The human population contributes to global change in part through increasing the emission of greenhouse gases. This increase is partially a function of the growth in size and productivity of the human population. Population size and productivity are intricately intertwined through both technologies and social organization. The workshop focused on how to reconcile the growing awareness of the ecological threats posed by modern agriculture and a growing human population with the benefits of the industrial revolution and modern agriculture and considered the potential willingness and mobilization of the world community to address related threats. Among specific topics discussed were: human alteration of biogeochemical cycles by human activity on a global scale (sulfur, nitrogen, carbon), and strategies for sustained development.
keywords: human population, development, environment, biogeochemical cycles
Overview & Relevance:
The human population contributes to global changein part through enhancing the emission of greenhouse gases. The enhancement is a funtion of the growth in numbers and productivity of the humna population. Numbers and productivity are intricately interwined through the technology and social organization humans create. over the past two or three centuries, the human poopulation has developed unprecedented new technologies that have permitted an exponential growth in both numbers and productivity. This represents a great success of the species in expanding its niche in the world ecosystem. But it also threatens the continued survival of the species and the health of the entire ecosystem. There is today a growing awareness of the threat human sussesses pose, and a mobilization of the world community to address that threat and to attempt to develop strategies for sustained development.
Content:
This workshop was concerned with linkages between population dynamics and biogeochemical cycles. The three main themes covered were
* Greenhouse gases: what we know about anthropogenic emissions. Six major trace gases were addressed: carbon monoxide, carbon diozide, mehtane, nitrous oxide, and two CFCs.
* Impacts of enhanced emissions: what we know about the impact on cliamte, terrestrial and aquatic systems.
* Reactions: adaptation and mitigation
The attendee list and participant profiles are regularly updated. For information on participant affiliation at the time of workshop, please refer to the historical roster. If you are aware of updates needed to participant or workshop records, please notify AGCI’s workshops team.
Event Co-Chair