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"