Clarifying the driving forces behind our ecological crisis: a general model

Abstract

In order to solve our ecological crisis, it is crucial to have a fair understanding of its background. In this article I integrate the most important driving forces of human transformation of the biosphere into a general model. First, I show that it is the economic subsystem of society that produces nearly all human transformation of the biosphere. Then I differentiate between direct driving forces, which are the number of people/households, the economic output per capita/per household, the environmental impact of technologies, the structure of the economy and the geographical pattern of the economy; and indirect ones, which are the mind of people, social institutions, biological factors and physical geographical features. The behavior of individuals, groups of people and organizations mediates between indirect and direct driving forces. The model also shows us the basic strategies of environmental sustainability. Cultural changes are needed to attenuate the direct driving forces. In turn, these changes will happen only if those desiring them will have enough power to reshape social institutions and the mind of people.