SVN3M - Sustainability

Breaking Down Natural and Human Systems

Learning Goal: We are learning to understand how natural and human systems interact to create the environment we live in.

System: a set of connected things or parts forming a complex whole, in particular.

o  A complex set of dynamic (actively changing) systems makes up our world.

o  People depend on natural systems for survival

o  Natural systems influence people’s activities

o  Human activities have an impact on natural systems

There are two types of systems:

Ecological (Natural):
The complex set of biotic (living) and abiotic (non-living) components which are interconnected with each other.
Examples:
Simple ------> complex / Societal (Human):
The interplay/connections existing between individuals, groups, and institutions and forming a coherent whole.
Examples:
Simple ------> complex
Predator Prey:
Nutrient Cycle:

The Water Cycle:
The Greenhouse Effect: / Air Pollution:

Trade Networks:

Economic Systems:

Human Systems + Natural Systems

-Smaller, simple systems connect to create more complex systems.
-Complex systems can ignore/miss important information.
-Complex systems seem unalterable but when viewed more simply, it is easy to see where changes can be made.

The Root of Environmental Issues arise from the way human created systems knowingly or unknowingly impact natural systems

We live in a capitalistic economic system. In a capitalist system, production and consumption are driven so that the system can generate profit, rather than to meet social needs and enhance environmental wellbeing. Because the system requires constant growth, excessive natural resources are depleted and unsustainable levels of waste are created. This is not how it has to be. This human system can be changed and will it turn impact all effected natural systems.

Externality:

A side effect or consequence of an industrial or commercial activity that affects other parties without this being reflected in the cost of the goods or services involved.

Types of externalities:

Positive Externality / Negative Externality
A beekeeper who creates honey unknowingly helps pollinate surrounding plants. / GHG emissions from cars. We buy the gas but don’t pay for the pollution it creates. That pollution has a negative impact somewhere else

Examples of negative externalities created by our Economic System:

Atmosphere
Emissions = Climate change / Land
Food production = water and land pollution /waste
People
Cheap clothing = exploited/ low paid workers / Water
Fishing in oceans = exploitation of the resource

Problem: Our economic system does not assign realistic value to natural capital.

Question: How do we determine the true value of natural capital?

McDonalds Burger (meat protein and grains)
Economic Cost ($1.37)
Externalized Costs: farming waste and runoff , fuels, transportation,
Value: how much is a sustainably produced burger worth? Really hard to assign costs
True Worth: ~ $200 / Tree (2x4) Lumber
Economic Cost ($3.88)
Externalized Costs: services provided by forests ( cleaning air and water,
Value: not possible to put a price on
True Worth: $100

“Not everything that can be counted counts and not everything that counts can be counted”

Any darn fool can make something complex; it takes a genius to make something simple

Randomness itself is nothing more than a pattern of deeply embedded complexity of order; an order so complex it is not immediately discernible or obvious