Population and Consumption Flashcards
What historically important landmark was reached with respect to population in the late 1960’s?
The world population growth rate peaked at 2.1% in ‘65-‘70
What are some of the ways that population patterns of the 20th century are likely to be unique?
During the 20th century we had the highest growth rate in human history. It was the only century in which the global population doubled and tripled. There was the largest voluntary decline in fertility. It will be the last century with more young people than old people. It was also the last century to have more rural people than urban.
What is replacement fertility (define concept and give number)?
A couple must have two children to replace themselves, if they have one, then they are contributing to population decline, if they have three, then they are contributing to population growth.
At what level is global population expected to level off?
about 10 billion within the next 100 years
The figure represents demographic structures of the populations of two different countries, country A and country B. Which country is experiencing the faster growth rate and why? Which country likely has a larger urban relative to rural population? Which country likely has a higher per capita economic production (GDP)?
A faster growth rate is when the bottom is bigger than the top, looking more like a pyramid. That is how demographics look in third world countries where there is a greater rural population and lower GDP.
Is global food production per person increasing, decreasing, or staying the same?
global food production is increasing
What does the IPAT expression refer to?
the IPAT identity is used to decompose growth in energy usage and emissions.
I = Impacts (energy use, J)
P = Population
A = Affluence (GDP/Person)
T = Technology (Energy/GDP)
Know these basic numbers about the earth and human system: a) number of humans alive today b) total world energy consumption (in any units) c) total global CO2 emissions (in mass of carbon) from human activities?
a) 7 billion
b) -0.97 J/GDP with 1.53 GDP/Person
c)
Which country, in terms of total CO2 emissions from its whole population, is now the single largest emitter of CO2 from fossil fuel combustion? Approximately what year (within a couple of years) did this country become the largest emitter? Which country, in terms of per capita emissions, is the single largest emitter of CO2 per perso
The largest emitter of CO2 is China, and it became the largest emitter around 2005. On a per capita basis, however, the US is bar far the largest emitter.
