by robert bériault peak oil and the fate of humanity chapter 7 – how we got ourselves into this...
TRANSCRIPT
By Robert Bériault
PEAK OIL AND THE PEAK OIL AND THE FATE OF HUMANITYFATE OF HUMANITY
Chapter 7 – How We Got Ourselves Into Chapter 7 – How We Got Ourselves Into this Situationthis Situation
The problem, in a nutshell is that:
Humans as a general rule, aren’t familiar with the concept of
I=TAP
Impact on the
environment
=
Population
(how many
people)
Affluence(howMuch
money we
spend)
Technology
(how many
processes, tools and goods we
use)
I = TAP
x xI PATIt is a beautifully elegant formula:
Technologymultiplied by the effect of
Affluencemultiplied by the effect of
Population
The I = TAP formula(pronounced: “eye-tap”)
is the multiplier effect
on the environment (Impact) of:
I = TAPYou can reduce the Impact if you either:
Resort to more manual labour (less Technology)or Spend less money (less Affluence) or Reduce the number of people (in other words, less Population) orAny combination of those three
Paul and Anne Ehrlich tried to explain this wonderfully simple
and logical formula in 1968.
People refused to listen.
The Erlichs referred to the phenomenon as I=PAT
What this formula says is that the
factors Technology, Affluence and
Population aren’t added to each
other but they’re multiplied by each
other.
I = TAP
Impact = Technology X Affluence X Population
The extraction of resources for the manufacture of TV sets, their packaging, transport, their operation and eventual disposal have an impact on the environment, right?
Here’s a concrete example of technology…
I = APT
0
5
10
15
20
25
TV
set
s (m
illi
on
s)
1960 2003YEAR
Today the Impact on the environment is about 6.5 times what it was in 1960
Think of this:when TV sets didn’texist they had noenvironmental impact!
3.6 million 24 million
Number of TV sets in Canada
First, we’ll start with the T, Technology factor
I = APT
Affluence means more TV sets
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Per
cen
tag
e o
f sa
lary
1960 2003YEAR
When people have more money, it means more TV sets, which means more environmental impact.
Buying a TV set in 2003 took 11 times less of a Canadian’s income than in 1960.
A TV set cost11% of a 1960 salary
A TV set cost 1%of a 2003 salary
I = T P
Second, we multiply by the A, Affluence factor
A Cost Relative to Wages
Population increased by 1.7 times
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Per
son
s (m
illi
on
s)
1960 2003YEAR
A 74% increase in population meant a 74% increase in the number of TVs…
…and a 74% increase in environmental impact.
There was a 74% increase in the Canadian population between 1960 and 2003
I = TA18 million
32 million
P Increase in Population
Third, we multiply by the P, Population factor
I think that an understanding of how we got into this
situation can be useful in seeking solutions, so bear
with me.
Soil erosionWater contaminationLoss of biodiversityDeath of pollinatorsDeforestationHabitat destructionAtmospheric pollution
I = TAP
Every invention, every improvement to our homes or work places adds to the “T” part of the equation.
I = APT
Technology started with the invention of fire and stone axes and has culminated with space exploration.
All inventions increase humankind’s effect on the environment.
Waorani Indian of Ecuadorcuts tree with stone axe
I = APT
Perhaps we haven’t recognised that we are animals like others:
Diagram from: www.nrcs.usda.gov/.../ land/pubs/ib5text.html
Humans are organisms– subject to the laws of nature.
The artificial environments we have built for ourselves and the machines that we created have distanced us from the natural life-support systems that are essential to our survival.
Our technology ignores the laws of nature.
Those laws of nature will inexorably catch up with
us.
I = APT
Like other large carnivores, human beings are at the top of a complex food chain.
All the organisms in an ecosystem interact to form a web of life that is self-sustaining.
http://sofia.usgs.gov/publications/fs/166-96/fig1.html
I = APT
The destruction of one of the links of the chain can have serious effects on the entire chain and on other parts of the web.
Humans have been breaking chain links without understanding the impact this might have on the whole web of life.
I = APT
Changes occur too slowly for us to recognise them
Humans are like the frog in a pan of cold water.
The pan is placed on the stove burner. As the water warms up the cold blooded animal doesn’t feel the incremental heat.
The hapless thing will stay in the pan until it boils to death.
I = APT
Growing cities, minerals, pollution
Growth of a city, with its crowding and pollution, is
imperceptible from one day to the next.
We don’t notice that the easy resources to extract are gone and only the harder-to-reach ones are
left.
Some important changes, such as mercury pollution cannot be detected by the senses and we
must trust the scientists’ instruments and knowledge.
Growing citiesGrowing cities
Poor yieldcopper ore Poor yield
copper ore
Mercury pollutionMercury pollution
I = APT
Like the frog…
However, like the frog, we fail to notice
incremental changes. Therefore the “T” part of the equation keeps
on increasing.
I = APT
It’s a complicated world and it’s difficult to obtain definitive information
We can’t prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that global warming is caused by human activities. So those who have a vested interest in the status quo have campaigned very effectively against any greenhouse gas reduction.
With regards to the oil peak, information has only recently started to reach the mainstream.
I = APT
Perhaps we have not assessed the risks adequately:
If there is a 10% chance of global warming causing sea rises that would flood coastal cities and cause hundreds of millions of people to lose their homes and workplaces, that is a huge risk.
Most scientists would bet that the odds are much greater than 10 to one.
I = APT
It’s remarkable that almost everybody lives up to their income.
Those earning $30K live in a small apartment and spend
all their salary.
Those earning $200K live in a McMansion and spend all their
salary.
I = T PA
Most people spend all they earn (and even go on
credit). Nobody ever seems to have
too much money.
Translated: People don’t seem to to be able to stop
accumulating possessions or improving their lifestyle.
I = T PA
Affluence is not just buying an SUV.
Affluence is not just buying an SUV.
It’s convenient to single out SUV owners as being the bad guys.
I = T PA
It’s being able to afford a Canadian
house or apartment.
It is being able to buy
consumer items.
It is being able to pay
for a holiday.
SUVs consume a lot, but affluence is not just buying a big vehicle.
I = T PA
The tragedy of our world is that…
…it is perfectly logical and rational for an individual to go on an expensive holiday or to buy a luxurious house if he or she can afford it.
I = T PA
We are opportunistic beings, so it doesn’t seem logical for an
individual to deprive him/herself if others
aren’t.
For more insight on this problem, read:”The Tragedy of the Commons”, Garrett Hardin
I = T PA
Nobody has come up with a solution to reducing the “A” part of the equation.
Nobody has come up with a solution
to reducing the “A” part of the equation.
Preachingpoverty
hasn’t worked
I = T PA
Our powerful reproductive instinct:
The reproductive instinct explains why:
Pubescent boys have wet dreams and romantic thoughts induce vaginal lubrication in girls.Barren women of 40 pine for a baby. Men ogle women’s buttocks. Men and women purposefully burden themselves with raising demanding children.
I = TAP
Humans are naturally divided into groups, whether based on religion, language, or race.
When there exists no natural difference, they create artificial divisions or clans.
Every one of these groups needs to increase its numbers, thereby contributing to the “P” part of the I=TAP equation.
I = TAP
Controlling population
Controlling population goes
against the reproductive instinct and against religion.
I = TAP
Very intelligent, well meaning, well-known environmentalists have been concentrating on the “A” and “T” parts of the equation to the total exclusion of the ever-growing “P” part. “The Human Element” here does not refer to
the humans that are overpopulating the Earth. It only refers to what humans can do
to reduce “A” and “T”.
I = TAP
The I = TAP formula requires that we cut back on all three factors.
But it goes against the grain for humans to voluntarily reduce ANY one of these three factors.
Harsh measures would be required to reduce our technology, to earn less money and to exercise population control.
Intellectually we know this to be true. On an emotional level we can’t bring ourselves to make any but very superficial changes.
I = TAP