Ground Truth Studies Teacher Handbook - Aspen Global Change ...

A Global Change Primer (continued)
ring in the developing countries, home to 78% of the world’s population, where local life-support systems are often
deteriorating as human demands exceed the capacity of available resources.
Earth’s human population is expected to double again, topping ten billion in the next 50 years or so. Each human has
energy and resource requirements that affect the Earth system. When these effects are taken in total the result is global
change. Finding a sustainable path is a challenge today and a necessity in the coming century. Better understanding of
population-environment dynamics is a critical area of global change research and one that unites the social and natural
sciences.
Non-Human Influences
Were it not enough that human beings are causing significant change in Earth’s systems, consider the fact that there are a
multitude of non-human disturbances occurring as well. Variations in solar radiation, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes,
meteor impacts, and other such planetary traumas can certainly throw a wrench into our “planetary management” efforts.
As discussed, Mt. Pinatubo is a recent example that reminds us of the importance of change to the Earth system from
natural causes. Though such events are completely out of our control, we must respond to their impacts nonetheless. The
better we understand these phenomena, the better equipped we will be to prepare for and manage their effects.
The Challenge Ahead
As evidenced by major extinction events and the fossil record, extinction and the evolution of species is a process that
marches forward with or without our influence. Fortunately many of the global changes discussed here are becoming
better understood. With this knowledge comes the ability to make wiser choices and a better view of where we are
heading. It seems especially important at this juncture for young people to learn about Earth systems and global change
as a necessary step in building the capacity to care for generations to come.
30
© ASPEN GLOBAL CHANGE INSTITUTE 1995 GROUND TRUTH STUDIES