10.5 the future

Question 1

IPAT

Answer 1

*Created by Paul Ehrlich and John Holdren
(Obama science advisor)

Environmental Impact =
Population * Affluence * Technology

any increase in popilation causes a greater environmental impact. the implication is that we need to reduce the number of people

Question 2

is the earth overpopulated?

Answer 2

no

Question 3

can we feed these people?

Answer 3

yes

Food production has increased by 298% since 1960. Because population has grown by 150% over that time, we have more food per person.

crop production is continuing a 60 year trend of increasing

Question 4

where will these people live?

Answer 4

megacity

Question 5

megacity

Answer 5

city w/ over 10 million inhabitants

Question 6

european urbanization

Answer 6

By 2025 97% of Europe will become less
densely populated.

Question 7

urban poverty

Answer 7

cities produce 60% of world GDP with only 1/3 of the population

Correlation versus causation

Cities aren’t making people poor. Instead poor
people are attracted to cities for the
opportunities

Question 8

urban pollution

Answer 8

Correlation versus causation

Cities aren’t making the world dirty. They are
dirty because of the density, but they have lower
impact on the environment per person

Question 9

pollution havens

Answer 9

Also called “leakage”

When companies move production to areas were environmental regulations are lower.

Creates a “race to the bottom.”

-composition effect
-technique effect
-scale effect

Question 10

composition effect

Answer 10

change in the mix of dirty to clean industries

Question 11

technique effect

Answer 11

ratio of emissions per unit of output in an industry

Question 12

scale effect

Answer 12

level of total output

Question 13

big takeaway

Answer 13

It is easy to see the big disasters. It is easy to see the big problems that still exist.

It is harder to see the many, small improvements that happen every day