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Lecture #1

The History of Environmentalism

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Environment-

– Conditions or circumstances that surround an organism or groups of organisms

– The complex of social or cultural conditions that affect an individual or community

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Environmental Science – The systematic studyof our environment and how humans interact with it.

– People live vastly different lifestyles throughout the earth.

– Human societies interact with nature with varying intensity in the ways they exploit the natural environment

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Environmental Science is…….

• Interdisciplinary

• Integrative– Natural Sciences– Social Sciences– Humanities

Mission oriented

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Environmental Science vs. Environmentalism

• Environmental science - use of scientific method to study processes and systems in the environment

• Environmentalism - working to influence attitudes and policies that affect our environment

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Historical Perspective

Four Distinct Stages in environmental history

1. Pragmatic Resource Conservation2. Moral and Aesthetic Nature Preservation3. Concern about Health and Ecological Damage4. Global Environmental Citizenship

– These are not mutually exclusive; parts of each persist today in the environmental movement.

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1. Pragmatic Resource Conservation

Conservation- Managing and protecting natural resources and using them sustainably.

–This focuses on instrumental value

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George Perkins Marsh• Man and Nature

published in 1864, (which influenced Theodore Roosevelt and Gifford Pinchot.)

• Called attention to the destructive impact of human activity on land, especially through deforestation.

• Advocated conservation

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Teddy Roosevelt’s Administration- early 1900’s

• Creation of the US Forest Service (1905)

• Expansion of National Forest holdings

• Establishment of 53 wildlife refuges

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United States Forest Service (USFS)

• Multiple, Sustainable Use Policy

• To be “used for the greatest good, for the greatest number for the longest time”

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Gifford Pinchot• 1865-1946

• First American-born Forester

• Appointed First Chief of the U.S. Forest Service

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2. Moral & Aesthetic Nature Preservation

aka ‘Biocentric preservation’

Preservation: • Protecting natural environments from human

development• Focus on intrinsic value• “nature deserves to exist for its own sake

regardless of its usefulness to us.”

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John Muir • Believed in

preservation of pristine wilderness areas

• Founded the Sierra Club in 1892

• “Father of National Parks”

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Frederick Law Olmstead

• Father of American Landscape Architecture

• Developed Central Park in 1857

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Olmstead’s Words• Served as the foundation for legislation

establishing the National Park Service

• “To conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”

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National Park Service• Founded in 1916

• To preserve for the benefit, use, and inspiration of present and future generations…

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Creation of National Parks

• 1872 • Yellowstone

• World’s First National Park

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1930’s Ecology and Economy Clash

• Hetch-Hetchy Valley• Civilian Conservation

Corps (CCC)• Tennessee Valley

Authority (TVA)• Soil Conservation

Service (SCS)

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3. Concern about Health & Ecological Damage

Modern Environmental Movement

• Industrial explosion of WW II added new concerns to the environmental agenda.

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Rachel Carson

• Alerted the general public in 1962 to the dangers of pesticides in her book Silent Spring.

• This work led to the banning of DDT in 1972.

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Wangari Maathai

• Founded the Greenbelt movement (1970’s), an organization focused on planting trees, environmental conservation and women’s rights.

• Won the Nobel Peace Prize for environmental action (2004).

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PolarizationContinued urban growth and associated pollution caused divergence of:

1. Those who supported and profited from industrialization (‘industry’).

2. Those who worried about the effects of pollution (‘environmentalists’).

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The Rise of National Green Organizations (NGO’s)

• World Wildlife Federation (WWF) 1961

• Environmental Defense Fund 1967

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Catalysts

• 1969 Burning of the Cuyahoga River, OH                                                             

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Catalyst• 1969 Santa

Barbara Oil Spill

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New LegislationThe Federal Government Responds:• 1963 Clean Air Act• 1965 Water Quality Act• 1966 Endangered Species Conservation Act• 1968 National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act

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Issues of the 1960’ and 1970’s

Human Population Growth

Nuclear Weapons Testing

Nuclear Power

Fossil Fuel Drilling

Recycling Air Pollution

Water Pollution

Wilderness Protection

Landfilling Waste

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1970’s The Environmental Decade

The Federal Government continued to respond:• 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)• 1970: Creation of Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) by President Richard M. Nixon.

– This agency is responsible for national issues of environmental health, a responsibility shared with the Department of the Interior.

• 1973 Endangered Species Act• 1977 Clean Water Act

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Earth DayApril 22, 1970

                                                 

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The Empire Strikes Back?

Industry responds to new regulations:• Form research groups• Develop educational materials• Enhance public relationsIndustry successfully battles NGO’s in thecourts.

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Shifting StrategiesBroadening issuesweakens NGO’s

Rise of RadicalEnvironmentalism• Greenpeace 1971• Sea Shepherd 1977• Earth First 1980

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Deregulation• Reagan Administration 1980-1988• Goal- to minimize federal regulations• CEQ: 1 member and a small budget• Reagan used White House councils to

sidestep the EPA

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Environmental DisastersThese disasters kept focus on the environment.• Love Canal 1978• Ixtoc I 1979• Three Mile Island 1979• Bhopal 1984• Chernobyl 1986• Exxon Valdez 1989

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4. Global Environmental CitizenshipGlobal Interconnections

• Increased technology has greatly expanded international communications.– Daily events now reported worldwide instead of

locally or regionally• Global Environmentalism

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Global Awareness1990’s: elevation of environmental issues• Scientific evidence of ozone hole, global

warming, declining resources.• 1990 Earth Day; 1992 Earth Summit• Strong environmental policy of Clinton-Gore

Administration (1992-2000)

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21st CenturyEnvironmental issues low priority under the Bush-Chaney administration• Economic downturn• Energy issues• Terrorism and National Security• War

                                                                          

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"

President Obama “ Each of us has a part to play in a new future that

will benefit all of us. As we recover from this recession, the transition to clean energy has the potential to grow our economy and create millions of jobs -– but only if we accelerate that transition. Only if we seize the moment. And only if we rally together and act as one nation –- workers and entrepreneurs; scientists and citizens; the public and private sectors.“

-President Obama, June 15, 2010

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Environmental Issues are a much higher priority under the Obama administration.

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So now what??????????????????

The future is in OUR hands.