Africa:
fastest growing
continent
Since the beginning of Industrialization (started just 250 years ago), the world’s economy has grown extensively. The world’s population has grown from just under a billion to over 7.5 billion people today. At this rate, the world is adding close to 1 billion people every 12-15 years, a figure that seems astonishing since the world didn’t reach its first billion people until 1803.Source: TEDx, 2013[1] The world’s population continues to grow at an alarming rate. Although industrialization has led to great economic advancement, this growth has come at a cost.
Industrialization has undoubtedly altered the way in which the modern world lives. The world has become more manufactured, we continue to become more reliant on resources, and because of overpopulation, global consumption rates have grown out of control. Although the modern world has seen great advancement, many are still impacted by inequality. To make matters worse, this new way of living has caused significant damage to the world’s environment. These environmental changes have the potential to threaten quality of life for all and have the potential to strengthen global inequality even further.
Arial view of Shanghai - the world's largest megacity
26m people Source: OECD, 2015[2] (3/4 the size of Canada’s population)
1760
Begining of
Industrialization
1803
First Billion
2011
7 Billion
2050
10 Billion
Timeline of human history on earth, highlighting
population growth since the begining of industrialization
Overall improved quality of life is
leading to longer life expectancies
Africa:
fastest growing
continent
Over half of global population growth
until 2050 will happen in Africa Source: UN, 2019[3]
59% of cities are at
high risk expoure to
natural disasters Source: UN, 2018[4]
Extreme weather has the potential
to displace large populations
Amazingly, since the beginning of industrialization, the world continues to eliminate world poverty, yet inequality still exists. It is estimated that 821 million people globally suffer from chronic undernourishment, yet a third of the world's food is wasted Source: BBC, 2011[5] - largely a result of mass food manufacturing. 3 in 10 people lack access to safe drinking water Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2019[6] and over 1 billion people globally don't have access to electricity Source: IEA, 2016[7]. All essential resources that people in developed nations often take for granted.
Wealth Inequality seen in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania Source: Stewart, 2018[8]
1/3 of the world’s food is wasted
Over 1 billion people don’t have access to electricity
3 in 10 people lack access to safe drinking water
“Limiting global warming to 1.5ºC would
require rapid, far- reaching and unprecedented
changes in all aspects of society.”
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Source: IPCC, 2018[9]
With current global government policy in place, the world’s temperature is expected to reach at least 3ºC by 2100. Source: Climate Action Tracker, 2019[10] Although this number may not sound very substantial, 3ºC warming put’s the world in significant danger. The world’s current temperature is 1.5ºC. What’s shocking about these figures is that when warming reaches 2ºC, damage caused to the earth’s environment becomes irreversible. Source: UN, 2019[11]
Never before seen in world history, in 2015, 195 countries unanimously agreed to take serious action on climate warming, realizing climate warming’s potential to cause great harm to the world’s population and economy. The Paris Climate Change Agreement, adopted by consensus, aims to undo climate change’s negative impact on the world’s environment and to limit warming to 1.5ºC. Source: Figueres, 2016[12] The parties part of the agreement include the world’s largest contributors to climate warming, however, the United State's recent withdrawal is causing great concern.
Paris Climate Agreement adopted by consensus
by 1965 countries around the world
Emissions by Country
Treemap presenting the world's largest CO2 emiting countries. The United States is the
only country who will not be part of this agreement to aims to cap climate warming.
99% of cumulative
CO2 emissions
have been produced
since the first Industrial
Revolution Source: Roser & Ritchie, 2017[13]
CO2 is the main greenhouse gas
contributing to climate warming
What’s the Big Deal With 1.5ºC?
1ºC
Where the world
was 50 years ago
1.5ºC
Where the
world is now
2ºC
Damage becomes
permanent
3ºC
Where the world
is projected to be
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
has set a goal to limit global warming to 1.5ºC Source: IPCC, 2018[14]
Climate warming has the potential to cause significant harm to large populations. As climate warming becomes worse, its impact will only become greater. Climate warming is already leading to more intense cases of extreme weather and increasingly variable weather conditions. This change in weather is already leading to infrastructure and agricultural complications. Global warming of air temperatures is causing sea level rise; flooding will continue to become a greater concern as a result. The effects can already be seen today and the economic damage caused by these new weather conditions is on the rise. Low income communities who lack protective infrastructure, as well as densely populated regions, will be at most risk. Source: DiMento & Doughman, 2014[15]
Megacities and low income communites are at most risk
Hurricane Sandy caused $71.4 Billion in damages Source: Gibbens, 2014[16]
Extreme weather
conditions will become
more extreme and more
frequent Source: Bedford & Cook, 2016[17]
Unpredictable weather patterns will
make agriculture more complex
The city of Osaka, Japan could see a third of its
population displaced due to flooding (19 m people) Source: Holder & Kommenda, 2015[18]
Economic Damage from Natural Disasters
Energy generation remains the largest contributor to climate change. It is estimated that energy generation accounts for approximately 64% of global CO2 emissions. Source: Name[19] The dilemma with energy, however, it that the modern world is so reliant on it today. With population growth and industrialization continuing in regions such as China, Africa and India, energy will be an important resource in supporting this continued development. The world needs large amounts of energy, fast.
Although many may think that renewables may be the solution to mitigating emissions, the world today is still largely reliant on generating energy through fossil fuels. Fossil fuel sources produce large amounts of energy, significantly faster than renewables. Nuclear, an energy source that does not produce direct emissions may be a promising solution, but it too comes with its share of cons.
Over 60% of energy is
still generated
through fosil fuels Source: The World Bank, 2014[20]
Nuclear power plant under construction in Waynesboro, Georgia
One of 54 reactors under construction around the world today Source: Name[21]
Renewables still only account for 22% of all energy generation Source: EPA, 2017[20]
Energy generation accounts for 64% of global CO2 emissions
Energy Generation
by Source
41%
22%
3.5%
10.5%
22%
Natural
Comparing Alternative Energy Sources
Renewables
Nuclear
Emerging Tech
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
Pros
Cons
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
NASA - Global Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Canada’s Changing Climate Report