A new paper in the journal Nature Climate Change assesses which human factors are the most important drivers of greenhouse gas emissions.
The authors note know that for every 1 percent increase in human population, greenhouse gas emissions go up by slightly more than 1 percent. But which aspects of human life contribute most—more people, more consumption, or both—and how might that play out in a world racing towards 10 billion people this century? (I wrote at length about this concern in Mother Jones' The Last Taboo.)
The biggest question is whether or not affluence will ever mitigate its own consumption. The authors write:
See full Article.
Tuesday, July 03, 2012
Who Drives Climate Change?
A new paper in the journal Nature Climate Change assesses which human factors are the most important drivers of greenhouse gas emissions.
The authors note know that for every 1 percent increase in human population, greenhouse gas emissions go up by slightly more than 1 percent. But which aspects of human life contribute most—more people, more consumption, or both—and how might that play out in a world racing towards 10 billion people this century? (I wrote at length about this concern in Mother Jones' The Last Taboo.)
The biggest question is whether or not affluence will ever mitigate its own consumption. The authors write:
See full Article.
Posts
