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Challenges of Global Sustainability

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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

The majority of global population growth has happened as a result of industrialization. Although population growth is slowing in developed regions, the world's population will grow at a continually fast pace as regions including China, India and Africa begin industrializing.

Timeline of human history on earth, highlighting
population growth since the begining of industrialization

Advancements in the healthcare sector and overall improved living conditions are leading to longer life expectancies. This will have a significant impact on resource demand and is another major factor that is leading to continued population growth.

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]

Post industrialization, much of the world's population lives in densely populated areas. Large populations are at risk of flooding and extreme weather were to hit these urban centres.

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

The World’s Changing Climate

“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

Human caused climate warming has put the earth in signifigant danger, but the good news is that these actions can be undone.

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

Much of global climate warming has happened just within the last 50 years.
Change must be made quickly in order to cap warming at 1.5ºC.
With current government policy in place, the world is still projected to exceed the point where damage to the earth's environment cannot be undone.
Without government policy in place, the world would be expected to exceed warming of 4ºC.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
has set a goal to limit global warming to 1.5ºC Source: IPCC, 2018[14]

Who and What
is at Risk?

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

Largest Emitter:

Energy Generation

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.

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

Living Sustainably

Pros

• Does not produce direct CO2 emissions

• Sources will never run out



Cons

• Sources are unable to capture energy as fast as traditional sources such as coal and natural gas

• Dependent on weather conditions
(extreme/variable weather conditions make capturing energy more difficult)

• Waste and emissions are still produced durring installation and disassembly

Pros

• Does not produce direct CO2 emissions

• Capable of producing large amounts of energy



Cons

• Historic nuclear accidents have tainted the perception of nuclear and have questioned its safety

• Costly to build, repair and maintain

• Produces nuclear waste

Pros

• Potential to eliminate emission producing energy generation sources

• Potential to allow the world to use, store and transport energy more efficiently



Cons

• Many emerging energy techologies are still in the early phase of development

• Side-effects or negative implications are largely unknown

• Years or even decades away from implementation

Resources:

  1. Paul, A. [TEDx Talks]. (2013, Jan 3). Overpopulation facts - the problem no one will discuss: Alexandra Paul at TEDxTopanga [Video file]. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNxctzyNxC0

  2. OECD. (2015, April 18). OECD Urban Policy Reviews: China 2015. Retrived from: https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264230040-en

  3. UNITED NATIONS POPULATION DIVISION. (2019). World Population Prospects 2019. Retrived from: https://population.un.org/wpp/

  4. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. (2019). Rapid Urbanization Increases Climate Risk for Billions of People. Retrieved January, 2019, from https://unfccc.int/news/rapid-urbanization-increases-climate-risk-for-billions-of-people

  5. BBC. (2011). One third of world's food is wasted, says UN study. Retrived from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-13364178

  6. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2019). Global Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene Facts. Retrived from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/global/wash_statistics.html

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  8. Stewart, J. (2018, Aug 17). Shocking Aerial Photos Highlight Wealth Inequality in Cities Worldwide. Retrived from: https://mymodernmet.com/unequal-scenes-johnny-miller/

  9. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2018, Oct 8). Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C approved by governments. Retrived from: https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for-policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/

  10. Climate Action Tracker. (2019). Addressing global warming. Retrived from: https://climateactiontracker.org/global/temperatures//

  11. United Nations. (2019, Mar 28). Only 11 Years Left to Prevent Irreversible Damage from Climate Change, Speakers Warn during General Assembly High-Level Meeting. Retrived from: https://www.un.org/press/en/2019/ga12131.doc.htm/

  1. Figueres, C. (2016, May 11). The inside story of the Paris climate agreement | Christiana Figueres. Retrived from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIA_1xQc7x8

  2. Ritchie, H. & Roser, M. (2017, May). CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Retrived from: https://ourworldindata.org/co2-and-other-greenhouse-gas-emissions

  3. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. (2018). CO₂ and Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Retrived from: https://report.ipcc.ch/sr15/pdf/sr15_spm_final.pdf

  4. DiMento, J. F. C., & Doughman, P. (2014). Climate change : What it means for us, our children, and our grandchildren. Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.eztest.ocls.ca

  5. GIBBENS. S. (2014). Global Warming of 1.5°C. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/reference/hurricane-sandy/

  6. Bedford, D., & Cook, J. (2016). Climate Change: Examining the Facts : Examining the Facts. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. Retrieved from http://ra.ocls.ca/ra/login.aspx?inst=conestoga&url=http://search.ebscohost. com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=nlebk&AN=1260223&sit e=eds-live&scope=site>

  7. Holder, J., Kommenda, N., & Watts, J. (2015, November 3). The three-degree world: Cities that will be drowned by global warming. Retrieved, from https://www.theguardian.com/cities/ng-interactive/2017/nov/03/three-degree-world-cities-drowned-global-warming

  8. The World Bank. (2014). Fossil fuel energy consumption (% of total). Retrieved, from https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/eg.use.comm.fo.zs

  9. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2017). Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Retrieved, from https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions

  10. Global Carbon Project. (2018). CO2 EMISSIONS. Retrieved, from http://www.globalcarbonatlas.org/en/CO2-emissions

Image Sources:

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  9. Retrived from: https://cdn.climatechangenews.com/files/2016/01/issd-un.jpg

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