The Optimal Global Population from a Climate and Social Justice Perspective
Slow Violence and Sacrifice Zones
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47611/jsrhs.v13i3.7828Keywords:
Slow Violence, Sacrifice Zones, Environmental Justice, Optimal Global Population, Climate Justice, IPAT, Global Population, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Environmental Externalities, Tragedy of the Commons, Sustainable Population, Capitalism, Rob Nixon, Population Overshoot, Aisha Dasgupta, Partha Dasgupta, Benoit Cushman-RoisinAbstract
This paper examines the concept of the optimal global population from a climate justice perspective, arguing that it is one where negative environmental externalities are minimized to prevent any individual from experiencing "slow violence" and living in "sacrifice zones." In doing so, this paper critiques the sustainability of the current global population by highlighting the detrimental effects of capitalism's infinite growth paradigm, which exacerbates environmental degradation and social inequalities. Synthesizing Aisha and Partha Dasgupta’s studies and Benoit Cushman-Roisin's trifurcated IPAT equation, this paper uses the theoretical number of 1.8 billion as the optimal global population to demonstrate how a sustainable global population is achievable not solely by reducing population size but also by transforming consumption patterns and technological impacts, particularly in wealthy and rapidly developing nations. Ultimately, this paper declares that the optimal global population is one in which no one’s rights are being violated as outlined by the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
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Endnotes:
Juskus, R. (2023). Sacrifice zones: A genealogy and analysis of an environmental
justice concept. Duke University Press, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1215/
-10216129
United Nations. (n.d.). Universal declaration of human rights. UN. Retrieved
June 27, 2024, from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/
Universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Dasgupta, A., & Dasgupta, P. (2022). Population overshoot. Oxford Academic.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190907686.013.5
Cushman-Roisin, B. (n.d.). IPAT and the master equation for the estimation of
total environmental impact. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from
https://cushman.host.dartmouth.edu/courses/engs171/older/MasterEqn.pdf
Guerrero, D. G. (2018). The limits of capitalist solutions to the climate
crisis. In V. Satgar (Author), The climate crisis: South african and global
democratic eco-socialist alternatives (pp. 30-46). Wits University Press.
https://doi.org/10.18772/22018020541.7
Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162(3859), 1243-1248. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3859.1243
Libecap, G. (2013). Addressing global environmental externalities: Transaction
costs considerations. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/
3386/w19501
Same as note 1
Same as note 7
Same as note 1
Ibid.
Nixon, R. (2011). Slow violence and the environmentalism of the poor. Harvard
University Press. pg 2. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt2jbsgw
Same as note 1
Yeung, P. (2019, May 29). The toxic effects of electronic waste in accra, ghana.
Bloomberg. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/
articles/2019-05-29/the-rich-world-s-electronic-waste-dumped-in-ghana
Ibid.
Same as note 1
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Same as note 3
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Dasgupta, A., & Dasgupta, P. (2017). Socially embedded preferences,
environmental externalities, and reproductive rights: Socially embedded
preferences. Wiley Online Library, 43(3), 405-441. https://doi.org/10.1111/
Padr.12090
Same as note 3
Layard, R. (2011). Happiness: Lessons from a new science (6th ed., Vol. 84).
Penguin Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/20031793
Same as note 3
Ehrlich, P., & Holden, J. (1971, March 26). Impact of population growth.
Science, 171, 1212-1217. https://doi.org/10.1126/
Science.171.3977.1212
Ibid.
Same as note 4
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Same as note 2
Same as note 4
Ibid.
Same as note 1
References:
Cushman-Roisin, B. (n.d.). IPAT and the master equation for the estimation of
total environmental impact. Retrieved June 28, 2024, from
https://cushman.host.dartmouth.edu/courses/engs171/older/MasterEqn.pdf
Dasgupta, A., & Dasgupta, P. (2022). Population overshoot. Oxford Academic.
https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780190907686.013.5
Dasgupta, A., & Dasgupta, P. (2017). Socially embedded preferences,
environmental externalities, and reproductive rights: Socially embedded
preferences. Wiley Online Library, 43(3), 405-441. https://doi.org/10.1111/
Padr.12090
Ehrlich, P., & Holden, J. (1971, March 26). Impact of population growth.
Science, 171, 1212-1217. https://doi.org/10.1126/
Science.171.3977.1212
Guerrero, D. G. (2018). The limits of capitalist solutions to the climate
crisis. In V. Satgar (Author), The climate crisis: South african and global
democratic eco-socialist alternatives (pp. 30-46). Wits University Press.
https://doi.org/10.18772/22018020541.7
Hardin, G. (1968). The tragedy of the commons. Science, 162(3859), 1243-1248. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.162.3859.1243
Juskus, R. (2023). Sacrifice zones: A genealogy and analysis of an environmental
justice concept. Duke University Press, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1215/
-10216129
Layard, R. (2011). Happiness: Lessons from A new science (6th ed., Vol. 84).
Penguin Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/20031793
Libecap, G. (2013). Addressing global environmental externalities: Transaction
costs considerations. National Bureau of Economic Research. https://doi.org/
3386/w19501
Nixon, R. (2011). Slow violence and the environmentalism of the poor. Harvard
University Press. pg 2. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctt2jbsgw
United Nations. (n.d.). Universal declaration of human rights. UN. Retrieved
June 27, 2024, from https://www.un.org/en/about-us/
Universal-declaration-of-human-rights
Yeung, P. (2019, May 29). The toxic effects of electronic waste in accra, ghana.
Bloomberg. Retrieved June 27, 2024, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/
articles/2019-05-29/the-rich-world-s-electronic-waste-dumped-in-ghana
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