Let's look at the Ehrlich IPAT formula:
I = P x A x T,
or the ecological Impact equals human Population times Affluence times the environmental pressure of Technology.
The ecological impact is too high, as can be seen with the following indicators
-the ecological footprint (which is higher than the biocapacity of the Earth)
-the water footprint (which is higher than the regewable fresh water supply for human consumption)
-the carbon footprint (which is too high and will increase the climate temperature above 2 degrees)
-the biodiversity loss (we are creating the 6th mass-extinction event in the history of the Earth)
The classical idea is to improve technology to decrease our environmental impact. However, this is not enough, as we will not be able to quickly find clean technologies that are biologically/physically realisable, economically/financially possible, ecologically sustainable and ethically responsible. So we also have to focus on the factors Population and Affluence.
Now, if we look at the affluence (or consumption), the consumption of livestock products has the biggest impact. The ecological, water and carbon footprints of American meat and dairy consumption are larger than other consumption categories. Actually, we have an overpopulation in livestock: the cattle, pigs and chickens have high footprints.
So, looking beyond the Technology factor, we have to do two things:
1) The affluence has to decrease, which means voluntary simplicity and veganism because veganism prevents the breeding of livestock animals).
2) The human population has to decrease, and the way to do this is by creating just conditions for a voluntary pregnancy limitation (considering having none or one child).
In summary: there is not only a human overpopulation (related to the P in the IPAT formula), but also a livestock overpopulation (which is related to the A in the IPAT equation).
I = P x A x T,
or the ecological Impact equals human Population times Affluence times the environmental pressure of Technology.
The ecological impact is too high, as can be seen with the following indicators
-the ecological footprint (which is higher than the biocapacity of the Earth)
-the water footprint (which is higher than the regewable fresh water supply for human consumption)
-the carbon footprint (which is too high and will increase the climate temperature above 2 degrees)
-the biodiversity loss (we are creating the 6th mass-extinction event in the history of the Earth)
The classical idea is to improve technology to decrease our environmental impact. However, this is not enough, as we will not be able to quickly find clean technologies that are biologically/physically realisable, economically/financially possible, ecologically sustainable and ethically responsible. So we also have to focus on the factors Population and Affluence.
Now, if we look at the affluence (or consumption), the consumption of livestock products has the biggest impact. The ecological, water and carbon footprints of American meat and dairy consumption are larger than other consumption categories. Actually, we have an overpopulation in livestock: the cattle, pigs and chickens have high footprints.
So, looking beyond the Technology factor, we have to do two things:
1) The affluence has to decrease, which means voluntary simplicity and veganism because veganism prevents the breeding of livestock animals).
2) The human population has to decrease, and the way to do this is by creating just conditions for a voluntary pregnancy limitation (considering having none or one child).
In summary: there is not only a human overpopulation (related to the P in the IPAT formula), but also a livestock overpopulation (which is related to the A in the IPAT equation).