Sustainable Habitats on Earth |
Usage:
On Desktop:Hover over the number in a cell for a summary and click on the ? in the cell for full reasoning for the rating. Tablets/Phones: Click on number for a short description and click on ? for long description. |
Key to cell colours | 1: Very Detrimental | 2: Detrimental | 3: No Impact | 4: Positive Impact | 5: Very Positive Impact |
Global Warming |
World Population |
Food Security |
Water Security |
Energy Security |
Pandemics |
Pollution other than plastic |
Plastic Pollution |
Fishing |
Famines |
Wars |
Transport |
Democracy |
|
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Reduce carbon emissionsReduce carbon emissions |
? 4 Attempt to reduce CO2 and methane (produced by burning fossil fuels) as these are considered gasses that stop heat from escaping from the earth and are therefore called greenhouse gasses. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Very limited, if any, positive impact on population numbers. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 This is in conflict with food security as an increase in food production will require an increase in farming. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Water security is critical to the survival of humans, animals and plants. Shortages are already manifesting in some areas. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 All the alternative energy solutions are either unreliable, e.g. wind and solar, or dangerous e.g. nuclear energy. Updated:2022-01-06 |
? 3 No significant impact. Might cause reduced travel because of the elimination of fossil fuel powered transport (which will significantly increase transport cost). This might reduce the spread of a pandemic. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Currently most rubbish is dumped in landfill. Some rubbish is burned and very little is actually recycled. Burning produces `greenhouse gasses`. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 This is a serious problem for rivers, oceans and landfill. It is mostly caused by the manufacture of single use plastic items and the non-recycling of recyclable plastic. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Most trawlers use diesel to power them. Replacing their fuel will increase the cost as well as reduce the time they can be out on the water. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Rise in cost of living and availability of affordable food will be aggravated by the higher cost of energy, resulting in many more poorer people falling below the poverty line.
Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No impact although this could be used as an excuse to go to war against non-compliant countries. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Reduces mobility for consumers. Very lucrative for business. Might not even have any impact on climate. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 The very narrow view of the threat to a habitable earth for humans and animals seem to indicate that special interest groups make a serious dent into democracy where the governments should be from the people for the people. Updated:2021-11-25 |
Reduce PopulationReduce Population |
? 5 If climate change is caused by humans, reducing population should proportionally reduce the human impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 The elephant in the room. Reducing population will be difficult and politically unpopular. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 Reducing the population will allow food security without expansion of farming etc.
Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 A reduction in population will have a direct and proportional reduction on demand for water. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 Reduction in population will reduce energy demands which means resources will last much longer. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 4 A reduction in population should reduce the spread as it will reduce the size of city populations and the amount of travel between areas. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 A reduction in population will cause a proportionate reduction of waste. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 Although population reduction is not the only way to reduce plastic pollution, it is the option that will definitely reduce this form of litter. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 Over fishing is already part of of our lives with fishing quotas everywhere. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 5 Most famines are caused by conflicts. Fewer people will reduce the number of conflicts. A further cause is areas with more people than the resources can support. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 A reduction in population will reduce the demand for resources and so reduce the motivation to go to war. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Traffic Congestion will be reduced because there wll be fewer vehicles on the road. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Democracy has a serious negative impact on how a sustainable environment can be maintained. Updated:2021-11-25 |
Alternate Food SourcesAlternate Food Sources |
? 2 The world needs more food resulting in more deforestation and habitat destruction, so this is a bad idea. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 The only impact alternate food sources will have is to retain current population growth, which is unsustainable. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Research into Alternate Food Sources Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Some alternate food sources will have no impact, but plants, such as soya, will require additional irrigation and add to the need for more water resources. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Producing food synthetically or doing more processing on food will demand more energy. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 2 Might cause a reduction in the immune system of people or deterioration in natural strength Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 The level of pollution introduced by alternate food manufacturing is not clear at this point, so will be considered as having no impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 As with other pollution, alternate foods is assumed to have no direct impact on plastic waste. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Many oils and vitamins required for a healthy diet comes from fish. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Assuming there is enough manufacturing/farming capacity for these alternate foods, famine could be reduced. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Reduced population will require less food distribution. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 The consumer will, again, sponsor the research into alternate food sources and then pay higher prices to avoid starvation. The slogan should be `pay taxes to develop more expensive foods`. Updated:2021-11-25 |
Alternate PackagingAlternate Packaging |
? 3 Would only have an impact if less/no packaging is used. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Although no direct impact on energy security, packing will have to be changed to make the alternate foods presentable. Preservation requirements might also play a part in the packaging and storage. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 3 No Impact Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Paper and cardboard pollution are not as bio-degradable as it might seem. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Plastic pollution is everywhere. Reduction of plastic packaging for alternate material must happen as soon as possible. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 3 No Impact Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Alternate packaging can reduce the negative impact on rivers, lakes, dams and the oceans. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 Wars produce the worst kind of pollution. Much of the waste is still `live` and a threat to the population
Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Alternate packaging will require a different way of distribution. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Politicians avoid enforcing harsher packaging rules on companies as it will affect their donations. Updated:2021-11-25 |
Fishing QuotasFishing Quotas |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Fishing quotas will force more people into food insecurity, especially those communities that make their living from fishing. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 Over-fishing is a serious threat to food security. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Impacts on water habitats. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Plastic pollution, as all other pollution is proportionate to populations and equally damaging regardless of the type of pollution. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 4 Quotas is a short term solution to the depletion of fish resources. These will have to be increased as populations grow. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Short term no impact. Long term a serious threat to food security (marine life). Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Disputes over fishing quotas could easily trigger wars. Already there are disputes over fishing rights in many areas of the world. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
WarsWars |
? 4 As inhumane as it might seem, wars could have a positive impact on the environment, subject to some conditions. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 4 See the cell under global warming. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 The impact of war on food security will, to a large extent, depend on the country(s) involved in the war. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 During a war many bits of infrastructure are destroyed. This might include dams and water purification plants. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Storage of fossil fuels is much easier than electricity and therefore the use of fossil fuels provides some measure of energy security. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Wars leave very dangerous pollution behind, long after the war has ended, in the form of unexploded bombs and landmines. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Although fishing might be the cause of a war, the actual war has no impact on fishing. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 The impact of short wars and long wars vary. Long wars are more likely to cause famine. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 No Impact. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 2 No further comment. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Governments go to war, sometimes against the will of the people. Updated:2021-11-25 |
Humanitarian Aid Humanitarian Aid |
? 2 Sustains population growth. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 1 Increases over-population. Updated:2021-12-10 |
? 1 Humanitarian Aid seriously affects the food security of the receiving country. This aid can be cut at any time and unless the dependency is overcome, will lead to famine. Updated:2021-12-10 |
? 1 Aid removes the immediate need to build dams and repair purification plants as bottled water will be delivered. This is high risk as the aid can be stopped at any time. Updated:2021-11-25 |
? 3 Most humanitarian aid is targeted at food, water and medical supplies. Updated:2022-01-07 |
? 2 Humanitarian Aid ends up with lots of people in crowded camps making it very easy for disease to spread. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 1 Seeing the pictures on TV shows the disgusting state of the humanitarian aid camps. It seems that the people living in them do not even attempt to create a decent environment. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 1 Aid agencies deliver water and food in plastic containers contributing to the polution in these camps. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 2 The destruction of local lifestyle by massive trawlers. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 2 Evaluating the benefit of humanitarian aid for a region Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 2 See previous column. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 3 No direct Impact. Updated:2021-12-21 |
? 1 Only groups that conform to suitable ideologies gets aid. Updated:2021-12-21 |
Migration Migration |
? 2 Migrants typically end up in cities in their target country, increasing the thermal pressure in those cities. If glocal warming is caused by human activity, then this activity will add to those human activities. Updated:2022-01-06 |
? 2 Migration causes big problems for country populations, especially asylum seekers. It causes increased populations in developed countries and loss of population in developing countries. Updated:2022-01-06 |
Copyright © 2021 Gerhardus SmithLast updated 7th January 2022 |