Frederick, There appears to be a problem in the second paragraph of your post in the roundtable you linked to. You write, "Global per-capita carbon emissions from fossil fuel have remained nearly constant for almost 40 years (currently about 1.2 metric tons [mt] of carbon per person). Therefore, as global population increases in 2008 by a projected 77 million people, we'll see an increase of about 92 million mt of emissions." However, as far as I know, most of the population growth has not occurred in the same places as growth in emissions. That is, the near-constancy of per capita CO2 emissions is coincidental -- not a result of population growth driving emissions. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn from this data alone about the effects of future population growth on emissions.
Jane Shevtsov On Jan 21, 2008 9:55 AM, Frederick Meyerson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Nadine, Gregg, et al. - if you're interested in the population growth > part > of the economic/environment equation, take a look at the ongoing > roundtable > debate among me, the ex-head of the UN Population Division, and three > other > scientists on the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on-line journal: > > http://www.thebulletin.org/roundtable/population-climate-change/ > > Best - Fred Meyerson > > -- > Frederick A. B. Meyerson, Ph.D., J.D. > The University of Rhode Island > The Coastal Institute at Kingston > Department of Natural Resources Science > 1 Greenhouse Road, Room #109 > Kingston, RI 02881 > Tel: 401-874-4580 > Fax: 401-874-4561 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.nrs.uri.edu/Fred_Meyerson.fmeyerson.0.html > > On Jan 18, 2008 6:16 AM, Greg Davies <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Any statement on economic growth should EXPLICITLY refer to human > > population and population growth in the SAME statement. > > > > FAILURE to mention the problem of human population growth as THE driver > > of economic growth (as witnessed in the prolix, potential E.S.A. policy > > statement circulated on this list the other day) will render the > > statement otiose and near-useless. > > > > Your message itself reads somewhat like insipid bureaucratic waffle. > > Surely, from fundamental ecological canons, the premise of exponential, > > infinite (economic) growth against a base of finite resources is simply > > impossible? What more scientifically and ecologically can there be left > > to cogitate over in your multifarious committees? > > > > Can an outsider (i.e. non-ESA member) and amateur ecologist (i.e. > > non-professional) such as myself possibly divine in your email that the > > real reasons for E.S.A. foot-dragging on this important issue are > > actually more of a political and sociological flavour, and the wish to > > avoid "controversy"? > > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Ecological Society of America: grants, jobs, news > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nadine Lymn > > Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2008 4:02 PM > > To: [email protected] > > Subject: Re ESA and Economic Growth Statement > > > > Dear Ecologers, > > > > There have been several postings over the last months urging the > > Ecological Society of America to consider issuing a position statement > > on economic growth. In addition, a group of ecologists submitted a > > request to the Governing Board in August, followed by additional letters > > of interest supporting such a statement. > > > > The ESA Governing Board is taking this interest seriously and has asked > > the Society's Public Affairs Committee to oversee the development of a > > position statement for its consideration and review. > > > > This process is underway and there will be an opportunity for interested > > members to offer feedback to the proposed statement. In addition, the > > Public Affairs Office has been collecting the many letters that have > > already come in offering views on this topic. > > > > As with all the Society's position statements, ESA takes very seriously > > the task of producing documents that are carefully reviewed and > > appropriately reflect the underlying science and the Ecological Society > > of America. We will notify this list when a draft is available for > > comment and appreciate the interest in this topic. > > > > Nadine Lymn > > ESA Director of Public Affairs > > > > > > -- > Frederick A. B. Meyerson, Ph.D., J.D. > The University of Rhode Island > The Coastal Institute at Kingston > Department of Natural Resources Science > 1 Greenhouse Road, Room #109 > Kingston, RI 02881 > Tel: 401-874-4580 > Fax: 401-874-4561 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.nrs.uri.edu/Fred_Meyerson.fmeyerson.0.html >
