Environmental Problems, Their Causes, and Sustainability 1

onmental education. They cite some of the key goalsof environmental education or ecological literacy.■ Develop respect or reverence for all life.■ Understand as much as we can about how the earthworks and sustains itself, and use such knowledge to guideour lives, communities, and societies.■ Look for connections within the biosphere and betweenour actions and the biosphere.■ Use critical thinking skills to become seekers of environmentalwisdom instead of overfilled vessels of environmentalinformation.■ Understand and evaluate our environmental worldviewand see this as a lifelong process.■ Learn how to evaluate the beneficial and harmful environmentalconsequences of our lifestyle and professionalchoices, today and in the future.■ Foster a desire to make the world a better place and acton this desire.Specifically, an ecologically literate person shouldhave a basic comprehension of:■ Concepts such as environmental sustainability,natural capital, exponential growth, carrying capacity,and risks and risk analysis■ Environmental history (to help keep us from repeatingpast mistakes)■ The laws of thermodynamics and the law of conservationof matter■ Basic principles of ecology■ Ways to sustain biodiversity■■■■■■Sustainable agriculture and forestrySustainable citiesSustainable water useNonrenewable and renewable energy resourcesSoil and mineral resourcesPollution prevention and waste reduction■ Environmentally sustainable economic and politicalsystems■ Environmental ethicsAccording to environmental educator MitchellThomashow, four basic questions should be at theheart of environmental literacy.First, where do the things I consume come from?Second, what do I know about the place where I live?Third, how am I connected to the earth and other livingthings? Fourth, what is my purpose and responsibilityas a human being?How we answer these questions determines ourecological identity. What are your answers to these fourquestions?Figure 28-5 summarizes guidelines and strategiesfor achieving more sustainable societies that have beendiscussed throughout this book.How Can We Learn from the Earth? SeekingEnvironmental WisdomIn addition to formal learning, we need to learnby experiencing nature directly.Formal environmental education is important, but is itenough? Many analysts say no and urge us to take theGuidleinesLeave world in asgood a shapeas—or betterthan—we found itDo not degrade ordeplete theearth's naturalcapital, and liveoff the naturalincome it providesCopy natureTake no more thanwe needDo not reducebiodiversityTry not to harmlife, air, water, soilDo not change theworld's climateHelp maintain theearth's capacityfor self-repairDo not overshootthe earth'scarrying capacityRepair pastecologicaldamageSolutionsDeveloping EnvironmentallySustainable SocietiesStrategiesSustain biodiversityEliminate povertyDevelop ecoeconomiesBuild sustainablecommunitiesDo not userenewableresources fasterthan nature canreplace themUse sustainableagricultureDepend more onlocally availablerenewable energyfrom the sun, wind,flowing water, andsustainablebiomassEmphasizepollution preventionand wastereductionDo not wastematter and energyresourcesRecycle, reuse,and compost60–80% of matterresourcesMaintain a humanpopulation sizesuch that needsare met withoutthreatening lifesupportsystemsEmphasizeecologicalrestorationFigure 28-5 Solutions: guidelines and strategies for achievingmore sustainable societies.http://biology.brookscole.com/miller14637