Introduction to

Environmental Science
CHAPTER 1
 Chapter Objectives
After studying this chapter the students should
be able to:
• Understand the fundamental concepts of
environmental science
• Describe its interrelationship with other
sciences
• Define environmental ethics
 Chapter Objectives
After studying this chapter the students
should be able to:
• Enlighten with environmental attitudes
• Contribute ideas in environmental
organization
 Interrelationship with other
sciences
Environmental Science
• A multi-disciplinary science
• The science of physical phenomena in the
environment
• It comprises both applied & theoretical
facets of human influence in the world
 Interrelationship with other
sciences
Environmental Science
• It converses the reactions, sources,
transport , effect and possibilities of
biological activity
 To understand its
interrelationship:
• Focus upon the scientific principles,
concepts and methodologies of the
natural world

• recognize & investigate environmental

difficulties both natural and human-made
 To understand its
interrelationship:
• To assess the comparative perils associated
with these problems

• To study alternative results for resolving

and/ or preventing them
 Since Science, as a process, allocates
method of learning more about the
world, it constantly changes the way we
understand the world.
• Earth itself, is one interconnected
system.

• Biogeochemical systems vary

• Humans who lived for millions of
years would impact on the
environment, and by applying
technology & population growth, they
are able to increase both the rate and
scale of their impact on the
environment.
• Environmental Interrelationship
• With its interrelationship with humans,
environmental problems have a
cultural and social text.
Understanding the role of cultural, social and
economic need-factors
• vital to the development of solutions
that makes sustainable practices
through the essential combination of
conservation, development and
management of resources.
 Environmental Studies
• Enlighten us of the importance of
protection and conservation in the
indiscriminate release of pollution into
the environment.
 Environmental Issues

Global warming
Ozone Depletion
Acid rain
 Environmental Issues

Marine pollution

Biodiversity
 Environment
• Is always at stake every rime we pursue
economic growth & technological
advancement.
 Components
of
Environmental Science
1. Atmospheric Sciences
2. Ecology
3. Environmental Chemistry
4. Geosciences
1. Atmospheric Sciences
a broad field that deals with the study of
the atmosphere
2. Ecology
The scientific study of the relationships
between organisms and their
environment.
• oikos = “the family of households”
• logy= “the study of”
3. Environmental Chemistry
A scientific discipline focus on the chemical
changes in the environment.
4. Geosciences
A scientific study on the earth’s crust that
includes environmental geology,
environmental soil science and volcanic
phenomena and in some classification
cover hydrology like oceanography.
The Environmental
Ethics
The Environmental
Ethics
 ETHICS
• Branch of philosophy that is derived
from the logical application of human
values.
 ETHICS
• Helps us determine which forms of
conduct are morally acceptable and
unacceptable.
• The ways in which humans interact
with its natural resource are
determined by the ethical attitudes
and behaviors.
 Philippines
• Pearl of the Orient Seas
• 15 million hectares of land are
classified as timberland
 Coastal Ecosystem
• Coral reefs, magnificent underwater
world, its small attractive river
systems and streams
 Philippines
• Tropical rainforest
• Rich in flora and fauna
• 2 million species of plants and
animals
 Frontier Ethic
• Attitudes towards these resources
which assume that the earth has
infinite supply
• Anthropocentric (human-centered)
 Environmental Ethics
• A field of applied ethics that
considers the moral basis of
environmental responsibility
 Sustainable Ethic
• Environmental ethic by the way
people treat the earth as if its
resources are limited.
 A sustainable ethic includes
the following tenets:
• The Earth has a limited supply of
resources.
• Humans must conserve and share the
Earth’s resources with other living things,
• Humans are part of nature and are
affected by natural laws.
Three Ethical
Perspective
 Ethical Perspectives
1. Anthropocentric
2. Bio-centric
3. Eco centrism
 Ethical Perspectives
1. Anthropocentric

• The set of ethics protects and

promotes of human interests or
well-being at the expense of all
other factors.
 Ethical Perspectives
2. Bio-centric

• The belief that certain living things

also have value and that all life has
ethical standing.
 Ethical Perspectives
3. Eco centrism
• John Muir (1stPres. Of Sierra Club)
• Believes that nature deserves to
exist for its own sake regardless of
degree of useless to humans.
The Environmental
Attitudes
 Environmental Attitudes

a. •Development ethic

•Preservation ethic
b.
•Conservation / Management
c. ethic
 Environmental Attitudes

a. •Development ethic
• Based on individualism and
egocentrism

• Human race is and should be

the master of nature
 Environmental Attitudes

b. •Preservation ethic
• Consider the special value of
nature.

• Unchanged nature should be

protected
 Environmental Attitudes
•Conservation/ Management ethic
c.
• Using natural wisely for the
greatest good for the most
people.
ACTIVITY
Environmental Laws
in the Philippines
 PD 1586: Phil.Impact
Statement System
• jxs