3.1.2 Measuring Resource Consumption Notes

Tracking Ecological Impacts of Human Activity

1. 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?
2. The answer: over four Earths.
3. 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?

1. The ecological footprint developed in 1992 is a theoretical measurement - it is an estimate of resource consumption.
2. The ecological footprint methodology is also used to calculate biocapacity - biological productive capacity.
3. The Earth’s biocapacity is estimated at 1.7 hectares per person - this value corresponds with the idea of a sustainable ecological footprint.
4. The current average ecological footprint per person worldwide is 2.7 hectare.
5. 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).

Disparities in Resource Consumption

High-Income Countries (HICs) Typically Have Larger Ecological Footprints Due to:

1. Higher Consumption: More disposable income leads to greater demand for energy, goods, and services.
2. Energy Use: Greater mobility and high quality of life combined with reliance on fossil fuels for transportation, heating, and industry.
3. Wasteful Practices: Higher levels of waste and pollution, often with less emphasis on recycling.

Trends in Resource Consumption

1. As the global population grows and economies develop, the demand for resources like energy, water, and food is increasing.