Primary Drivers of Environmental Degradation, and How We Can Mitigate Them
Economic Growth
Increase in Population and
Resource Demand
Climate Change
Mitigation Strategies
Biodiversity Loss
Extraction of Sand, Gravel, and Clay Increased to 44 Billion Tons in 2017
Alarming Rate of Global Water Withdrawal
Use of Metal Rose to 9 Billion Tons
3x Use of Natural Resources since 1970
Measure Impact on Environment
Larger the Economy, Greater the Environmental Impact
Anthropocentric Perspective
Ecocentric View
A Rate Faster Than the Growth of the Human Population in the 2nd Half of the 20th Century
Increase in Green House Gas Emissions
Exploitation of Natural Resources
Increased Demand for Food
Agriculture; the Main Driver of Global Biodiversity Loss
I = P x A x T
I = Impact
P = Population
A = Affluence
T = Technology
Greater the Population, Greater the Impact
(Consumption/Person)
(Impact/Consumption)
Goal is to Increase GDP
Materialistic
GDP is Bad for Us
Largest Economies 2022
Canada Ranked #8
America Ranked #1
China Ranked #2
Values Nature for its Benefits to Humans
Leads to Higher Impact (I)
Fossil Fuels
Environmental Impacts
Global Emissions per Year = 40 billion tons
Greenhouse Gases
Avg. 5.5 tons per Year per Person
Global Disproportion towards Individual/Country Contribution
The Pursuit to Balance Human Progression and Environmental Sustainability
Largest Contributor to Global Climate Change
Accounts for 75% of all Global Greenhouse Gases
Accounts for 90% of all Carbon Dioxide Emissions
Ex: Coal, Oil, Gas, etc
6 Billion People Dependent on Imported Fossil Fuels
Methane
Carbon Dioxide
Nitrous Oxide
Agricultural Industry is the Largest Contributor
Emissions Come From the Use of Fertilizer
Most Abundant Greenhouse Gas
Sources
Natural
Anthropogenic
Increase in Temperature
Sea Level Increase
Glaciers and Snow Covers Melting
Droughts, Forest Fires, Severity of Storms, Hurricanes
Results in Higher Transmission of Diseases
Habitat Loss
Invasive Species
Climate Change
Pollution
Overexploitation
Deforestation
Outcompeting Native Species
Extinction
Extinction
Relocation
Need to Adapt
Long Term Effects
Unpredicatable
Ex: Oil Spills
~ 1 Million Species Currently Face Extinction
1 Million Square Kilometres of Forest Lost in Last 25 Years
Over 10 Billion Trees Cut Down Each Year
Forests Absorb 15 Billion Tons of Carbon Dioxide Each Year
Clearing Forests Releases CO2 Back Into The Atmosphere
Marine Debris
60% = Non-Recycled Plastic
Plastic Degrades Into Micro-Plastic
Eaten by Marine-Life
Biomagnification
Bioaccumulation
"Sixth Mass Extinction"
Driven by Human Activity
Overpopulation
Ex: China's "One-Child Policy"
Ethical Issues
Educate Every Child
Promote Family Planning
Women Employment
Transition
Non-Renewable -> Renewable/Clean Energy
Nuclear
Water
Wind
Photovoltaic
Solar Thermal
"Sustainable Development Goals"
17 Sustainable Development Goals Proposed by the United Nations for Countries to Achieve/Implement
"Paris Agreement"
International Agreement to Decrease Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Limit Global Warming to Under 2 Degrees Celsius
Anthropocentric -> Ecocentric
"Endangered Species Act"
Protects Species and Their Ecosystems
"International Union for the Conservation of Nature"
Conservation Status to Identify the Risk of Extinction of an Certain Organism
Allows us to Identify the Problem and Act on it
"Sustainable Forestry"
Anthropocentric & Ecocentric
Meets the Human Need Without Jeopardizing the Overall "Health" of the Forest
"Anthropogenic"