IPAT

Question 1

what is a framework

Answer 1

A way of thinking that lets us solve related kinds of problems e.g. environmental issues like global ocean pollution

Question 2

what is Paul erlichs view on environmental problems

Answer 2

says population was the root cause of environmental problems - creates an equation to demonstrate this
- Population is “the most unyielding of all environmental pressures.”

Question 3

what is the equation erlich created

Answer 3

I = PAT
- environmental impact = population (no of persons) x affluence (resources used per persons) x efficiency of technology (impact per unit of resource)
**all interact with eachother

Question 4

what is the most basic formulation of IPAT (erlichs formula)

Answer 4

Impact (I) = Population (P)
- Assumes all environmental impacts are due to population alone - Impact from 100k people > Impact from 10k people
- BUT not all populations are the same - countries have different consumption practices
- introducing affluence (A) accounts for variances in consumption practices

Question 5

what’s the prime driver of environmental issues

Answer 5

technology - ehrlich proved wrong as he thought population was
- Most solutions to environmental issues = technological