BIOS1301 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Social Change, Making Money, Natural Capital
29 May 2018
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BIOS1301 – Ecology and Sustainability – Part 2
LEC 3:
Case Study 2: Plastic pollution
(Guardian 6/3/18)
Environmental Issue:
• Plastic pollution of oceans
• Micro plastics
Effect on environment:
• Ingested by animals, killing wildlife
• Pacific garbage patch - circulation of garbage in the ocean
• Ingested in seafood
Role of Envir. Sci.:
• Measure extent of issue
• Estimate impacts on biodiversity
• Possible solutions
Sustainability:
• "avoiding depletion of natural resources" - Oxford dictionary
• Inter-generational equity: The right of each generation to the use of the environment's
resources.
o Failed sustainability:
• Polynesian colonisation 400AD (9,000 people)
• Dutch explorer arrived 1722 (down to 2,000 people)
• Deforestation of thick palm forests and lack of habitats of animals left the
environment unable to sustain the human population.
▪ Overpopulation, depletion of food sources, erosion, soil depletion
Attempts at Sustainability
The Earth Summit, 1992 - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
o United Nations Conference on Environment and Development
o Discussions of environmental sustainability and sustainable development
• Agenda 21: Themes --> product of Earth Summit.
• Prospering World (growth and sustainability), Just World (sustainable living),
Habitable World (human settlement) etc.
• Successes:
o Public awareness
o Interest from private industry
o Slight improvements of issues addressed
o Foundation of international cooperation
• Failures:
o No international funding
o No national commitment
o No solid leadership
Sustainable development goals for 2030, Sept 2015
o 17 SDGs
• E.g. By 2025, prevent and reduce marine pollution
• By 2020 conserve at least 10% of coastal and marine areas
o Implemented 1/1/2016 for over 15 years
o Apply to all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet
o Not legally binding, but assessed regularly
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