LO: To be able to explain the concept of an ecological footprint.To be able to calculate the footprint of a given population.To describe and explain the differences between the ecological footprints of two human populations, one from an LEDC and one from an MEDC.

3.7 Limits to Growth

Spec points: 3.8.1 – 3.8.3

1) Define ecological footprint2) Find yours

http://www.footprintnetwork.org/en/index.php/gfn/page/calculators/

3) How does your footprint compare to the rest of the world? (see map on p161)

• Compare MEDC to LEDC footprints (use evidence)

In pairs – discuss

• What are the factors that affect ecological footprints?

• Create a table to summarise factors that increase and reduce the ecological footprint.

Ecological footprints can be increased by:

• greater reliance on fossil fuels• increased use of technology and energy (but

technology can also reduce the footprint)• high levels of imported resources (which have

high transport costs)• large per capita production of carbon waste

(high energy use, fossil fuel use)• large per capita consumption of food• a meat-rich diet

Ecological footprints can be reduced by:

• reducing use of resources• recycling resources• reusing resources• improving efficiency of resource use• reducing amount of pollution produced• transporting waste to other countries to deal with• improving country to increase carrying capacity• importing resources from other countries• reducing population to reduce resource use• using technology to increase carrying capacity• using technology to intensify land

Calculating

• Data for food consumption are often given in grain equivalents, so a population with a meat rich diet would consume a higher grain equivalent than a population that feeds on grain

Find out the ecological footprint of these 2 nations:

COUNTRY PER CAPITA GRAIN CONSUMPTION / KG YR

LOCAL GRAIN PROD / KG HA / YR

PER CAPITA CO2 / KG YR

CARBON ABSORBTION / KG HA / YR

BRAZIL 210 2919 1900 10000

CANADA 710 3031 16900 4000