The Environmental Crisis

1. The Environmental Crisis Michael Itagaki Sociology 102, Social Problems

2. The Environment: Global Warming/Climate Change • “An Inconvenient Truth” • Rising carbon dioxide levels • Correspond with rising temperatures • Ramifications? • Water: stronger storms/drought • Artic/Greenland: sea level • Climate: ecological niches

3. The Environment: Global Warming • “An Inconvenient Truth” • Handout: 10 things to do, online • We have technology/resources to reduce our CO2 output and thus slow global warming process.

4. The Environment: Global Warming • “An Inconvenient Truth” • What was a surprising/shocking fact in the film? • What can we do?

5. Discussion: “An Inconvenient Truth” • Confronted with these issues • How does it make you feel about our planet? • What are some practical things we can do?

6. The Environment: Global Warming • “An Inconvenient Truth” • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change • Increase in temperatures caused by greenhouse gases • Temperature and sea levels will rise regardless • Sea levels will likely rise 7”-23”

7. The Environment: Global Warming • “An Inconvenient Truth” • Caveats to consider • CO2 influence temperature? • Temperature influence CO2 ? • Both

8. The Environment: Global Warming • “An Inconvenient Truth” • So what do you want to do? • Informed decisions • Do you believe you can make a difference?

9. The Problem in Sociological Perspective • On-going destruction of our environment • Prehistoric times: Burn forests • Mesopotamia: River irrigation • Mayans: Clearing of trees, soil erosion

10. The Problem in Sociological Perspective • Parable of the tragedy of the commons (p. 457) • Is our world’s “pasture” limited? • A rationalization to continue our own self-destructive behavior?

11. The Scope of the Problem • Global scope of environmental problem • Interconnectedness • “An Inconvenient Truth”

12. The Scope of the Problem • Pollution • Accumulation in air, water, land of substances harmful to living things • Presence of substances that interfere with socially desired uses of air, water, land or food • Social definition of pollution: What people say and believe is pollution

13. The Scope of the Problem • Pollution • Pollutants introduced at exponential rate • Earth’s finite capacity to absorb pollutants • Long delay between introduction of pollutant and indication of harm to environment

14. Symbolic Interactionism • How did the environment become a social problem? • Conservation movement

15. Symbolic Interactionism • How did the environment become a social problem? • Conservation movement • Shift to environmental concern • Professionals/interest groups • Government agencies • News media • Public

16. Symbolic Interactionism • Ecosystem • Interconnected system on the earth • Now, how do we connect to future?

17. Functionalism • Global System: Interconnectedness • Ecosystem: Living organism • Dysfunctions of Industrialization

18. Conflict Theory • Environmental Groups vs. Polluters • Greenpeace, National Wildlife Federation • Industrial, corporate entities • “Corporate Welfare” (p. 463) • Power of U.S. Industry • Environmental injustice

19. Research Findings • Air Pollution • Fossil fuels • Autos/electricity • Waste incineration • PCBs • Flourocarbon gases • Damage to ozone expected to be repaired

20. Research Findings • Global warming • Potential effects (p. 465) • Difference of opinion (Henslin) • One claim: Increase in CO2 will lower sea levels • More CO2 will increase plant growth? • National Academy of Sciences confirms threat of greenhouse effect

22. Discussion: “An Inconvenient Truth” • Confronted with these issues • How does it make you feel about our planet? • What are some practical things we can do?