1. Ecological footprint
consumerism

2. Affluence and the environment
Poverty can lead to environmental degradation…
BUT
Wealth and resource consumption can produce even more severe and far-reaching environmental impacts.
ONE American causes greater impact & more resource depletion than 12 people from developing countries

3. Make make 75% of world’s pollution
Born Consumers
Highly Developed Nations = 20% of world’s population but use:
86% of aluminum
76% of timber harvested
68% of energy produced
61% of meat eaten
42% of fresh water consumed
Make make 75% of world’s pollution

4. The wealth gap
Residents of developed nations have larger houses, more possessions, and more money than residents of developing nations.
The richest 20% of the world’s people consumes 86% of its resources, and has >80 times the income of the poorest 20%.

5. Ecological Footprint Ecological Footprint
cumulative amount of Earth’s surface area required to provide the raw materials a person or a population consumes and to dispose of or recycle the waste that is produced
shows the area of the earth that is needed to supply all the resources to support a standard of living
can be shown for individuals or for entire countries

6. Ecological footprints
Residents of some countries consume more resources—and thus use more land—than residents of others.
Shown are ecological footprints of an average citizen from various nations.

7. Ecological Footprint
1/17/2019

8. Internationally, ecological footprints are usually measured in hectares.
A hectare is a square area of land with 100 meters on a side.
One hectare is equal to two and a half acres

12. How many earths does it take to support your lifestyle?