Pressures on the planetPressures on the planet• AgribusinessAgribusiness

• Focus on large scale farming to promote profitsFocus on large scale farming to promote profits• ConcernsConcerns

• Focus on cash crops in developing countries makes them Focus on cash crops in developing countries makes them dependant on international tradedependant on international trade

• Loss of local ownership of landLoss of local ownership of land• Increasing competition by corporate farms in South America is Increasing competition by corporate farms in South America is

creating strain for farmers in Canadacreating strain for farmers in Canada• Increasing use of pesticides and herbicides (Green Revolution of Increasing use of pesticides and herbicides (Green Revolution of

the mid 20the mid 20thth century) century)

““Think global, act local”Think global, act local”

Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol• CNN summaryCNN summary• http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tech/http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/tech/

2009/12/06/coren.kyoto.backgrounder.cnn.html2009/12/06/coren.kyoto.backgrounder.cnn.html

Pressures on the Pressures on the PlanetPlanetIncreasing population and the corresponding demands on Increasing population and the corresponding demands on the world’s resourcesthe world’s resources

The Theory of Demographic TransitionThe Theory of Demographic Transition

• Researchers noticed the change from a society with high birth Researchers noticed the change from a society with high birth rates and death rates to one with low birth and death rates rates and death rates to one with low birth and death rates usually accompanies industrialization, modernization and a usually accompanies industrialization, modernization and a rise in living standards (first observed in Great Britain - first to rise in living standards (first observed in Great Britain - first to industrialize).industrialize).

• Debated whether or not all countries will go through the same Debated whether or not all countries will go through the same transition, as most of the nations that have gone through the transition, as most of the nations that have gone through the transition are mainly “western” (religion, culture play a role)transition are mainly “western” (religion, culture play a role)

Phase OnePhase One

• high birth and death rateshigh birth and death rates• a few countries in Africa and Asiaa few countries in Africa and Asia• unaffected by industrializationunaffected by industrialization

Phase TwoPhase Two

• high birth rates but death rates coming down = increased high birth rates but death rates coming down = increased rate of natural increase (population grows)rate of natural increase (population grows)

• most Asian countries, Central Africa and parts of Latin most Asian countries, Central Africa and parts of Latin AmericaAmerica

• mostly undeveloped but have been exposed to some mostly undeveloped but have been exposed to some modernization, especially medicinemodernization, especially medicine

Phase ThreePhase Three• very low death rates and birth rates high, but gradually very low death rates and birth rates high, but gradually

starting to fall = high rate of natural increasestarting to fall = high rate of natural increase• underdeveloped but are not isolated from the modern underdeveloped but are not isolated from the modern

world; significant technological advancesworld; significant technological advances

Phase FourPhase Four• Acceptance and availability of birth control leads to a major Acceptance and availability of birth control leads to a major

drop in the birth rate and death rates remain low = natural drop in the birth rate and death rates remain low = natural increase rate moderately highincrease rate moderately high

• developing nationsdeveloping nations

Beijing ChinaBangalore India

Phase FivePhase Five• low birth rate and low death rates (at times becoming higher low birth rate and low death rates (at times becoming higher

than birth rates due to couples having fewer children to replace than birth rates due to couples having fewer children to replace themselves) = low or negative natural increasethemselves) = low or negative natural increase

• the most advanced nations of the world: Europe, Australasia, the most advanced nations of the world: Europe, Australasia, Anglo-America, parts of Asia (Japan)Anglo-America, parts of Asia (Japan)

Calgary Tokyo

Why so many babies?Why so many babies?• Birth control too expensiveBirth control too expensive• Male dominated societiesMale dominated societies

• Son-maniaSon-mania• ReligionReligion• Economic – workers, retirementEconomic – workers, retirement

Attempted Solutions Attempted Solutions • In India they would tell people they had a job, then pay them In India they would tell people they had a job, then pay them

to get sterilized (sometimes by force)to get sterilized (sometimes by force)• China – one child policy (has reduced population growth – China – one child policy (has reduced population growth –

younger generations sometimes don’t want any children, but younger generations sometimes don’t want any children, but has led to infanticide and human rights abuses)has led to infanticide and human rights abuses)

• Indonesia – education campaigns and promotions to Indonesia – education campaigns and promotions to encourage the use of contraception (church opposition)encourage the use of contraception (church opposition)

What impact What impact does this have on does this have on the the environment?environment?

The People BombThe People Bomb

Impact of PopulationImpact of Population• Not just the number of people but also their impact on the environmentNot just the number of people but also their impact on the environment• baby in US has 30 times greater environmental impact than a baby in baby in US has 30 times greater environmental impact than a baby in

developing nationdeveloping nation (autos, electrical appliances, garbage, material goods)(autos, electrical appliances, garbage, material goods)• North American overpopulation is a bigger problem for the planetNorth American overpopulation is a bigger problem for the planet – the – the

industrialized world is only ¼ of the population, but they use ¾ of the industrialized world is only ¼ of the population, but they use ¾ of the world’s energyworld’s energy

Urban Sprawl – Urban Sprawl – Environmental Footprint Environmental Footprint Beijing, China – 13 million people, 3000 kmBeijing, China – 13 million people, 3000 km22 for city - 17,000 km for city - 17,000 km2 suburbs2 suburbs

Calgary Calgary - 1 million people- 1 million people,,; ; 5083 km5083 km2 2 including suburbs including suburbs

Issues of waste, water usage, loss of farmland, over-consumption of resources by developed nations and poor use of resources (like burning wood for fuel) in developing nations

Humans release carbon dioxide

faster than plants can absorb it.

Mother and cub drifting 12 miles out to sea

Impact of Climate Change

Industrial Pollution

Essential questions….• What is sustainable prosperity?• What choices are associated with sustainable prosperity?