2 Climate change and sustainability
2.1 Environmental impacts of climate change
Climate change is connected to a number of sustainability issues to do with changing ecosystems and resource depletion.
Here are some of the environmental impacts:
- Atmospheric pollution;
- Energy conservation;
- Depletion of resources – oil, gas, uranium, aquifers, food, fish;
- Identification and growth of renewable energy sources/technologies;
- Submersion of land masses;
- Water shortages;
- Population growth;
- Spread of disease;
- Disruptions of ecosystems.
Assuming therefore that population and level of affluence will on the whole increase globally then in order to just maintain the same level of impact we must be more efficient in our use of resources. Of course these factors are interrelated, but in simplistic terms the relationship holds.
More information is available on these websites:
- The IPAT equation on the Encyclopaedia of Earth website [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] ;
- ‘Mapping the contours of climate change’" -Independent newspaper;
- Population and Sustainability Network;
- Patrick Dixon talks about ‘sustainability, climate change and crazy biofuels policy’.
Activity 1
Consider your own lifestyle. As your level of affluence has increased or decreased, how has this affected your resource efficiency?
1.4. How will responses vary depending on the size of business?