Linking Environmental Protection and the Human Economy

Four spikes

Four global-scale forces are interacting to change the nature of the world as we know it: greenhouse gas concentrations, consumption, extinction, human population

Greenhouse gases

Drivers

Outcomes

Solutions


Consumption

Drivers

Outcomes

Solutions

Per-capita consumption is increasing in U.S.

Positive discount rate (i.e., interest rate) ensures that everything is valued less at a later date than it is valued today, in economic terms

Social classes: about 1 billion of the worlds 6 billion people survive on < $1/day

Human desires and marketing lead to a global-scale tragedy of the commons


Extinction

Drivers

Outcomes

Solutions

Sixth great extinction on earth

Ecological footprint

Homogenization of species composition, cultures, languages as we lose the uncommon ones of each

Ecosystem services: clean air, clean water


Human population

Drivers

Outcomes

Solutions

Over three billion years of life driven by procreation

The role of denial


Developing a planetary ethic

According to E.O. Wilson, the world will be run by synthesizers

Will they recognize and account for the links between environmental protection, social justice, and the human economy?



Additional Information:

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United States Census Bureau

Wilson, E.O. 1998. Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge. Knopf, New York.

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