4.1 Setting the scene for the environment

• Aardrijkskunde
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

4.1 Setting the scene for the environment

Learning objectives

After studying this section, 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 = Using natural resources more quickly than they are replenished.
3. Degradation = decrease in size, quality and diversity of the natural landscape.

In parapgrah 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

Sustainable

Sustainable originally meant “durable”, or, in ecology the concept that human population and activity should not be larger than the carrying capacity of Earth. However, nowadays the term sustainable is found everywhere: from government reports, to company websites and marketing, and it often means something like “good”. However, the definition of what is “good” is often vague.

Essence

The environment is defined as our surroundings. This can be either the natural environment or the built environment. Through human activity, the environment is facing problems. Environmental problems increase as the development and ecological footprint of a country increase. However, after a country has reached a certain level of development, public concern leads to more environmental legislation. The sustainable development goals (SDGs) are a global effort to bring solutions to environmental problems.

Havo: Look at the planner in Teams for the exercises of 4.1

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).

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

Vwo: Look at the planner in Teams for the exercises of 4.1