The

Environment
and Us
OUMH1603 LEARNING
SKILLS FOR 21ST
CENTURY
Learning Outcome
1. State reasons for conserving the
environment;
2. Describe major global environmental issues;
3. Explain the concept of technology and its
importance;
4. Discuss the concept of sustainability; and
5. Demonstrate ways to improve your
ecological footprint.
 Introduction
Environment is a place where different things are
such as a swampy or hot environment.
Since everything is part of the environment of
something else, the word environment is used to
talk about many things.
The ecosystem (all the communities of living
organisms found in a specific place, their habitats
and their interactions) in which we live provides
natural services for humans and all other species
that are essential to our health, quality of life and
survival.
 The environment
‘Environment’ - surroundings or
conditions in which an activity is
carried in.
‘Natural environment’ -condition
in which human beings along
with other living things live in a
surrounding of crucial aggregates
of air, water, minerals and other
non-living elements.
‘Ecology’ is the branch of science
which studies how living things
interact with one another and
with the surrounding physical
environment.
‘Ecosystem’ has a community
that lives and interacts with one
another in a locale.
Flow of Energy
Why should we care about the
environment?

Regulating Services – Cultural Services –

Air quality control, Supporting Services – cover benefits for
pollination, biological Habitats and genetic recreation, tourism,
control, wastewater diversity aesthetic and spiritual
treatment purposes
Global
Environmental
Issues
1. Changing Land Cover And Water
Surfaces
Land conversion – alteration such deforestation to facilitate
agriculture expansion

Land modification does not alter the type of land cover such as
lodging

Other causes such as urbanization and water surface changes

(development of dam)
2. Climate change
Sign and symptom of climate change:
◦ Global warming
◦ Droughts
◦ Storms
◦ Flash floods
◦ Snow melts
◦ Rising sea levels
Disruption of energy and other human socio-economic systems
Water contamination and other natural biophysical disruptions
Disruption and contamination of food
Biodiversity refers to the variability that
exists among all living things including
genetic variability within a species.

Biodiversity underpins the health of

the planet and has a direct impact on 3. Loss of
all our lives. biodiversity
Reduced biodiversity means millions of
people face a future where food
supplies are more vulnerable to pests
and disease, and where fresh water is
in irregular or short supply. For humans
that is worrying.
The impact of human society on our natural
world

Many environmental issues can diminish the 4. Population

quality of life on Earth, including
overproduction of waste, the destruction of and
Development
natural habitats and the pollution of our air,
water and other resources. 

Environmental issues are harmful

consequences of human activity on the
natural environment.
5. Pollution
6. Urbanization
the process of changing social and environmental landscapes.

Urbanization affects the physical environment through the impacts of the number

of people, their activities and the increased demands on resources. 

Urbanization has negative consequences on health due mainly to pollution and

overcrowded living conditions. It can also put added pressure on food supply
systems.
 The goal of green tech is to protect
the environment and, in some cases,, to
even repair past damage done to
Green the environment.

Technology
and
Environment Examples of green tech include
the technology infrastructure used to
recycle waste, purify water, create clean
energy, and conserve natural resources
Green Technology and Environment
Ecological
Footprint and You
Ecological footprint is a resource
accounting tool – to measure the
demand on and supply of nature.

The impact of human activities on

the globe and the amount of
resources necessary to produce
the goods and services necessary
to support a lifestyle, in terms of
the area of biologically productive
land and water
Summary
Environment refers to our surrounding which consist
of land water and air that we share with other living
things
An ecosystem is an area where a community of living
interact with non-living component

It is important to protect our environment