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Economic growth Economic growth is usually measured in GDP GDP: refers to the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period GDP: (can be thought of as) how much stuff is made So if we say that a country's GDP is growing at 7%, What does that mean?how long until the GDP doubles? 70 / 7 = 10 in about 10 years the economy will be making twice as much “stuff”. In about 20 years it will be making about 4 times as much “stuff” Let's take a look at the world's gdp growth rate http://www.indexmundi.com/world/gdp_real_gro wth_rate.html So the world's gdp is growing at around (on average) 4.9% what does that mean? 70 / 4.9 = in about _14__ years the world will be making twice as much “stuff”. In about ___28_ years the world will be making about 4 times as much “stuff” This economic activity (making stuff), what does it require? What resources are used in economic activity (making stuff)? Energy (oil coal) Raw materials People Land water Some of these are finite (not and endless amount) and non renewable. If we are constantly doubling our usage (every _14__ years or so) of non renewable, finite resources, what eventually will happen? Economic activity (making stuff) also causes a lot of something no one wants. What is a main negative side effect of economic activity? Economic activity (making stuff) also causes a lot of something no one wants. What is a main negative side effect of economic activity? pollution If we are doubling our pollution output every ___ years or so, what are some problems? Increases in: Greenhouse (CO2) Global Warming Radiation (Nuclear) Plastic contamination of ecosystems Air quality Desertification Water pollution Soil degradation so... What are the projections for business as usual? (no change) Limits to Growth What is a sustainable GDP growth rate? What is a sustainable GDP growth rate? If growth is linked to using new resources and causing pollution. There is a point where the footprint of the economic activity = the worlds biocapacity. What is a sustainable GDP growth rate? If growth is linked to using new resources and causing pollution. There is a point where the footprint of the economic activity = the worlds biocapacity. After this point there can be no sustainable economic growth. solutions: Stabilize population growth. 0% population growth rate Health care for children Empowerment for women No war Everywhere! We have already studied this so no need to repeat what we have done already. Solutions: - separate economic growth with resource depletion and pollution. Solutions: - separate economic growth with resource depletion and pollution. Renewable energy. Sustainable energy Reuse all materials again and again so they don't run out. Biomimicry. Biomimicry. Remember.... mimicry. What was mimicry? Biomimicry. Remember.... mimicry. What was mimicry? Mimicry (looking or sounding like another living organism) Bio-mimicry Bio-mimicry Life be just like. Bio-mimicry Life be just like. The concept of bio-mimicry involves building a society that functions the same as life in a healthy ecosystem. Healthy ecosystem Matter cycles Everything gets reused nothing gets wasted Healthy ecosystem Matter cycles Everything gets reused nothing gets wasted Energy Flows source of all energy? Healthy ecosystem Matter cycles Everything gets reused nothing gets wasted Energy Flows source of all energy? Sun (sustainable, nonpolluting) Healthy ecosystems Healthy ecosystems have worked this way for the last 600 million years. Healthy ecosystems Healthy ecosystems have worked this way for the last 600 million years. WE KNOW THIS IS A SYSTEM THAT WILL SUPPORT HEALTHY LIFE How to apply this to society: Here is cradle to grave Here is a cradle to grave production model. Cradle to grave works if there is an endless supply of resources and if the Earth can absorb and endless amount of wastes. Problem..... The world does not have an endless supply of resources The world cannot absorb and endless amount of waste. Cradle to grave works if there is an endless supply of resources and if the Earth can absorb and endless amount of wastes. Problem..... The world does not have an endless supply of resources The world cannot absorb and endless amount of waste. We need to do something different This would be replaced with a Cradle to Cradle model. It is a closed cycle. When something goes to disposal it either biodegrades into nutrients for the environment, or gets recycled into something just a useful. Cradle to Cradle William McDonough Michael Braungart