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Human Population Issues Human Impact Model I = PATS • Models are simplified representations of complex systems. • Models can be precise or conceptual. • This model is conceptual, to guide your thinking about human impact and sustainability. I = PATS • I is the impact of humans on the environment • P is the population of humans in the affected environment • A is the affluence level of the human population • T is the technologies that the human population is using • S is the sensitivity of the environment to human disturbance Population • Population growth is the root of many environmental problems, although it is NOT the only root. • There is a carrying capacity for humans based on environmental limitations • Our technology has increased human carrying capacity, but there have been other consequences to these increases. Human carrying capacity Affluence • Affluence means quality of life. • In terms of environmental impact it is often proportional to the amount of natural resources that an individual (or country) uses. • Higher affluence often correlates with higher environmental impact • The gap between rich and poor societies is a cause of social and environmental stress Consumption leads to waste Rich vs. poor Ecological Footprints Technology what do you think? • How does technology make human impact greater? • How can technology reduce human impact? Sensitivity • Sensitive environments are more affected by a given amount of human activity • Sensitive environments include deserts, grasslands, and tundras • Luckily, humans populations are not very dense in these types of environments Another representation… • In Industrial Ecology, IPATS is couched as the “Master Equation:” Total Impact = Population * GDP Environmental Impact * *S person unit GDP • In this form we can see the opportunity for improvement lies in the technology term, environmental impact per unit GDP