9/30/13 4th

Bellringer: Vocab

Vocab Homework Due Thursday

Carrying Capacity & EcofootprintDISCUSSION & NOTES

VOCAB

Pick one of these vocabulary terms and Try and explain what it means in your own words

Carrying CapacitySustainabilityEcological Footprint

Carrying Capacity and the Ecological Footprint

Carrying Capacity

The maximum population an area can support without reducing future sustainability

Chicago CTA as an example

Early Sunday MorningThe train is well below C.C. (empty seats, lots of space)

Addison Redline Stop when the Cubs game endsThe train is above C.C. (overuse, crowding, not sustainable)

Monday Rush HourThe train is at C.C. (all resources are filled, no empty space)

Carrying Capacity

Carrying Capacity

Is a function of both of the area and the individual

Area = How beneficial is the land?

Individual= How much land does the particular individual need?

Area Differences

A

B

B

Individual Differences - Typical Americans

Individual Differences – Typical Ecuadorians

Carrying Capacity Complications

1) Resources are always changing2) Human needs are always increasing

Human Resource Needs…

If you needed a pair of shoes 1,000 years ago, what was the process that the shoes were made and sent to the consumer?

Human Resource Needs…

If you need shoes today, what is the process that the shoes are made and sent to the consumer?

Ecological Footprint

A measure of how much resources are needed for a person to live their current lifestyle.

What is an EcoFootprint?

The Concept

Ecological Footprint

Depending on the type of country you live in, your ecological footprint will vary greatly!

The Yadev Family - INDIA

The Natomo Family - MALI

The Ukita Family - JAPAN

The Skeen Family - USA

Common Misconception

A bus uses more gasoline than a car. However, a person who rides the bus has a smaller ecofootprint than someone who drives a car.

Explain how this is possible.

Common Misconception II

Using the same logic…

Who has a larger ecofootprint, someone who lives in a HUGE apartment complex with 100 units or somebody who lives in a SMALL single family house?

Ecological Footprint

How much land is available per person?

There is 33 billion acres of arable land on earthThere are 7.1 billion people

How do we find acres per person?

33 billion acres / 7.1 people = 4.7 acres per person

Ecological Footprint

4.7 acres per person is available on earth

The AVERAGE person uses 5.6 acres of land to support their lifestyle.

Is this sustainable?

NO!We are using 23% MORE than what is available

Who’s at fault for the overuse?

Average person uses 5.6 acres (If it was 4.7 we would be sustainable)

Average person in INDIA = 2.2 acres

Average person in USA = 24 acres

Who uses more resources one billion Indians or 300 million Americans?

9/30/13

Bellringer: Ecofootprint Predictions

Permission Slip (5th)Pass out Vocab Homework (Due Thursday)Ecofootprint Equations

Go to #205 to start Ecofootprint Activity

Ecofootprint Predictions

Do you think your ecofootprint will be bigger or smaller than the class average?

What did you base your prediction on?

Measuring a Country’s Footprint

Ecological Demand … Resource Demand = pop. X Ecofootprint

Surplus or Deficit …Carrying Capacity – Demand = Surplus (+) or

Deficit (-)

Which countries are in a Surplus? Which country is in a Deficit?

Country Population (millions)

EcoFootprint (per person)

Demand Carrying Capacity (km2 in millions)

Land-Use Deficit or Surplus? (how much)

USA 300 .09 km2

10 km2

Australia

19 .05 km2 8 km2

Laos 140 .008 km2

3 km2

World EcologicalFootprint

Ecological Footprint

Answer Questions 1-4. Then share those responses with your neighbor and answer question 5.

1) Approximately how far do you travel to school?2) What is your most used type of transportation?3) How many times a week do you eat animal

products?4) Do you live in a single family house, shared house

or apartment?5) Based on your answers, who uses the most

resources?

A child born in a wealthy country is likely to consume, waste, and pollute more in her/his lifetime than 50 children born in poorer nations

Resource Inequality

Regional Footprints

How Much Land Does Your Lifestyle Demand?

1. How often do you eat animal based products? (3-4 times a week)

2. How much of the food that you eat is processed, packaged and not locally grown? (3/4)

3. How many people live in your household? (2)

4. What is the size of your home? (1 bedroom, shared building)

5.Do you have electricity in your home? (YES)

5.On average, how far do you travel on public transportation each week?

(None)

5.On average, how far do you go by car each week? (25-50 miles)

6.Approximately how many hours do you spend flying each year? (20 hours)

The Results

CATEGORYCATEGORY ACRESACRES

FoodFood 4.74.7

MobilityMobility 1.01.0

ShelterShelter 10.410.4

Goods/ServicesGoods/Services 10.410.4

Total FootprintTotal Footprint 26.026.0

What Does it Mean?

This means I need 26 acres to sustain my lifestyle

(WORLDWIDE, THERE EXIST 4.7 BIOLOGICALLY PRODUCTIVE ACRES PER PERSON)

SO IF EVERYONE LIVED LIKE ME, WE WOULD NEED 5.9 PLANETS

If everyone in the world lived as we do in the United States, we would need over 7½ planets to live sustainably