Implications of population size and structure; concepts of 'carrying capacity' and 'ecological footprint'
Carrying capacity sets the maximum population an environment can support. Ecological footprint measures how much of Earth's resources one person or population actually uses.
Real World
The Global Footprint Network calculates that if everyone lived like the average American, humanity would need 5 Earths to sustain consumption — contrasted with India, where per-capita footprint sits below one Earth, illustrating vast inequality in resource demand.
Exam Focus
Distinguish carrying capacity (supply-side ceiling) from ecological footprint (demand-side measure) — conflating them is a common examiner-noted error.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
How well did you know this?