1.Critically evaluate the IPAT equation. Does it present a comprehensive picture
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Question
1.Critically evaluate the IPAT equation. Does it present a comprehensive picture of the factors that could increase or decrease our environmental impact? Are there important factors that are overlooked?
2.Aligica (page 79) says "One thus could see a sharp shift in values from one attitude – human centered – to another – nature centered." Do you support a human centered view or a nature centered view (as conceptualized in this article)? Why?
The article is from this link: http://mercatus.org/uploadedFiles/Mercatus/Publications/JULIAN_AND_THE_LIMITS_TO_GROWTH_NEO-MALTHUSIANISM.pdf
Explanation / Answer
The IPAT equation assumes that environmental impact is equivalent to the product of Population, Affluence and Technology. In this regard it is essential to understand that IPAT was one of the earliest attempts to emphasise the role of multiple factors on environmental impact, which act in collaboration. Though it was a good attempt to identify the impact of Population and other factors however it has certain limitations as the contributing factors always do not have a compounding effect, there are other factors in play which effect environmental impact. However the model suffers as it assumes the response of Population and Affluence is always the same irrespective of social and behavioural factors. It has also been observed that apart from Population, it's growrh rate, distribution and composition are equally important factors. Likewise technology should be assessed in terms of social and cultural structure.
I do support the human centered view because the human response to natural resources keeps on evolving with time and with growing technical advances will result in efficient consumption, recycling and development of newer resources. A very relevant example is coal which was considered essential upto recent past but is now very much replaced by gas. Similarly the human knowledge and resource utilisation will keep on evolving with time.
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