Geo SL U2 Definitions

Discretionary spending

non-essential expenses that individuals or governments can adjust, cut, or redirect without affecting basic needs

International poverty line (IPL)

A global benchmark for “extreme poverty” currently set at $3.00 per person per day (2025 PPP) used to compared poverty across countries.

Absolute Poverty

Lacking the minimum resource to meet basic needs (e.g. food, services, clothing, shelter), measured against a fixed standard, constant across countries and over time except for inflation updates.

Relative Poverty

Having much less income or consumption than others in the same society, typically defined as below a percentage of the national median (e.g. 50% or 60%), so it changes with a country’s overall living standards.

Ecological Footprint

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)/ person.

Biocapacity

Ecosystem's productive area available to produce services (gha)

Overshoot Day

Date when yearly demand exceeds Earth’s yearly generation

Green water

Rainwater in soil and used by plants. Supports rainfed crops and natural vegetation

Blue water

Freshwater in rivers, lakes and aquifer. Can be withdraw for irrigation, industry and homes

Black water

Wastewater containing sewage for toilets and kitchen disposals. Requires full treatment before release and use

Grey water

Water footprint context: Volume of clean water needed to dilute pollutants from production to meet water quality standards. Household context: Used water from sinks, showers and washing machines (but not from toilets). Often reusable for irrigation after basic treatment.

Virtual/ Embedded Water

Water used to make traded goods

Solid Domestic Waste (SDW)

The waste generated by households and small scale commercial establishments

6 components of EF

1. Carbon

2. Cropland

3. Grazing land

4. Forest

5. Built-up land

6. fishing grounds

4 common meausres of consumption

1. material ootprint

2. carbon footprint

3. water footprint

4. energy used per capita

these combined give a hollisitc perspective

Classes of IPL

Extreme Poverty - 3.00

Lower-middle - 4.20

Upper-middle - 8.30

High Income - Determined by the country

percentage of oceans, freshwater and other salien water

oceans: 96.5%

freshwater: 2.5%

other saline water: 0.9%

Water Footprint

the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business

carrying capacity

Maximum population an environment can sustain in the long term 

resource consumption

Rate/ amount of resource use (food, water, energy, materials) 

resource stewardship

using water, energy, land, and materials fairly, efficiently, and within nature's limits so future generations can thrive (sustainability).

Tragedy of the Commons

Overuse of open-access resources without regulation or coordination 

Sustainability (Brundtland)

Meeting present needs without compromising future generations (Brundtland)