IB Geography Topic 3.1.2 Measuring Resource…

Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

Imagine if everyone on Earth lived like the average person in a High-Income Country. How many planets would we need to sustain that lifestyle?

The answer: over four Earths.

This stark reality is measured by the ecological footprint, a tool that helps us understand the environmental impact of human activity.

What is the Ecological Footprint?

Definition

Ecological Footprint

The ecological footprint is a theoretical measurement of the amount of land and water a population (or an individual) requires to fulfill all resource needs and to absorb its waste, under prevailing technology. It is measured in global hectares (gha).

The ecological footprint developed in 1992 is a theoretical measurement - it is an estimate of resource consumption.

The ecological footprint methodology is also used to calculate biocapacity - biological productive capacity.

The Earth’s biocapacity is estimated at 1.7 hectares per person - this value corresponds with the idea of a sustainable ecological footprint.

The current average ecological footprint per person worldwide is 2.7 hectare.

It varies from over 10 (Qatar) and range around 7-8 (UAE, Denmark, Belgium, Singapore, USA) to less than 1 (Ethiopia, Haiti, Afghanistan, Pakistan and other LDCs).

Note

The ecological footprint highlights the balance between resource consumption and Earth’s regenerative capacity.
The map below shows countries in red with ecological deficit (ecological footprint higher than biocapacity) and countries in green with ecological reserve (ecological footprint lower than biocapacity).

Tip

You can calculate your individual ecological footprint: https://www.footprintcalculator.org/home/en

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Definition

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(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

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Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
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IB Geography 3.1.2 Measuring Resource Consumption Notes

IB Geography 3.1.2 Measuring Resource Consumption Notes

Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

What is the Ecological Footprint?

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Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

What is the Ecological Footprint?

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IB Geography 3.1.2 Measuring Resource Consumption Notes

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

IB Geography 3.1.2 Measuring Resource Consumption Notes

1 Changing Population3 subtopics

2 Global Climate - Vulnerability and Resilience3 subtopics

3 Global Resource Consumption and Security3 subtopics

4 Power, Places and Networks (HL only)3 subtopics

5 Human Development and Diversity (HL only)3 subtopics

6 Global Risks and Resilience (HL only)3 subtopics

Option A Freshwater - Drainage Basins4 subtopics

Option B Oceans and Coastal Margins4 subtopics

Option C Extreme Environments4 subtopics

Option D Geophysical Hazards4 subtopics

Option E Leisure, Tourism and Sport4 subtopics

Option F The Geography of Food and Health4 subtopics

Option G Urban Environments5 subtopics

Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

What is the Ecological Footprint?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

What is the Ecological Footprint?

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

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