Notes for RENR 260: History and Fundamentals of Environmental Protection and Conservation

Technology's Dual Role

  • Environmental Impact Reduction: Technology can help lower environmental harms.

  • Environmental Impact Intensification: It can also enhance negative effects (e.g., overfishing leading to the decline of species).

  • Rebound Effect: Increased efficiency may lead to higher overall consumption.

Economic and Political Factors

  • Influence on Sustainability:

    • Affects productivity and access to natural resources.

    • Institutional capacity for sustainable practices.

  • Governance:

    • Poor governance can hinder development.

    • Strong policies improve environmental outcomes.

Sustainability as Balance

  • Three Dimensions:

    • Social: Addressing human needs and societal growth.

    • Economic: Developing economic structures that support sustainability.

    • Environmental: Maintaining ecological health and natural resources.

Questions of Population Support

  • Joel E. Cohen's Considerations:

    • Population sustainability depends on various factors, including:

    • Material Well-being: Average living standards and how they are distributed.

    • Technology: Types of technologies that support sustainability.

    • Political Institutions: The role of domestic and international politics.

    • Economic Arrangements: International economic interactions that impact sustainability.

    • Environmental Contexts: Physical, chemical, and biological factors shaping capacity.

    • Risk and Stability: Assessment of population resilience and vulnerability.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  • UN Goals: Launched in 2015, they serve as a blueprint for a sustainable future.

  • Focus: Achieving a more equitable and sustainable world for all.

Environmental Performance Index Framework 2024

  • Key Indicators (look at photo, slide 4 and 5):

    • CO₂ emissions relative to carbon budgets.

    • Waste recovery and management.

    • Biodiversity protection indices and pressures.

    • Climate change mitigation strategies and air quality metrics.

Poverty, Population, and Environment

  • Poverty Cycle:

    • Lack of investment in environmental regulations.

    • Poverty leads to environmental degradation, and environmental degradation exacerbates poverty

    • The cycle can be broken through investments in education and tools for sustainable farming and other practices

Ecological Footprint Analysis (map slide 9)

  • Global Hectares per Capita: Analysis provides insights into sustainability practices at country levels. By evaluating the ecological footprint, we can identify areas where improvements are necessary to achieve a more balanced relationship between human activity and environmental health.

    • People in NA and Europe consume a lot, increasing there environmental footprint

    • the more I consume the greater my footprint is

Solutions for a Sustainable Future

  • Propose impactful ideas, such as prioritizing happiness and human/environmental health in economic models.