What’s the story?

Core Unit 4- Global Patterns in Resource Consumption

Part 1- Patterns of Resource Consumption

• Spec: • Evaluate the ecological footprint as a measure

of the relationship between population size and resource consumption. Identify international variations in its size.

• Discuss the two opposing views (neo-Malthusian and anti-Malthusian) of the relationship between population size and resource consumption.

ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

KEY DEFINITIONS: see spec…

• Ecological Footprint

• Bio-capacity• Resources• Carrying Capacity

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EjyrAHzthTo

• Why might the biocapacity of a nation decrease?

• Why might the ecological footprint of a nation increase?

What’s your footprint?

• http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/GFN/page/calculators/• http://footprint.wwf.org.uk/home/calculator_complete• http://ecologicalfootprint.com/• http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/ecologicalfootprint/calculators/personal/introduction.asp• http://calculator.bioregional.com/

• Surprised ? Guilty? • How do you compare to rest of the world and the

world’s carrying capacity?• What are the global patterns (temporally and spatially)

Over to you. Is ecofoot any good?

• Criticisms..

Ecological Footprint gives an accurate indication of the link between population size and resource

consumption. Evaluate this view. (10)

H/W - Ecofoot homework