Human Impacts

Humans are consuming more and more of the natural resources provided by the biosphere. As both population growth and per capita consumption increase, this stress can only be expected to continue its unchecked growth into the future. Different populations around the world are dealing with these environmental pressures in varying ways from implementing so-called green policies to doing nothing at all. The future of the biosphere will be determined by the decisions of today’s policy makers.

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Built-Up Land

Description: The percentage of each gridcell containing built-up land.

Source: Miteva, Billie (2001)

Categories: human impacts, land use

Infant Mortality Rate

Description: Number of deaths of children under one year of age per thousand live-births during a period of time.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Life Expectancy

Description: The average number of years that a newborn child could expect to live, subject to the nation’s health and environmental conditions during the given period.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Literacy Rate

Description: The percentage of the adult population that is literate.
Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Per Capita Oil Usage

Description: The average amount of oil used by an individual in a country during a given year.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Population (1995)

Description: The total population in each gridcell.

Source: CIESIN Gridded Population of the World (2000)

Category: human impacts

Population Density (1995)

Description: The total population of a country divided by its total land area.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Population Doubling Time

Description: The time it would take a given population to double its current size.

Source: Population Reference Bureau (2000)

Category: human impacts

Population Growth Rate

Description: The population growth rate measures how fast the size of the population is changing as a percentage per year.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts

Population Under Age 15

Description: The percentage of the population that is under 15 years of age.

Source: Newsweek Education Program (2000)

Category: human impacts