Environmental Impact Decomposition

This lecture delves into the IPAT identity, which relates environmental impact to population size, economic activity, and technology. Through examples, the instructor explains how changes in these components can affect environmental impacts over time and across regions. The lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding the composition effect, where shifts in economic sectors can lead to changes in environmental footprints. Additionally, the instructor introduces the concept of IPAT decomposition as a tool to analyze and interpret environmental impacts, preparing students for future projects centered around studying the IPAT framework and its applications in environmental analysis.