It is defined as “he capacity of ecosystems to produce useful biological materials and to absorb waste materials generated by humans” (WWF 2012, 146). (1999, 270) define environmental impact (I) as:Ī product of population size (P), per capita affluence (A) measured as per capita consumption, and the environmental impact of the technologies, cultural practices, and institutions through which that consumption is serviced (T), measured as damage per unit of consumption.īiocapacity (ƒ2) is a measure of ecosystem services. To cite just one prominent example, Ehrlich et al. The equation has seen many specifications over the years (Chertow 2000). It is based on the so-called IPAT equation, which specifies environmental impact in terms of population, affluence, and technology (Ehrlich and Holdren 1971). It is understood as the land base that would be required to compensate for a given level of environmental impact, most notably greenhouse gas emissions. The report closely follows the neo-Malthusian template, with ecological footprint outpacing and straining biocapacity but ultimately constrained by it.Įcological footprint (ƒ1) is a measure of environmental impact. 4.3).Įnvironmental neo-Malthusianism is neatly illustrated by ecological footprint analysis, as in the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report (WWF 2012). This must lead to catastrophic consequences, constraining humanity's ability to make further demands on ecosystems and ultimately rebalancing environmental impact with nature's ability to provide ecosystem services (Fig. Environmental degradation, undermining the Earth's regenerative capacity.
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