L1- Overconsumption Flashcards
what is the anthropocene
human activities are pushing the earths system (especially climate) beyond range of natural variation
- this is increasing the risks of dangerous climate change outside the “safe operating space for humanity”
concept sees human as a global geophysical force in the earth system, equivalent to the forces of nature, this term has become a cultural emblem beyond the sciences for humanities impact on the planet
what is the evidence for the Anthropocene
- last 100 years temperature exceeds the natural holocene range
- GHG are well beyond Holocene range, such as CO2 natural range is 180-280 ppm, currently 420 ish
- the cause of this is associated with economic growth seen in 19/20th century due to industrialisation
what are the deeper roots of anthropocene
human impacts has grown over time
1- ancient fire and hunting
2- origins and spread of agriculture
3- European colonisation ( resource consumption)
4- industrial revolution (increased fossil fuel)
5- great acceleration / economic globalisation
why does human history matter
attribution ( what are the causes)
mitigation (what is needed to address problems)
responsibility (who should lead mitigation efforts)
what is the British industrial revolution
-fossil fuel-driven machines replaces -human/animal labour
-transition from rural agriculture to industrial manufacturing economies
-migration into cities = urbanisation
-improved sanitation and healthcare led to population growth
industrialisation using fossil fuels has been integral to economic development across the world
what has “post-development” in HICS mean for service of jobs
- effects on CO2 emissions
development in todays rich countries are transitioning to a service-based economy over a manufacturing or agricultural service
has led to a significant decrease of co2 emissions, it peaked around 1960s, and is now on downward trajectory
what is change of electricity grid of UK
massive change in electricity grid
- coal is now tiny fraction of emissions (1% of electricity), now majority of fossil fuels is gas, less emissions per unit of energy (34.2% of electricity), wind is now 30% of electricity
what is current co2 emissions per capita in India
emissions increasing in India, but per capita is around 1.5 tonnes of co2 per capita
currently UK is around 5 tonnes co2 per capita
who has contributed most to global CO2 emissions
early industrialised nations contribute most to the cumulative total
Namerica + europe + japan + australia = 66% of total cumulative co2.
what is the great acceleration
- caused after WW2 by todays wealthy countries
-rapid economic growth built on, cheap fossil fuels (particularly oil), abundant natural resources, global expansion of farmland
= capitalist world economic system (“capitalocene” more apt?)
what is link between energy consumption and wealth
inherent link
-46% of wealth controlled by richest 0.7%
-97% of wealth controlled by richest 30%
- household wealth more then 10,000 (inc 92% of british households)
wealthiest 1% are responsible for co2 emissions equivalent to those of the poorest 66%, on average, person in the US emits more CO2 in 4 days then someone in poorest countries (eg uganda) emit over a whole year
what does urbanisation do to per capita energy consumption
urbanisation increase per capita energy consumption, urbanisation is a relatively recent phenomenon linked to industrialisation, around 6/10 people currently line in cities
urbanisation -> economic productivity -> energy and natural resource consumption
what is economic globalisation
unequal distribution of wealth around the world causes power imbalances that operate through global trade
power imbalances may have parallels with colonial power relations, in which case they may be described as neo-colonial
what is global trade
value of world merchandise exports- 260-x greater in 2016 then in 1948 (15 trillion v 59 billion)
global supply and production chains mean that consumption in one country may lead to environmental impacts in another
change in recent decades, global manufacturing has shifted from western countries to China, more recently to less developed countries to the global south
what is the environmental impacts embodies in international trade
10-70% of global environment impacts occur at a distance from the consumption that cause harm
increases impacts overall, since production in less developed nations to be more ecologically intensive
international trade:
20-33% of global co2 emissions
70% of coal exploitation
62-64% of global metal ore extractions
24-68% of global raw material extraction
21-37% of land use
10-30% of global surface and rainwater use