There are several shortcomings or flaws of the IPAT formula. This is completely fine as these problems are useful for further understanding human-impact on the environment.

First, affluence and higher levels of technology can provide a higher capability to spend resources and money on counteracting or lessening human-impact measures. For example, high-income countries can set aside large amounts of land for scenic parks, like Yellowstone in the United States. Further, they can also protect endangered species of wildlife by setting aside areas for preservation or conservation. It is much more challenging to set aside large amounts of land for conservation in lower-income countries often plagued with overpopulation, higher population density, and relying heavily upon land-intensive, primary sector jobs.

Affluent countries and regions can also develop sophisticated devices and technologies to monitor environmental change. For example, research in Geography using computer mapping (GIS) identified certain industrial toxic waste sites causing higher rates of cancer among residents living nearby. These toxic sites of old, abandoned factories were then cleaned-up. In the image below, a huge solar panel park captures renewable energy from the sun, providing another example of how affluence and technology can lead to solutions to lower our environmental impact.

Below is a solar panel park/plant located in the American Southwest, which happens to be the area of the country that receives the highest number of sunny days each year. This is a great example of local solutions to lowering environmental impact, which is also true for windmill farms in areas that receive constant, high winds.
SOLAR PARK IMAGE

Second, the IPAT formula doesn’t necessarily account for the role of individual economic or government policymakers. The IPAT formula focused on different groupings of populations, like “low-income countries” or “wealthy, developed places” but not individuals, who often also play a key role in human-impact on the environment. CEOs of Multinational Corporations, leaders of government, and influential, wealthy people all have considerable clout in all aspects of our lives, including environmental issues as they are the key decision makers.

An example of an individual playing a key role in environmental degradation is Saddam Hussein. He was the former leader of Iraq, which is located in Mesopotamia, which is one of the earliest large settlements of humans. Although the Middle East is quite dry, two rivers (Tigris and Euphrates) are crucial for providing a key source of fresh water.

Saddam was angry at certain tribes and groups living in a marshy area along the rivers, so he essentially drained the area of much of the surface water by re-directing the river flow via dikes, channels, and irrigation. Aerial photographs from NASA satellites clearly show the evolution of this area going from lush, green vegetation to becoming a dried out, brown landscape. Soon after the end of Saddam’s rule and United States military intervention, the marshy area was returned to its previous condition.

Third, culture, or “one’s way of life” is another human-driving force not necessarily included in the IPAT formula. In other words, our friends and family are important influencers in our lives that have shaped who we are, how we act or behave, and what is important to us.

For example, in the winter, when you feel cold in your home, do you put on a sweater or turn up the thermostat/heat? Obviously one of these options uses more resources than the other, but your response is likely a result of how you have grown up over time.

Do you eat with disposable plates, cups, and plastic utensils each night? When I grew up, every night’s family dinner would include a nice, brand new red, plastic cup for each of us. This was all I knew growing up, so when I went away to college, what would I buy each week at the grocery? A bag of red, plastic cups.

By using disposable plastic cups, my impact on the environment increased, but I didn’t know any better since this was how I was raised. Of course, now I rarely drink out of a plastic, disposable cup since I’m aware of the resources used or depleted in order to make that cup. As I now start a family, I’m going to emphasize to my children the importance of being conscious and aware of their impact on the environment as I become a key influencer in their “way of life” and how they are socialized.

Beer pong, anyone? Where do the materials for these cups originate? Petroleum (oil), a non-renewable resource.
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As these shortcomings have revealed, the role of individual decisions along with one’s culture is also important to consider in regards to human-impact on the environment. With this in mind, you'll apply these concepts in Assignment 3, which looks at your ecological footprint, a measure of the amount of area needed to support a particular population or individual’s lifestyle.

The map below is a proportional symbol map of ecological footprints across the world. Countries and regions with the highest ecological footprints are blown-up whereas countries with low ecological footprints are shrunk. The countries with the highest ecological footprints are often well-developed, high-income countries, whereas low-income and lesser developed countries are more likely to have lower footprints.
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