Resource Consumption Vocabulary

International poverty line

is a global benchmark for “extreme poverty”, set at $3 per person per day, and is used to compare poverty across countries

Absolute poverty

means lacking the minimum resources to meet basic needs (food, shelter), measured against a fixed standard and is constant across countries overtime 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 national median so it changes with a country’s overall living standards

New global middle class

Individuals no longer vulnerable to falling back into poverty who have relatively stable incomes and some discretionary spending beyond basic needs, and improved access to education, healthcare, finance, and formal employment—often linked to urban, consumer-oriented lifestyles

Ecological footprint

the amount of biologically productive land and water area needed to produce the resources we use and absorb our waste

Biocapacity

an ecosystem’s productive area available to provide services 

Green water

is rainwater stored in soil and used by plants

Grey water

is the volume of clean water needed to dilute pollutants from production to meet water quality standards OR used water from sinks/showers that’s often reusable for irrigation after treatment

Black water

is waste water containing sewage from toilets and kitchen disposal, requiring full treatment before reuse

Physical water scarcity

occurs when there isn’t enough water to meet people’s and nature’s needs and can occur anywhere, not just arid environments

Economic water scarcity

occurs when water exists but people can’t use t because of money, infrastructure, or quality problems

Virtual water

is the “hidden” water used to produce products and services from growing crops to manufacturing goods

Food security

is the state where all people, at all times, have the physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs for an active and healthy lifestyle.

Carrying capacity

is the maximum population an environment can sustain long-term

Resource consumption

is the rate/amount of resources used (food, water, energy, materials etc)

Malthusian theory (core claim)

The population tends to grow geometrically whereas food production tends to grow linearly

Neo-malthusian theory (core claim)

Rapid growth plus finite resources and pollution can breach planetary boundaries, risking collapse or severe constraints

Boserup’s theory

Population pressure stimulates innovation, intensification, and higher productivity. “Necessity is the mother of innovation.”

Resource stewardship

is the responsible management of resources for current and future generations (care, equity, efficiency)

Tragedy of the commons

is the overuse of shared resources without regulation/coordination

Sustainability

means meeting the needs of the present without compromising future generations