Geography - Unit 3: Global Resource Consumption

Ecological Footprint

The theoretical measurement of the amount of land and water a population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its waste under prevailing technology

Nexus

Interrelationship between the environment society and the economy

International Poverty Line

$2.15 per day per person, the threshold that determines whether someone is living in poverty based on the value of goods needed to sustain one adult

The International Dollar

Hypothetical unit of currency that has the same purchasing power parity as the US dollar has in the US

Purchasing Power Parity (PPP)

Economic term, measuring prices at different locations

Absolute poverty

Measured in relation to the amount of the money necessary to meet basic needs, e.g. food, clothing, shelter

Relative poverty

Poverty in relation to the economic status of the other members of society

Extreme poverty

Living below the poverty line

Social status

Based on prestige of occupation

Social class

Based on position in the economic system

Earth Overshoot Day

Marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year

Physical Water Scarcity

The quantity of natural water (rainfall, snow, river) is insufficient

Economic Water Scarcity

Inability to access clean water/lack of infrastructure

Water Security

Reliable availability of water for life

Water stress

Not enough water

Renewable energy resources

Can be replenished

Non-renewable energy sources

Cannot be replenished in the time it takes to consume it

Virtual water

The volume of fresh water used to produce a product, measured at the place where the product was produced

Double burden

Undernutrition and over nutrition coexisting in the same country, Obesity and malnutrition

Fossil Fuels

Any combustible organic matter that is made from the remains of former fauna and flora, e.g. coal, oil, natural gas

Water-Food-Energy Nexus

Showcases how close the different sectors are and how they are connected

Circular economy

Economic system based on the reuse and regeneration of material

Ecosystem Services

Direct and indirect contributions of ecosystems to human well being

Resource Stewardship

Suggests humans can use resources in such a way that they will be available to future generations

Global Commons

International, supranational and global resource domains in which pool resources are found

Malthus Theory

Population exceeds food supply and is then checked by famine, war, and disease

Boserup Theory

“Necessity is the mother of invention.”

Humans will find new ways to support the growing population

Global hectare

Represents the average productivity of all biologically productive areas

Convection

Transfer of heat by movement at a gas or liquid

Conduction

Transfer of heat by contact