Interconnectedness of World Problems

1
Interconnectedness of
World Problems
A Conceptual Map

by
Fritjof Capra Based on Plan B 3.0, by
Lester Brown
2
linear thinking
web of life
UNLIMITED GROWTH
FINITE PLANET
nonlinear patterns
materialism, greed
ecological cycles
illusion
Corporate Growth
Population Growth
Economic Growth
failure to include social envir. costs
massive market failure
free trade rules
lack of family planning
information technology
demographic pressure
throw-away economy
Global Capitalism
financial networks
excessive consumption
no ethics
illiteracy
social inequality
social exclusion
energy and resource intensive
waste
Fossil Fuels
pollution
Poverty
health challenges
massive carbon release
HIV epidemic
Climate Change
Depletion of Resources
Peak Oil
heat waves
floods
droughts
forest fires
declining rainfall
regional internat. conflicts
storms
overfishing
deforestation
increase of energy costs
overgrazing
crop withering
Rising Temperatures
habitat destruction
Collapsing Fisheries
economic devastation
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
polar ice glaciers
melting of ice
impact on oil intensive industries
Water Scarcity
Species Extinction
dust storms
advancing deserts
falling water tables
rising seas
damage to coral reefs
lakes disappearing
shrinking grain harvest
degradation of land
airlines automobiles
diversion of grain to biofuel
rivers running dry
habitat alterations
industrial agriculture
Impact on irrigation by large rivers
Threats to Food Security
Impact on Ecosystem Services
water purification pollination flood
control, etc.
Rise of Food Prices
Climate Refugees
Famine
Failing States
chaos in world grain markets
food riots
tears in the fabric of the web of life
disintegration of law and order
loss of personal security
terrorism
civil conflict
POTENTIAL UNRAVELING OF CIVILIZATION
3
The Fundamental Dilemma
linear thinking
web of life
FINITE PLANET
UNLIMITED GROWTH
nonlinear patterns
materialism, greed
ecological cycles
4
Three Kinds of Growth
linear thinking
web of life
UNLIMITED GROWTH
FINITE PLANET
nonlinear patterns
materialism, greed
ecological cycles
illusion
Corporate Growth
Population Growth
Economic Growth
failure to include social envir. costs
massive market failure
5
Global Capitalism
linear thinking
web of life
UNLIMITED GROWTH
FINITE PLANET
nonlinear patterns
materialism, greed
ecological cycles
illusion
Corporate Growth
Population Growth
Economic Growth
failure to include social envir. costs
free trade rules
massive market failure
lack of family planning
information technology
demographic pressure
throw-away economy
Global Capitalism
financial networks
excessive consumption
no ethics
illiteracy
social inequality
energy and resource intensive
social exclusion
waste
pollution
Poverty
health challenges
HIV epidemic
Depletion of Resources
6
Population Growth and Poverty
web of life
UNLIMITED GROWTH
FINITE PLANET
nonlinear patterns
ecological cycles
illusion
Population Growth
Economic Growth
failure to include social envir. costs
massive market failure
lack of family planning
information technology
demographic pressure
Global Capitalism
financial networks
no ethics
illiteracy
social inequality
social exclusion
Poverty
health challenges
HIV epidemic
Depletion of Resources
7
Depletion of Resources
Depletion of Resources
regional internat. conflicts
deforestation
overfishing
overgrazing
habitat destruction
Collapsing Fisheries
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
Species Extinction
Water Scarcity
dust storms
advancing deserts
damage to coral reefs
lakes disappearing
falling water tables
degradation of land
rivers running dry
water purification pollination flood control,
etc.
Impact on Ecosystem Services
8
Global Climate Change
Fossil Fuels
massive carbon release
Climate Change
Depletion of Resources
heat waves
floods
droughts
forest fires
declining rainfall
regional internat. conflicts
storms
overfishing
deforestation
overgrazing
crop withering
Rising Temperatures
habitat destruction
Collapsing Fisheries
economic devastation
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
polar ice glaciers
melting of ice
Water Scarcity
rising seas
shrinking grain harvest
habitat alterations
Impact on irrigation by large rivers
Climate Refugees
9
Global Climate Change
massive carbon release
Climate Change
heat waves
floods
droughts
forest fires
declining rainfall
regional internat. conflicts
storms
deforestation
overgrazing
crop withering
Rising Temperatures
habitat destruction
economic devastation
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
polar ice glaciers
melting of ice
Water Scarcity
Species Extinction
dust storms
advancing deserts
falling water tables
rising seas
damage to coral reefs
lakes disappearing
shrinking grain harvest
degradation of land
rivers running dry
habitat alterations
Impact on irrigation by large rivers
Threats to Food Security
Impact on Ecosystem Services
water purification pollination flood
control, etc.
Climate Refugees
10
Peak Oil
Fossil Fuels
Peak Oil
increase of energy costs
impact on oil intensive industries
diversion of grain to biofuel
airlines automobiles
industrial agriculture
Rise of Food Prices
food riots
chaos in world grain markets
11
Threats to Food Security
Fossil Fuels
massive carbon release
Climate Change
Depletion of Resources
heat waves
floods
droughts
forest fires
declining rainfall
regional internat. conflicts
storms
overfishing
deforestation
overgrazing
crop withering
Rising Temperatures
habitat destruction
Collapsing Fisheries
economic devastation
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
polar ice glaciers
melting of ice
Water Scarcity
Species Extinction
dust storms
advancing deserts
falling water tables
rising seas
damage to coral reefs
lakes disappearing
shrinking grain harvest
degradation of land
rivers running dry
habitat alterations
Impact on irrigation by large rivers
Threats to Food Security
Impact on Ecosystem Services
water purification pollination flood
control, etc.
Rise of Food Prices
12
Failing States
Threats to Food Security
Impact on Ecosystem Services
water purification pollination flood control,
etc.
Climate Refugees
Famine
Failing States
tears in the fabric of the web of life
disintegration of law and order
loss of personal security
terrorism
civil conflict
POTENTIAL UNRAVELING OF CIVILIZATION
13
linear thinking
web of life
UNLIMITED GROWTH
FINITE PLANET
nonlinear patterns
materialism, greed
ecological cycles
illusion
Corporate Growth
Population Growth
Economic Growth
failure to include social envir. costs
massive market failure
free trade rules
lack of family planning
information technology
demographic pressure
throw-away economy
Global Capitalism
financial networks
excessive consumption
no ethics
illiteracy
social inequality
social exclusion
energy and resource intensive
waste
Fossil Fuels
pollution
Poverty
health challenges
massive carbon release
HIV epidemic
Climate Change
Depletion of Resources
Peak Oil
heat waves
floods
droughts
forest fires
declining rainfall
regional internat. conflicts
storms
overfishing
deforestation
increase of energy costs
overgrazing
crop withering
Rising Temperatures
habitat destruction
Collapsing Fisheries
economic devastation
farmers vs. cities
Soil Erosion
polar ice glaciers
melting of ice
impact on oil intensive industries
Water Scarcity
Species Extinction
dust storms
advancing deserts
falling water tables
rising seas
damage to coral reefs
lakes disappearing
shrinking grain harvest
degradation of land
airlines automobiles
diversion of grain to biofuel
rivers running dry
habitat alterations
industrial agriculture
Impact on irrigation by large rivers
Threats to Food Security
Impact on Ecosystem Services
water purification pollination flood
control, etc.
Rise of Food Prices
Climate Refugees
Famine
Failing States
chaos in world grain markets
food riots
tears in the fabric of the web of life
disintegration of law and order
loss of personal security
terrorism
civil conflict
POTENTIAL UNRAVELING OF CIVILIZATION