Global resource consumption and security Flashcards
Ecological footprint
the impact of a person or community on the environment, and the amount of land required to assimilate their waste. (measured in global hectares gha)
Biocapacity
The land and water to provide
resources for humanity.
Energy security
Access to reliable and affordable energy sources for cooking, heating, lighting and communications.
Food security
The access to nutritious food to meet the dietary needs for a healthy life.
Nexus
The interdependence between water, food and energy
Embedded or virtual water
The hidden flow of water in food or other commodities that are traded from one place to another.
Water security
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
Bioproductive land
- land area required to produce crops
- use of these land types is calculated separately
energy land
an equal amount of land that would be required to support renewable energy instead of non-renewable energy
Overshoot day
the date when humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year (in terms of natural resources).
Multicropping
Practice of growing many crops together in the same field.
high-yielding varieties
Higher-yielding seeds (HYV) refer to those that produce large quantities of crops, including rice and wheat.
renewable energy
A resource that has a theoretically unlimited supply and is not depleted when used by humans.
Replenishable Natural Capital
Is nonliving but is dependent on the solar “engine” for renewal. Examples are the atmosphere, fertile soils and groundwater.
Composting
a process that allows the organic material in waste to be decomposed and reintroduced into the soil.
Malthusian Theory
focuses on how the exponential growth of a population can outpace linear growth of the food supply and lead to social degradation and disorder
Underpopulation
circumstances of too few people to sufficiently develop the resources of a country
poverty threshold
an income level below what is needed to support a household
Water surplus
This exists where water supply is greater than demand.
Water deficit
This exists where water demand is greater than supply.
bioproductive sea
sea area required to provide fish and seafood
Non-renewable energy
A source of energy that has a finite supply capable of being exhausted
Incineration
The process of burning waste materials to reduce volume and mass, sometimes to generate electricity or heat
e-waste
discarded electronic equipment such as computers, cell phones, television sets, etc.
Boserup Hypothesis
Theory on agricultural intensification and how population change drives the intensity of agricultural production.
Limits to Growth Model
a graph that examines the long-term trends of population, agriculture, natural resources, industry, and pollution
Neo-Malthusians
group who built on Malthus’ theory and suggested that people wouldn’t just starve for lack of food, but would have wars about food and other scarce resources
Tragedy of the Commons
situation in which people acting individually and in their own interest use up limited resources, creating disaster for the entire community
Overpopulation
The number of people in an area exceeds the capacity of the environment to support life at a decent standard of living.
Resource Stewardship
the careful and responsible management of resources under one’s control.
Circular Economy
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption, which involves recycling existing materials and products for as long as possible.
Sustainable Development Goals
17 goals adopted by the UN in 2015 to reduce disparities between developed and developing countries by 2030
absolute poverty
a level of poverty that no family should be expected to live below
relative poverty
circumstances in which people cannot afford actively to participate in society and benefit from the activities and experiences that most people take for granted.
