Climate idea review

Returning Within the Carrying Capacity of Earth

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Barbara Williams

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We Don't Have Time

Climate idea

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There are no climate solutions that factor in the ecological damage that is associated with pronatalism and economic growth. Neither of these features of modern techno-industrial civilisation are considered to be dangerous. However, both pronatalism and economic growth increase the three drivers of environmental damage that are identified in the I=PAT equation. Unless humanity agree upon a collective aspiration to return within the carrying capacity of Earth, we shall exacerbate ecosystems collapse by pursuing financial and technical solutions.
The UN Charter for Ecological Justice defines a collective aspiration to voluntarily and peacefully return within the carrying capacity of Earth. If the insights about I=PAT, and biocapacity, and ecological footprint are shared widely, the need for ecological justice would be evident, and would inspire global IPAT Degrowth. So far, our institutions lack the courage to admit that we are engineering our own extinction by pretending that we can survive ecosystems collapse without reducing both consumption per capita and birth rate on a massive scale globally.
A footprint of 2 global hectares per capita would enable a sustainable population of 3 billion. We are currently 8 billion consuming on average 2.8 gha per capita.


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