounts of
natural resources have to be extracted out of
our earth. This will eventually lead to
the depletion of many natural resources.

47.
Effects of Environmental Degradation
1. Acid rain
Environmental degradation can lead
to acid rain. Through significant amounts of
air pollution in industrial processes,
components that cause acid rain are also
emitted into the air. Moreover, through the
use of deodorants and other daily life items,
we further contribute to acid rain on a daily

48.
2. Biodiversity loss
Environmental degradation can also lead
to a loss in biodiversity. Land and soil
degradation can harm many plants. Since
plants are usually quite sensitive to their
natural living conditions, the contamination of
soil with harmful substances may lead many
plants to die off. Moreover, animal who rely
on these plants will also decrease in
population. Additionally, due to deforestation,

49.
3. Floods
Due to deforestation, floods are
likely to become more common since
there are not enough trees left to
store the water. Floods in turn may
lead to severe environmental effects,
which may affect the local flora and
fauna but also humanity.

50.
4. Landslides
Landslide may also be a cause of
environmental degradation. Landslides are
often also connected with deforestation since
the roots of trees are holding the soil together.
If the trees are cut or burned down, they
cannot hold the soil together anymore and
therefore landslides become happen more
frequently.

51.
5. Soil erosion
Soil erosion is another problem caused by
ecological degradation. Soil erosion can
either be caused by natural forces like wind
or water or can be caused by human
behavior like deforestation or the building of
dams. Either way, soil erosion can lead to
severe environmental degradation since
large areas of land can become useless due
to the erosion of soil.

52.
6. Endangerment of species
Another cause of environmental
degradation may be the endangerment or
even the extinction of species. Many
animals and plants are quite sensitive to
their natural environmental conditions.
Thus, if these conditions are altered due to
pollution or deforestation, these animals
and plants will decrease in populations. For
animals that only exist in a few areas on

53.
7. Natural disasters
Natural disasters can also happen
more frequently due to human
interventions with nature. For
example, due to global warming, air
and sea temperature increase which
leads to a higher probability for severe
storms and floods.

54.
8. Global warming
The speed of global warming can also be
increased due to environmental degradation. For
instance, trees are a natural storage space for
greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Through
deforestation, the affected areas are now no longer
able to store greenhouse gases and will emit them
into the atmosphere. Moreover, through industrial
production processes, electricity generation and
the daily use of our cars, we further contribute to
climate change since most of these processes
involve the combustion of fossil fuels which leads

55.
9. Public health problems
Environmental degradation can also lead to
severe public health issues. In many
countries, due to deforestation, mining or
other practices caused by human interactions
with nature, the probability for floods or other
natural disasters will increase over time. The
effects of those natural disasters will be
horrible. Many people will lose their homes
and will suffer from quite poor hygienic

56.
10. Loss of livelihood for many people
Many people will lose their livelihood and
their homes due to the effects of
environmental degradation. For instance, due
to global warming, large areas of land will not
be suitable for settlement purposes anymore
since due to the rising sea levels, these areas
will simply get flooded. Moreover, some areas
will also not be suitable for housing purposes
anymore since there will be a lack of drinking
water. Without water, farming and other tasks

57.
11. Famine
Environmental degradation will also like to
significant levels of famine. Due to global
warming, there will be a lack of drinking
water. Moreover, several kinds of pollution
further decrease the amount of clean. Since
water is crucial for all life on earth, a lack of
water will lead to significant levels of famine
since people will no longer be able to tilt their
fields or grow crops due to water shortage.

58.
12. Conflicts
Famine and poverty due to environmental
degradation also increase the probability for
conflicts. Since people become more
frustrated and desperate, they will be more
willing to engage in local conflicts in order to
ensure their livelihood. They may also be
more willing to participate in radical activities
due to their desperation.

59.
13. Spread of diseases
Natural disasters due to ecological
degradation may also increase the probability
for the spread of diseases which may result
in epidemics or even pandemics. Natural
disasters often cause vast devastation of
infrastructure and also quite unhygienic living
conditions. These conditions increase the
probability for the spread of diseases and
may also lead to the spread of serious health

60.
14. Loss in tourism
Many poor countries rely on tourism as
their most important source of income. Due
to environmental degradation, this income
will decrease or even fully vanish. Imagine a
beach that is covered with plastic. Would you
enjoy spending your vacation on this beach?
I don’t think so. Thus, if countries will not able
to deal with the vast amounts of waste
produced, they may lose many tourists since

61.
15. Economic effects
Apart from the detrimental effects of
environmental degradation on our
environment, there are also severe adverse
economic effects related to the issue. Since
large areas of land will be no longer be
suitable for agricultural or settlement
purposes due to rising sea levels and the
flooding of these areas, we will lose
significant sources of food and income.

62.
Solutions for Environmental Degradation
1. Stop deforestation
In order to mitigate the adverse effects of
environmental degradation, it is crucial that we
stop or at least reduce the issue of
deforestation. We need our trees to store
greenhouse gases and to produce oxygen and
cannot afford to cut or burn them down.
Moreover, forests are a natural habitat for many
animals and plants which may become

63.
2. High fines for illegal dumping
There should also be high fines for illegal
dumping in order to reduce the adverse
ecological consequences. If there are only
low fines, people and industries will continue
to dump their trash illegally since they know
that even if they are get caught, penalties are
quite low. Consequently, raising fines for
illegal dumping would increase the incentive
to dispose trash at official waste disposal

64.
3. Stricter government regulations
Whenever there are problems that lead to
significant eco-degradation, governments
should intervene and set a framework to kill
the incentive for these kinds of behavior. For
instance, this could come in the form that
governments set high taxes for activities that
harm our planet and support environmentally-
friendly behavior with financial subsidies. By
doing so, industries and also private people

65.
4. Nature reserves and biotopes
Nature reserves and biotopes could also
mitigate the problem of environmental
degradation. On the one hand, nature
reserves provide a space for our stressed
society to rest and reload their batteries. On
the other hand, they provide many animals
and plants with a habitat where they can
grow in population and therefore avoid the
risk to become extinct in the future.

66.
5. Reduce consumption levels
In order to transit to a sustainable
environmental behavior, it is crucial that we
reduce our consumption levels. Our Western
society always strives for the newest
electronics, the newest smartphone, the
trendiest clothes and so on. However, this
behavior leads to massive resource depletion
and also to excessive waste production. In
order to avoid the adverse ecological

67.
6. Reduce waste production
We should also try to reduce our waste
production. This can come in the form that
you use your items and food more efficiently.
Moreover, when you want to get rid from old
but still working things, ask your family or
friends if they want to reuse your old stuff.
By doing so, your material thins will be used
more effectively. If no one wants to use your
old belongings, separate your waste

68.
7. Refrain from plastic packaging and
disposable cups
Plastic waste is a big environmental issue
that leads to significant plastic pollution and
the adverse consequences for our planet. In
order to save plastic waste, try to avoid
buying items that are wrapped or packaged
into plastic. Moreover, refrain from using
disposable plastic cups and bring your own
much instead which can be reused several
times.

69.
8. Education
In order to mitigate the problem of environmental
degradation, it is crucial that we educate people
about the adverse environmental consequences of
our daily life behavior and how we can improve our
ecological footprint. This education should start
early in school since children are usually more
eager to learn new things and to change their
behavior compared to adults. These children are
more likely to behave environmentally-
friendly when they grow up. Moreover, they might
also convince their parents to behave in a more

70.
9. Convince others
As we have seen in the previous analysis,
you can make a big impact in your daily life to
save our environment. However, you can
further enhance your positive impact by
convincing other people regarding the
importance to save our planet. You should
show them what environmental degradation
really means for future generations and how
we can prevent these adverse effects by

71.
Environmental degradation is a serious
problem to humanity. If we continue our
consumption and daily life behavior like we
did it for the last decades, future generations
will suffer from enormous adverse
consequences. Now is the time to fight
environmental degradation! Otherwise, you
have to explain your children and your
children’s’ children why our earth has become
a place with low levels life quality instead of a
paradise. Thus, if we all stick together, we