Ecological Footprint | Sustainability | Tragedy of the Commons

Ecological Footprint

the impact of an individual or society on the environment, expressed as the amount of land required to sustain their use of natural resources.

Carbon Footprint

the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.

Sustainability

The use of Earth's renewable and nonrenewable natural resources without depleting them for future generations

Environmental Indicators

Measures that can describe the current state of the environment. There are 4 major environmental indicators we use to assess the health of the env.

Biological Diversity (Biodiversity)

the variety of the earth's species, their genes, the ecosystems in which they live. Loss of species (extinction) and ecosystems can be an indicator of environmental and climate change.

Food Production

Our ability to grow food for the human population
depends on healthy soil and stable climate conditions. Soil degradation can be an indicator of overuse and climate change.

Avg. Gloabal Temp. & CO2 Levels

Human food production and water availability depend on stable climate conditions on earth. Atmospheric CO2 levels and global temperature are closely linked and are both strong indicators of the environmental and climate change. Both are currently rising steadily.

Human Population

As human population increases, resource consumption increases. Growing human population is an indicator of growing demand on earth's natural resources and thus environmental health.

Resource Depletion

Natural resources provide the energy and materials human society needs. As we overuse those resources, air pollution and land degradation occur, giving us an indicator of environmental health.

Maximum Sustainable Yield

the maximum rate at which a renewable resource can be exploited without depleting it for future use. Usually about 50% of carrying capacity for biological resources

Tragedy of the Commons

Theory that shared resources (commons) will be overused and depleted

Fossil Fuels

Gasoline, natural gas, coal that are combusted to produce electricity or power vehicles such as tractors and combines

Externalities

Negative costs associated with human activities, that aren't accounted for in the price (unintended side-effects)