GEOG 352: Day 7GEOG 352: Day 7Chapter 7 of Daly and Farley

The contribution of greenhouse gases to climate change. Source: EPA

Housekeeping ItemsHousekeeping ItemsAn interesting case study would be Free Geek in

Vancouver, which unfortunately was recently the target of a cyber-attack.

A reminder about the Mike Lewis talk on Thursday at 5 at the Theatre. I would love to go, but I can’t. If anyone would like to video it for me and anyone else who can’t go, I can arrange the equipment and there would be additional participation marks.

We discussed a bit about ‘cornucopian’ thinking. I was reading in the latest Alternatives about how a recent Federal Appeals Court decision ruled that Imperial Oil could proceed with destroying ecologically valuable peatlands for their Kearl Lake mine even though they agree that the process of reclaiming peatlands “is not even known in general terms.”

Housekeeping ItemsHousekeeping ItemsToday we will cover Chapter 7 of the text,

and we have Colin presenting on carrying capacity.

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/energy-solutions/energy-return-dept/energy-solutions/energy-return-investmentinvestment; lighter colour indicates range of ; lighter colour indicates range of EROIsEROIsMore

on EROIs

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full WorldTotal material output of human economy

increased 36-fold in the 20th century.Despite dramatically declining discoveries of

new oil reserves, we have used twice as much oil since 1973 than in the whole of human history.

We can approach energy issues from a supply management approach or a demand management approach. At current rates of consumption, solar energy could only meet 25-50% of the U.S.’s energy needs without disrupting agriculture, forestry, or the environment. What does that suggest?

In the U.S., they used to rely on hematite ore (60% iron); now it’s taconite ore (25% iron).

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full WorldIn the U.S. topsoil is being depleted at

100 times the rate of formation, and 40% of all agricultural land on the planet is seriously degraded.

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full WorldAgriculture uses 70% of

the water humans consume. There are major water deficits (ratio of extraction vs. recharge) developing in north China, the Ogllala region, and elsewhere.

The Aral Sea is falling at the rate of 2 to 8 metres per year.

One billion people lack access to potable drinking water, less than 1/3 have water in abundance, and 50% could be living in water shortage areas by 2025.

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full World Per capita, Canadians are

the planet's second-biggest water consumers, behind the U.S. The average Canadian uses 335 litres per day – more than double Europeans' usage.

Will water become the oil of the 21st century?

What about the impact of water shortages on geopolitical conflict? Where are the potential hot spots?

What are some economic measures for addressing water as an increasingly scarce commodity?

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full World 15 major fishing areas and 69% of major fish stocks

are in decline and needing serious attention. Some predict a total collapse of the fishery by 2048.

Cod catches between 1968 and 1992 dropped by 69%, and West Altantic bluefin tuna catches have dropped by 80%+ between 1970 and 1993 (and more since). We are now shifting our attention to fish that are on lower on food chain, that are young (and hence are capable of contributing to longer-term stocks) and/or that take a long time to reach sexual maturity.

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full WorldWe are losing 140,000 sq. km. of forest per

year in developing nations. 84% of all the wetlands ‘protected’ under the RAMSAR treaty are threatened.

We are seeing a growth in hazardous wastes and climate disruptors.

Gas Preindustrial level

Current level 

Increase since 1750

Carbon dioxide

280 ppm 388 ppm 108 ppm

Methane 700 ppb 1745 ppb 1045 ppb

Nitrous oxide 270 ppb 314 ppb 44 ppb

CFC-12 0 533 ppt 533 ppt

Source: Wikipedia.

From Empty World to Full WorldFrom Empty World to Full World

Source: Wikipedia.

From Full World to Empty WorldFrom Full World to Empty WorldWhile CFCs are now banned, HCFCs still

have ozone depleting potential and their use is increasing by about 35% per year in China and India.

Natural capital is being compromised in terms of 1) depleted sources, 2) disrupted ecosystem services, and 3) overtaxed sinks.

Are we living in a “full world”?

SOURCES

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES

SINKS