Instructors: Dr. Nicholas R. Bates, and Dr. Andrew J. Peters, BIOS
PREREQUISITES
No prerequisites. Introductory environmental science, biology, and chemistry helpful.
COURSE SYNOPSIS
This course is an introductory undergraduate course on environmental issues, and environmental
legislation and policy.
How do we maintain and sustain the environment for the present and the future? This course is an
introduction to environmental issues, policy, and legislation. We will examine key environmental issues
from an interdisciplinary perspective, identifying environmental problems and analyzing strategies,
policies and legislation proposed to deal with them. We will compare global issues and policies
that affect different countries: e.g., Bermuda, the United States, European Community and developing
nations. For example, Bermuda, as an island community of limited size, is particularly vulnerable
to environmental degradation. Topics will include: ecosystem conservation and natural resource
management, pollution and waste management, energy conservation and management. Students
will be evaluated on the basis of a case study report, a midterm and final exams, and class discussion
and participation.
TEXTBOOK
Readings from text and primary literature will be placed in the Library. Primarily web based.
EXAMS
One mid-term and one final exam
TERM PAPERS
Two reports
GRADE TO BE BASED ON
Performance in class (5%), exams (30 and 35% for midterm and final) and laboratory reports (30%)
USEFUL WEBSITES
WorldWatch Institute: http://www.worldwatch.org/
World Resources Institute: http://www.igc.apc.org/wri/index.html
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change: http://www.unfccc.de/
International Maritime Organization: http://www.imo.org
|
Part I. Review of Environmental Issues
WEEK 1
General Introduction
[Bates/Peters]
Lecture 1. Population Trends [Bates]
Population trends and issues. Urbanization.
Lecture 2. Population Trends and The Global Economy,
Resource Consumption and Energy Use
[Bates]
Population trends and issues. Urbanization.
Lecture 3. The Global Economy, Resource
Consumption and Energy Use [Bates]
Economic indicators. Global organizations of
importance. Energy use patterns. Mineral
consumption patterns.
Lecture 4 Land and Water Issues, Part I. Agriculture
and Soil Issues [Peters]
Agriculture, soil use patterns and soil erosion.
Agriculture and food production issues.
Water usage, irrigation, and drinking water.
Water pollution issues.
WEEK 2
Lecture 5. Land and Water Issues, Part II.Water
Resources [Bates]
Water usage, irrigation, and drinking water.
Hydroelectric dams. Water pollution issues.
Lecture 6. Land and Water Issues, Part III. Forest
Issues and Biodiversity [Bates]
Forest distributions. Impacts of forests including
deforestation and soil erosion. Frontier
forest issues. Pressures on biodiversity.
Protection of biodiversity including
discussion of international and national
policies.
Lecture 7. Pollution: Principles and Processes.
[Peters]
Issues include: Types of pollution; different
environmental susceptibilites; introduction to
the economic aspects of pollution control.
Lecture 8. The Earth System, Part I: Atmosphere,
Ocean and Climate [Bates]
Atmospheric and ocean circulation. Climate
and climate change.
WEEK 3
Lecture 9 The Earth System, Part II: Atmosphere,
Ocean and Climate/ Biogeochemical Cycles
[Bates]
Atmospheric and ocean circulation. Climate
and climate change.
Introduction to the concept of biogeochemical
cycles and their use for studying environmental
issues.
Lecture 10 International Policy and Legislation
[Peters]
Guiding principles of international policy
Morning
Mid-term Exam
|
Part II. Case Studies
WEEK 4
Lecture 11 Atmosphere and Climate: CFC's and
Stratospheric Ozone [Bates]
Stratospheric ozone depletion and
interntional policy development. Montreal and
Vienna Conventions and beyond.
Lecture 12 Atmosphere and Climate: CFC’s and
Stratospheric Ozone [Bates]
Stratospheric ozone depletion and international
policy development. Montreal and
Vienna Conventions and beyond.
Lecture 13 Atmosphere and Climate: CO2 and
Climate Change [Bates]
Carbon dioxide, the greenhouse effect an
global warming. Issues include: The scientific
basis of the problem, human activities and the
burning of fossil fuels; predicting present and
future climate change.
Lecture 14 Atmosphere and Climate: CO2 and
Climate Change [Bates]
Carbon dioxide, the greenhouse effect and
global warming. Issues include: The scientific
basis of the problem, human activities and the
burning of fossil fuels; predicting present and
future climate change.
WEEK 5
Lecture 15 Atmosphere and Climate: Case studies VI:
CO2 and Climate Change [Bates]
Issues include: The Kyoto Protocol. Develoment
of policy and legislation
Lecture 16 Review and Discussion: CO2 and
Climate Change Policy [Bates]
Preparation of report
Lecture 17 Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution
Science issues [Peters]
Lecture 18 Transboundary Atmospheric Pollution
Policies and legislation [Peters]
WEEK 6: 20-24 FEBRUARY
Lecture 19 Sustainability and Sustainable
Development [Peters]
Issues include: Environmental exploitation,
shared resource use.
Lecture 20 The Bermuda Context. [Peters]
Issues include: Land management and planning
legislation; Bermuda’s Air Quality Act and protection
of the atmosphere; Bermuda’s proposed
Clean Water Act; Bermuda’s no fishing zone
and protection of coral reef zones.
Lecture 21 Atmosphere and Climate: Air Pollution
[Peters]
Localized air pollution issues. Photochemical
smog and ozone problems. Acid precipitation
and the sulphur cycle in the atmosphere. Lead
and mercury in the atmosphere.
Lecture 22 Environmental Policy and Legislation
[Peters]
Issues include: U.S. Clean Air Act. Bermuda's
Air Quality Act and protection of the
atmosphere. Focus on regional issues.
WEEK 7
Tues Morning Final Exam [Peters]
Fri. Morning Prepare Final Report
WEEK 8 6-10 MARCH
Tues Morning Prepare Final Report
Fri. Morning Oral Presesntations [Bates/Peters]
Presentation of position papers, discussion
|
