Table of Contents
Preface 1
Foreword 3
Chapter 1 Population and the Human Imprint on Earth: An Introduction 10
The Earth's Ecosystem and Human Evolution 10
Sidebar: Was the Mayan Population "Collapse" Caused by Climate? 11
The Shift to Agriculture Intensifies Human Impact 13
The Twentieth Century 17
Graph: Global Population Growth Throughout History 18
Notes 19
Chapter 2 The Link Between Population Dynamics and Resources 20
Theories About the Connection Between Population and Resources 20
Population Changes: Birth and Death Rates 22
Graph: The Demographic Transition Model 23
Resource Consumption and Environmental Impact 25
Carrying Capacity 28
Sidebar: The Case for a New Human-Induced Epoch 30
Notes 30
Chapter 3 Population's Impact on Climate Change 32
Population Growth 32
Consumerism and Consumption 33
Graph: Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Consumption, 2006 34
Urbanization 37
Sidebar: The Impact of US Households on Climate Change 38
Poverty and Land Use 40
Talking About Population and Climate Change 42
Notes 43
Chapter 4 Climate Change Impacts on Population and Resources 44
Water-Related Impacts 44
Map: Areas Vulnerable to Climate-Related Water Challenges 46
The Significant Impact of Drought 49
Floods: Swift and Deadly 51
Storms and Sea-Level Rise 53
Food Sources in a Warming Climate 56
Sidebar: The "Sting" of Climate Change 56
Climate-Induced Migration 59
The Vulnerability Gulf 60
Notes 61
Chapter 5 Vulnerable Populations 62
Defining Climate Change Vulnerability 62
Sidebar: Climate Change Threatens to Leave Many People "Stateless" 64
Marginalized Groups Are Especially Vulnerable 67
Poverty and Inequality Contribute to the Vulnerability of Women 67
Hot Spots 69
Map: Hot Spots for Floods, Cyclones, and Droughts 70
Notes 75
Chapter 6 Climate Change and Conflicts 76
Fighting over Water 76
Fighting over Land 80
The Link Between Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict 81
Map: Locations at Risk of Conflict 82
Climate Change Is a Threat Multiplier 85
Sidebar: US Congressional Testimony on the Potential for Conflict in the Arctic 86
Notes 88
Chapter 7 Conclusion: Reducingthe Human Imprint on the Natural World 89
The Role of Population Policies in Mitigation 90
Graph: Unmet Need for Contraception 91
The Role of Population Policies in Adaptation 93
Empowering Women 95
Sidebar: The Sinsibere Project in Mali: Women as Environmental Stewards 96
Sustainable Development 97
Notes 98
Glossary 100
For Further Research 107
Index 114
About the Author 124
