Innvovation and Sustainability - Research Paper Example

Innovation and Sustainability Introduction A larger population of human means there is a greater environmental impact on our environment. It is evident that the greater the number of people, the more pressure on and demand for food, fuel, water and minerals. These all lead to some form of environmental impact during the process of production. More attention however is paid to the T and A factors, the much we consume and the technologies we use to enable that consumption.Negative impacts on the life-support systems can be calculated by the equation of I=PAT.

Here the (P) which is the size of the population is multiplied by (A) which is the consumption per individual then multiplied by (T) which is the technology that drives and services consumption. The product of these factors including P, A, T and I represent a rough estimate of the much humanity degrades the ecosystem services that it depends upon. Hence, the impact of the population on the environment is determined by the number of people involved as well as the used technologies and relative levels of affluence and material consumed (Ehrlich, 1995).

One of the factors affecting the consumption habits is overpopulation. The population of the earth is around 6.5 billion today. In the recent decades, environmental scientists and ecologists have fixated on the factor of P, population as the number of human in the 1900 was two billion to almost a figure of seven 2010. The high number of individuals translates to a high environmental degradation. Much of the greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere. If this number is opting for driving as a means of transport rather than riding, consumption of this much petroleum will be damaging to the environment.

The factor of overpopulation has led to the collapse of human societies. The addition of population causes more damage to humanity’s life-support systems that are critical (Turk & Bensel, 2011). For instance, when the population of the farmers living in well fertile lands goes up, the additional people would move to the ever poorer lands, deeply drill the wells and then spend farm fields, homes and factories. The concerns on the growing population are focused on developing countries that are poorer, though IPAT and footprint analysis have both shown that the high rates of consumption in the developed countries are also significant impacts of the environment (Turk & Bensel, 2011).

Technology encompasses the need for alternative fossil fuel energy. It involves switching to the ultra-light and cars that will provide for a short-term advantage that are fuel-efficient but as consumption and population grow mo the atmosphere carbon will be released into the atmosphere and more natural areas to bury it will be required. More recycling is necessary though some of the effluents are so dangerous to be recycled.Consumption is also an decisive factor in economics. There is a problem of under consumption in most people in the population.

They are unlikely to have the ability of making contributions that are crucial in the attainment of stability unless their basic requirements and needs are met. In developing countries like China and India, there is an issue of new consumers where wealth of a sizeable part of the minority is giving them permission to acquire the habits of consumption in the rich nations. It is much difficult to regulate consumption much more than it is to regulate population and it’s much more difficult to find equitable and humane solutions to the problem (Ehrlich, 1995).

It is therefore crucial to avoid global denouement. This will involve mobilization which means the development of some consensus on goals. This may be through a dialogue that is global where people discus the main predicament and then decide if to see the majority of people living at the lowest standards of living or better still a much lower population size which will give individuals a choice of lifestyles that are broad. For humanity to attain a reasonably and sustainable conflict-free society, there should be a change in norms that are widespread.

Achievement of this change will involve everything from transformation of planet-wide energy and demographic policies, agricultural and industrial systems which is obviously a gigantic challenge to all. It is therefore crucial to work and hope for a cultural transformation in how people treat each other and the natural systems that people are dependent upon (Turk & Bensel, 2011).ReferencesEhrlich, P. R. (1995). The population bomb. Cutchogue, N.Y: Buccaneer Books.Paul, R. Ehrclich and Anne H. Ehrlich. (2008, August 04).

Too Many People, Too Much Consumption. Environment360.Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary environmental issues San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUSCI207.10.1