Post on 12-Jan-2016
Carrying Capacity Definition
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1
Ecological footprint
• The idea can be applied to any item, person or activity
• The footprint is the total area required to sustainably supply all the energy and resources needed, and to absorb all the waste produced by the item, person or activity
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2
Ecological capacity and footprint
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US ecological footprint is 9.5 ha/person
Ecological reserve is -4.4 ha/person
(Global Footprint Network 2008)
3
How developed countries live beyond their means
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“ghost acres” – taking from others
“fossil acres”taking from
the past (ancient sunlight)
“draw down”taking from the future
4
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= x x
= technology x affluence x population
Environmental impact
EnvironmentalImpact
5
Global inequality is growing
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.
6
Inequality of energy use
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1 USA = 2 EU
= 13 Chinese
7
Fair shares
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Is an unequal world sustainable?
If not, whose way of life needs to change?
8
Contraction and Convergence
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9
A part of the solution?
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10.
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A diagram of everything
Water
Short use then throw
away
Massive inequalities
Fish
Minerals
Oil and gas
Inputs Outputs
Land
Rubbish in landfill
Soil
Chemicals
Gases
Radioactive waste
Forest
Food
Industrial growth system
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11.
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Resource issues
Water
Fish
Minerals
Oil and gas
Inputs
Land
Soil
Forest
Food
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12
System issues
Water
short use then throw
away
massive inequalities
Fish
Minerals
Oil and gas
Land
Soil
Forest
Food
Industrial growth system
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13
Output issues (“waste”)
Water
short use then throw
away
massive inequalities
Fish
Minerals
Oil and gas
Outputs
Land
Rubbish in landfill
Soil
Chemicals
Gases
Radioactive waste
Forest
Food
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14
The solution: closing the loops
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