ENVIRSC 2EI3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, Millennium Development Goals, Sustainable Development
Document Summary
Increased energy consumption and pollution: developed countries: low birth rate, high life expectancy (barrel shaped, underdeveloped countries: high birth rate, low life expectancy (pyramidal) Goals: reduce poverty and social exclusion, achieve universal primary education, gender equality, empower women, reduce child mortality, improve maternal health, combat hiv/aids & tb, ensure environmental sustainability, partnership for development. 25% of earth"s terrestrial surface is devoted to cropland. Amount of water in reservoirs has quadrupled. 70% of water use worldwide is for agriculture increases in non-native species worldwide, homogenizing. Anthropocentric view: resources are valued only with respect to human utility. Ecocentric/biocentric view: resources exist independently from human desires. Disciplinary approach: organized around concepts of a given discipline (limited) Multi-disciplinary approach: synthesis occurs after individual studies have been completed. Cross-disciplinary approach: researchers use knowledge from other disciplines to enhance their perspective. Interdisciplinary approach: specialists from separate areas work together (best option)