CHapter4: paragraph 4.1

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 2

4.1 Setting the scene for the environment

At the end of this lesson

You will be able to:

• Define the environment;
• Explain the links between environment and development.

Defining the environment

The environment = our surroundings.

• Natural environment = Living, non-living things that occur naturally on the Earth.
• Built environment = Landscapes constructed by human beings.

Environmental problem = Negative effects of human activities on the environment. Three causes: Population growth, globalisation and increased prosperity.

Environmental problems

We distinguish three types of environmental problems:

1. Pollution = Introducing harmful substances into the environment.
2. Depletion (uitputting) = Using natural resources more quickly than they are replenished.
3. Degradation = decrease in size, quality and diversity of the natural landscape.

In paragraph 4.2 we will look at examples for each of them.

Development and the environment

More economic activity (high GDP per capita) = more environmental issues.

In chapter 1 you learned about the supply chain:

MEDCs: design process + sale of products.

NIC: production process. 

• Main reason: NICs have fewer laws protecting the environment.
• Positive aspects: Jobs and income for the NIC’s population. 
• Negative aspect: factories cause environmental problems.

Development and the environment

Increase of development and welfare levels lead to more awareness of environmental problems.

More protest amongst inhabitants and (environmental) NGOs. 

After a turning point, environmental problems will decrease, because of stricter regulation. This process is described in the environmental Kuznets curve, as you can see in the figure on the right.

Another way to look at the relationship between the environment and development is by using the ecological footprint. 

Solutions to environmental problems: sustainable development

Sustainable development
= A development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs, 2015) were created by the United Nations.

Goals that relate directly to the environment include:

• Goal 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy
  
• Goal 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
  
• Goal 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

Historic environmental problems

In the past, several societies collapsed as a result of environmental problems. They do no longer exist.

Watch the National Geographic video clip about the Anasazi, a native American people in Southwest Colorado.

Also read the text in your textbook (part G).

To do

Exercises 6 to 12 + mindmap on page 147.

Done? Watch the films at the end of this lessonup.

Go ahead and do paragraph 4.2 exercise 1 to 10 + mindmap Questions? Write them down. This is homework for  the10th of march

Ruins of some of the impressive buildings constructed by the Anasazi culture in present day Colorado (USA).